Soldier Describes Brutal Murder and Dismemberment of Pregnant Wife Before Sentencing

Pfc. Dewayne Johnson II, a U.S. Army soldier stationed in Hawaii, provided a harrowing account of the murder of his pregnant wife, Mischa Johnson, during a court appearance this week. His confession was part of a plea agreement that saw him plead guilty to charges including voluntary manslaughter and obstruction of justice.

Originally facing murder charges, Johnson's plea deal resulted in the dismissal of additional charges related to child pornography. He received the maximum sentence of 23 years, alongside a reduction in rank to private, forfeiture of pay, and a dishonorable discharge from the Army.

Mischa Johnson, just 19 years old and six months pregnant at the time, was reported missing in July 2024. Her remains have not been located and are presumed incinerated.

According to an Army press release, the couple was involved in a heated argument at their home on Schofield Barracks when the situation escalated into violence. Johnson recounted in court that Mischa accused him of infidelity, prompting him to grab a machete. "I just snapped," he stated, describing how he struck her, leading to her immediate collapse. "I couldn't believe what I just did. I killed the love of my life and my baby."

Johnson revealed that he attempted to dismember her body with the machete but was unsuccessful. He then purchased a chainsaw, which he used to sever her limbs before placing them in trash bags and discarding them in a dumpster, fully aware they would be incinerated.

"My wife didn't deserve that. She wasn't trash," he lamented. "I hate myself for what I did, every day."

Despite his actions, Johnson did not report Mischa missing for two weeks. On July 31, 2024, he participated in community search efforts while using her phone to impersonate her in communications with family members. A subsequent investigation revealed blood and DNA evidence at their home, leading to his arrest on August 27.

Further complicating the case, a special agent testified that Johnson had contacted 18 women through a dating app shortly after Mischa's death. His phone contained explicit images involving another woman and alleged child pornography. The agent noted that Johnson and this woman were discussing plans for marriage.

Mischa's sister, Marianna Tapiz, expressed her outrage at Johnson's actions during the trial: "He had been on a dating app and reached out to 18 women while my sister's blood was still wet under their floors. That was disgusting."

In his testimony, Johnson offered an apology to Mischa's family, acknowledging his failures as a husband and father: "They both deserved so much more ... I failed as a husband. I failed as a father and I failed as a man ... I'll forever be sorry."

Johnson will serve his sentence at Fort Leavenworth military prison in Kansas.