Woman withdraws plea in death of boyfriend found decapitated in Henderson

A woman withdrew her guilty plea Thursday after protesting her innocence in the killing of her on-again, off-again boyfriend, whose body was found decapitated.

Devyn Michaels, 47, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder with use of a deadly weapon in September for the death of Johnathan Willette, then tried to withdraw her plea. District Judge Tierra Jones initially rejected Michaels’ attempt to back out of her plea deal, which specified a sentence of 15 years to life in prison.

Jones was supposed to sentence Michaels on Thursday, but the hearing went off the rails when Michaels addressed the court.

“I know right now no one in the family feels that I am innocent at any point and I understand that, but I can actually prove my innocence,” she said. “I actually can. And I am not going to stop fighting to prove my innocence.”

She added: “I don’t know how to fix any of this anymore, I don’t. I keep listening to what everyone tells me is the best thing to do: ‘Just do this and it’ll work out this way and follow this advice and we’ll do this’ and I keep listening to the people because they keep saying, ‘This is the best advice’ and it doesn’t turn out the way they tell me it will.”

Chief Deputy District Attorney John Giordani was concerned enough about Michaels’ comments that he offered her a way out.

“I’m not comfortable with this record,” he said. “I’m willing to let her out of her plea if the court is inclined.”

Jones warned Michaels she could be convicted of first-degree murder if she chose to go to trial. Michaels said she still wanted to withdraw her plea, and Jones said the plea would be withdrawn.

As soon as Michaels did that, her attorney, Clark Patrick, asked to be allowed to leave the case. The judge approved his withdrawal and said she would look to appoint another attorney.

Patrick said after court that he would have been unable to try Michaels’ case until next fall.

Police previously said Michaels killed Willette in August 2023 after he tried to force her to perform a sex act on him. Willette had been abusive, Michaels told Henderson police.

Willette’s family and their supporters have pushed back on those claims.

Before Michaels spoke, Giordani called the circumstances of the case “haunting.”

“As you know, the defendant not only murdered her ex but then desecrated his body by decapitating him and putting chemicals on his body, causing him to burn,” the prosecutor told the court. “The defendant admitted to the fatal blow. She never admitted to the decapitation portion, but the evidence was overwhelming that it was obviously her who did it.”

Willette’s mother found his bloody body wrapped in blankets.

“Johnathan’s head had been severed from his body, and was not observed to be in the room,” police wrote in an arrest report.

JC Willette, the victim’s father, said the hearing was “disgraceful.”

“We were here for a sentencing and she continues to use the system to delay,” he added.

He does not believe Michaels is innocent.

“She has no remorse,” said Valerie Willette, the stepmother of the victim. “She needs to pay.”

The judge indicated that the case would move forward quickly.

“This case has been delayed extensively and this case is not going to further be delayed so that there is no justice for everybody,” Jones said.

Contact Noble Brigham at nbrigham@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BrighamNoble on X.