Background ofthe case: Dubbed as the ‘Love Triangle murder trial’, the Devyn Michaels murder case gained national attention when Las Vegas mom had pleaded guilty and later broke down during the sentencing hearing and the plea was removed with prosecutors opting for trial. Devyn Michaels has been accused of the killing of her husband Johnathon Willette, after he was found at his mother’s home at Henderson County with his head decapitated. Both couple are understood to be in a contentious custody battle around the time of the murder which prosecutors allege is what drove her to commit the murder. Her defence team says, Devyn is not your culprit, his son Deviere, who was married to Devyn, thats your man and accused him of being behind the murder!
Judge: Tierra Jones State Attorney(s): DA John Giorgani, ADA Summer Clarke Defence Attorney(s): Robert Draskovich, William Horvath Victim(s): Johnathon Willette (Deceased) – 7th August 2023
On day 5 of the trial, the defence made a last ditch attempt with their 3rd party culprit theory showing a van that resembled Deviere’s work van.
The lead detective Dennis Ozawa presented crucial testimony when the jury asked him regarding the inventory that was taken from Deviere’s work truck, established the key testimonies by the other detectives including where Johnathon’s phone was found and why they did not act immediately when they saw the phone.
DNA analyse made a crucial finding of foreign DNA or lack thereof on Johnathon’s phone that was found near Devyn Michael’s vehicle.
