LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The husband of the Las Vegas girl on trial for allegedly decapitating the daddy of her youngsters testified Thursday he was not concerned within the killing of his father and had not talked to his spouse, who can be his de facto stepmother, since her arrest.
Deviere Willette, 29, instructed the jury that, earlier than his father’s homicide, he had lately revealed to Johnathan Willette, 46, that he was married to his stepmother, Devyn Michaels, 47. Henderson police arrested Michaels, who additionally makes use of the names Nikki Fairchild and Tracee Tavarez, on Aug. 15, 2023. Police stated Michaels killed and decapitated him at his Henderson residence on Aug. 7, 2023.
Final fall, Michaels pleaded responsible to a second-degree homicide cost. As a part of the deal, she could be eligible for parole after serving 15 years in jail. Michaels later tried to revoke her plea, however Clark County District Courtroom Decide Tierra Jones decided Michaels entered it “voluntarily, knowingly and intelligently,” paperwork stated. Throughout sentencing this summer season, Michaels apologized after which instantly stated she was harmless, sending the case to trial.
On the second day of testimony on Thursday, Deviere Willette instructed the jury he turned sexually concerned with Michaels when he was 19. Deviere Willette stated he was residing with Michaels in a Las Vegas residence on the time of his father’s dying. He relayed to the jury that his two youthful siblings, whose mother and father are Michaels and Johnathan Willette, are additionally his de facto stepchildren. Michaels and Johnathan Willette by no means married, however lived as a pair for a while.
Prosecutors allege Michaels killed Johnathan Willette to dwell a life with their two youngsters and Deviere Willette, whom she married in 2021. Deviere Willette testified he had not talked to Michaels since a jail telephone name hours after her arrest and wished he had divorced her.
On Wednesday, Michael’s protection lawyer, Robert Draskovich, instructed the jury a unique story, alleging Deviere Willette killed his father. Police by no means named Deviere Willette as a suspect and interviewed him a number of instances, in line with Wednesday’s testimony.
Throughout the testimony on Thursday, Clark County Chief Deputy District Lawyer John Giordani requested Deviere Willette if he was concerned within the homicide.
Devyn Michaels seems in courtroom on Nov. 6, 2025. (KLAS)
“Did you kill your father?” Giordani requested.
“No, sir,” Deviere Willette stated.
“Did you have any involvement in killing your father?” Giordani replied.
“No, sir,” Deviere Willette stated.
In accordance with Draskovich, Deviere Willette instructed police he and Michaels had a sexless marriage. Draskovich then confirmed the jury intimate images and messages the pair shared relationship again to 2016.
Draskovich then tried to poke holes in Deviere Willette’s credibility, saying the vicitm’s son testified he labored the day earlier than the homicide when he had not.
Within the days earlier than Johnathan Willette’s homicide, Michaels messaged Deviere Willette, calling him a “liar” and a “cheater” and asking for a divorce, Draskovich stated.
No cellphone or video proof places Deviere Willette on the crime scene, Giordani instructed the jury. Draskovich instructed the jury that Deviere Willette works as a home-security system technician and has entry to energy saws.
Michaels is accused of taking Johnathan Willette’s head from the Henderson crime scene and driving it to her residence in Las Vegas, the place she threw it within the trash, paperwork stated. The top was then seemingly picked up by a trash service, prosecutors stated.
Police testified in courtroom Thursday that they situated a few of Johnathan Willette’s belongings in plastic baggage in Devyn Michaels’ bed room. (KLAS)
Police by no means recovered Johnathan Willette’s head or the homicide weapon.
Because the 8 Information Now Investigators reported after Michaels’ arrest, Clark County District Courtroom Decide Mary Kay Holthus sentenced her to at least one 12 months of probation on the youngster abuse cost on Aug. 9, 2023 — after prosecutors consider Michaels had killed Willette. Within the days earlier than and after that listening to, police interviewed Michaels and picked up proof as a part of their homicide investigation, paperwork stated.
The trial was anticipated to proceed on Friday and into subsequent week.
