Soldier Confesses: Pregnant Wife Killed, Dismembered
A horrifying crime that shook a military community has finally reached its grim conclusion. A former U.S. Army soldier stationed in Hawaii has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for the brutal killing and dismemberment of his 19-year-old pregnant wife. The gruesome nature of the crime and the emotional fallout have reverberated far beyond the barracks where it took place.
A Domestic Argument Turns Deadly
On July 12, 2024, Pfc. Dewayne Johnson II and his wife Mischa Johnson got into a heated argument at their home on Schofield Barracks in Hawaii. According to Army statements, Dewayne struck Mischa in the head with a machete during the altercation. He later testified in court that the blade became lodged in her temple, and after struggling to remove it, he purchased a chainsaw to dismember her body.
According to the Army, Dewayne placed Mischa's severed remains — including the body of her unborn child — into three trash bags and disposed of them in a dumpster on the military base. Those remains were never recovered and are presumed to have been incinerated along with the base's trash.
A Chilling Cover-Up
In the weeks that followed the murder, Dewayne did not report Mischa missing until July 31, nearly three weeks later. During that time, he participated in search efforts across Oahu, even as authorities later uncovered damning evidence at the couple's home — including DNA and blood that eventually led to his arrest.
Prosecutors revealed that Dewayne had messaged 18 women on a dating app and had explicit photos with at least one woman on his phone. These findings, they said, provided additional context for the crime and his apparent desire to move on with his life without Mischa.
The Guilty Plea and Sentencing
On June 3, 2025, Dewayne Johnson pleaded guilty at a court-martial to voluntary manslaughter, obstruction of justice, and providing false official statements. The plea agreement included the dismissal of child pornography charges that were previously filed against him. As part of the sentencing, Dewayne was dishonorably discharged, demoted, and sentenced to 23 years of confinement — the statutory maximum for his crimes.
"My wife didn't deserve that. She wasn't trash," Dewayne said during his sentencing, according to Hawaii News Now. "I hate myself for what I did, every day."
Seeking Closure
The sentencing brought some relief to Mischa's family. According to Army Times, Lt. Col. William Wicks, a prosecutor with the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel, stated, "After almost one year since Mischa Johnson last saw her family, I am relieved that the accused was held accountable for what he did to her and her unborn child in court today."
Mischa's sister, Mariana Tapiz, spoke candidly about the emotional toll on the family. "As a family together, we're just trying not to focus on the horrific details of her last moment with him," according to Island News. "And instead, right now, we're trying to just remember the happy memories that we have and remember her in that life."
A Sobering Reminder
Dewayne Johnson will serve his sentence at the United States Disciplinary Barracks in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. His case underscores the devastating consequences of domestic violence, particularly within the closed environment of military life.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, help is available. Contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org.
References: Soldier Who 'Hates Himself' for Dismembering Pregnant Wife, Unborn Child with Chainsaw Learns Fate | Schofield soldier pleads guilty to killing, dismembering pregnant wife | Schofield soldier sentenced to 23 years in prison for killing pregnant wife | Schofield soldier confesses to killing pregnant wife
