Ex-Porn Star Beheaded Her Kids' Dad for a 'Future' with His Son: Trial Begins
On Wednesday, prosecutors told jurors to “buckle up for a wild ride” before unveiling one of the most disturbing murder cases Nevada has seen in years — the alleged beheading of a father by his ex-porn star girlfriend.
According to prosecutors, 47-year-old Devyn Michaels, a former adult-film actress once known as Nikki Fairchild and Tracee Taverz, beat and decapitated 46-year-old Johnathan Willette, the father of her two children — all so she could build a “future” with his adult son from another relationship.
The murder trial of Devyn Michaels began this week in Clark County District Court, where jurors were told they’d be hearing a “lurid, twisted, and deeply personal” story of obsession, betrayal, and brutality inside Willette’s Henderson home in August 2023.
Why This Case Has Shocked Even Veteran Prosecutors
Chief Deputy District Attorney John Giordani painted a chilling picture of motive and manipulation, warning jurors that the evidence would expose “a nightmare that began as a love story.” He said Michaels wanted a life with Willette’s 29-year-old son, Deviere, whom she had secretly married — and that the only obstacle was Johnathan himself.
“This is the future that she saw and that she wanted,” Giordani told the jury. “And the only way to have that future was with John out of the picture.”
For investigators, the motive — tangled between lust, jealousy, and family betrayal — pushed this from a domestic dispute into a psychological labyrinth. Prosecutors allege Michaels plotted the killing after learning that Willette planned to reconcile with her but move his son out of their shared home.
Where and How the Murder Happened
On August 7, 2023, police responding to a welfare call in Henderson, Nevada, made a horrifying discovery. Willette’s headless body lay wrapped in a sheet on his bed. His head and the suspected murder weapon were missing. Investigators say chemicals had been poured over his body in an apparent attempt to destroy evidence.
Detectives later concluded that Michaels likely took the severed head to her home in Las Vegas and disposed of it in a trash bin later collected by a waste service. The head and weapon were never found.
According to testimony reported by KLAS-TV, the scene showed no signs of forced entry — suggesting Willette may have let his killer inside. “This wasn’t random,” Giordani told the court. “It was personal.”
Inside the Courtroom: Accusations, Affairs, and Family Collapse
Michaels initially pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in a 2024 plea deal that would have given her 15 years in prison with parole eligibility. But she abruptly withdrew the plea last July, claiming she could prove her innocence — a move that now leaves her facing first-degree murder and a possible life sentence.
Defense attorney Robert Draskovich told jurors the wrong person was on trial, claiming Deviere Willette had motive and opportunity. He alleged the son “hated his father,” was about to lose his home, and had the technical know-how — as a home-security installer — to avoid leaving digital traces.
Deviere, testifying on Thursday, denied any involvement. When asked directly by prosecutors if he killed his father, he responded firmly: “No, sir.”
What Happens Next
The trial is expected to continue for several weeks, with jurors hearing forensic evidence, cellphone data, and testimony from family members. Prosecutors are expected to present graphic photos of the crime scene and chemical traces linking Michaels to the killing.
If convicted of first-degree murder, Michaels faces life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. If found not guilty, prosecutors could still pursue related charges, and Willette’s family may seek civil damages.
Legal Spotlight: Plea Withdrawal and First-Degree Murder in Nevada
What the law says:
Under Nevada Revised Statutes §200.030, first-degree murder applies to intentional, premeditated killings or those committed during certain felonies. Second-degree covers intentional killings without premeditation.
Why this matters:
By withdrawing her plea, Michaels forfeited the protection of her 15-year sentence. Now she faces a potential life term. Judges only allow plea withdrawals if the defendant can show good cause — typically coercion, misunderstanding, or ineffective legal counsel.
Expert insight:
“When a defendant withdraws a plea in a murder case, it’s a gamble,” said Michael Pariente, managing partner of Pariente Law Firm in Las Vegas, in an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “You regain the chance to prove innocence, but prosecutors can seek life without parole.”
Plain-English takeaway:
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A plea withdrawal reopens the full range of original charges.
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Missing physical evidence (like the head or weapon) doesn’t prevent conviction if circumstantial evidence — DNA, messages, motive — is overwhelming.
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In Nevada, first-degree murder carries a mandatory life sentence if the act is proven premeditated.
A Family Torn Apart — and a Legal System Tested
Behind the gruesome headlines is a shattered family: a father dead, two young daughters traumatized, and a son forever linked to both victim and accused.
For prosecutors, the case tests the limits of proving murder without key physical evidence. For the public, it’s a chilling reminder of how love, jealousy, and control can twist into something deadly. As the jury weighs its verdict, the story of Devyn Michaels stands as one of the most disturbing — and legally consequential — murder trials Nevada has seen in years.
