Defending the indefensible – Defence presents their case! | NV vs. Devyn Michaels – Day 7 Recap

Day 7 – 14th November 2025

Background of the 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!

Case Info

Courthouse: Clark County, Las Vegas – Nevada

Charges:

• 1st Degree Murder – Guilty – 14th November 2025 (2 hours 30 minutes approx. deliberation)

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 7 of the trial, the defence took the opportunity to put their 3rd party culprit theory into motion by presenting two expert witnesses to testify to John’s alcohol intake to salvage what’s left of Devyn’s credibility and digital communications via witnesses Sean O’Brien & Larry Sims.

Fatally, voicemails were introduced as a result of the defence’s persistence to present Deviere as being awake at a time he was supposedly asleep; opening the door to damaging audio by one of Devyn’s kids stating Deviere was “knocked out” and she is scared her mother is not home.

Larry Sims inadvertently delivered the knockout blow to the defence by saying that there were a lot of hesitation marks on John’s autopsy, where the decapitation has taken place.

Full trial report below!

Sources:

Boyfriend beheading murder trial, NV vs. Devyn Michaels Day 7, 14th November 2025, Law & Crime trials Youtube Channel, Available online: https://www.youtube.com/live/v2PtR4WWmpQ?si=eKETfuT3stlD5nmW