Former Vegas Porn Star Who Beheaded Ex to Be With His Son Gets 28 Years

Posted on: January 9, 2026, 03:28h. 

Last updated on: January 9, 2026, 03:28h.

Corey Levitan Read More
Expertise: Commercial Gaming, Entertainment, Expert Insight, Las Vegas, Restaurants, Vegas Myths Busted.

Former porn star Devyn Michaels was sentenced in Las Vegas to 28 years to life in prison on Thursday, January 8. She was convicted in November 2025 of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon in the slaying of Jonathan Willette, the father of her two young daughters. She bludgeoned and decapitated him in August 2023.

Devyn Michaels worked as a real estate agent for cloud-based eXp Realty after retiring from adult films. (Image: Facebook)

Jurors believed the prosecution’s argument that Michaels, 47, committed the heinous crime out of jealousy after her ex-boyfriend won custody of their two children earlier in 2023, and because she wanted to eliminate him to continue her life with her current husband, Deviere Willette, who was Jonathan’s adult son from a previous relationship.

Night of the Murder

Michaels had married her former stepson shortly before killing Willette (pictured).Facebook/Johnathan Willette

On the night of August 6, 2023, police believe Michaels bludgeoned Jonathan with a wooden stick at his Henderson, Nev., home, then decapitated him and drove the head back to her Las Vegas neighborhood, where she disposed of it in a trash receptacle.

Neither the head nor the murder weapon has ever been found.

According to reports, the victim’s mother discovered his headless corpse in his home, doused with chemicals and smoking.

Michaels — in custody since her August 7, 2023 arrest — initially admitted to police that she bashed Jonathan’s head in during a back rub in bed, claiming it was in response to unwanted sexual advances, but she denied decapitating or hiding his head.

Deal or No Deal?

In September 2024, Michaels pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in a deal that would have meant 15 years to life, with parole eligibility after 15 years.

However, during a hearing on July 17, 2025, she withdrew the plea in an emotional outburst, insisting she could prove her innocence.

Her defense attorney accused Deviere of committing the murder, alleging he flew into a jealous rage after Michaels discussed divorce to reconcile with his father.

The jury rejected this defense and convicted her of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon after a two-week trial.

“You have to put her on the far end of the spectrum of evil, judge,” Clark County Chief Deputy District Attorney John Giordani told Eighth Judicial District Court Judge Tierra Jones at sentencing. “This is a person who’s capable of such extreme evil. Is that person someone who we want to walk our streets, whether that is 20 years from now, 28 years from now, or not?”