A Schofield Barracks cavalry scout has been sentenced to the maximum 23 years in prison after admitting to the gruesome killing and dismemberment of his pregnant wife last summer.
Pfc. Dewayne Arthur Johnson II, 28, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, obstruction of justice, and providing false official statements during a court-martial at Wheeler Army Airfield on June 3.
Johnson confessed to brutally killing his 19-year-old wife, Mischa Johnson, who was six months pregnant with a baby girl, on July 12, 2024, during what he described as a heated argument in their on-post home.
According to testimony during the court-martial, Johnson struck Mischa in the head with a machete the couple kept in their bedroom. The blade became lodged in her skull. He then attempted to dismember her body but was unsuccessful with the machete. Instead, he purchased a chainsaw, later using it to sever her limbs and divide her remains into multiple trash bags.
Johnson admitted to disposing of the dismembered body parts in dumpsters on Schofield Barracks, intentionally selecting a location where the remains would be incinerated and never recovered.
“She wasn’t trash.”
During the sentencing phase on June 4, Johnson addressed Mischa’s family and the court:
“My wife didn’t deserve that. She wasn’t trash. I hate myself for what I did, every day,” he said through tears. “I love Mischa and my child more than myself. They both deserved so much more. I failed as a husband, I failed as a father, and I failed as a man.”
But the apology rang hollow for many in the courtroom.
Mischa’s mother, grandmother, and sister gave emotional victim impact statements, painting a picture of profound and enduring grief.
“It’s a void in my heart that will never be filled again,” said Marianna Tapiz, Mischa’s sister, who said Mischa was supposed to be her maid of honor.
Frances Tapiz-Andrian, Mischa’s mother, described the pain as “unbearable” and said she now faces every Mother’s Day with nothing but “emptiness.”
After the Killing: Deception and Dating Apps
Army CID Special Agent Chelsea Banks testified that after the killing, Johnson used Mischa’s phone to impersonate her, replying to texts from her family in an attempt to buy time and cover his tracks.
While her family searched for her, Johnson was actively messaging 18 women on a dating app called BLK and had already begun planning a future with at least one of them. Photos recovered from his phone showed him engaging in sexual acts with another woman, and text messages revealed discussions about marriage, children, and starting a life together.
A Family of Faith — and Shock
Johnson’s father and brothers testified remotely from Maryland, expressing disbelief over the charges. His father said he raised Johnson in a faith-based household and that his son had attended Christian schools and participated in community service. His brothers described him as generous and a good role model — a stark contrast to the violent reality of his crimes.
Johnson, a cavalry scout assigned to the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, will serve his sentence at Fort Leavenworth, where he was also reduced in rank to E-1, received total forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and was dishonorably discharged.
A Tragic Case That Shocked the Island
Mischa Johnson’s remains were never recovered. Prosecutors say her body was likely destroyed in a local refuse incinerator. The Army CID had previously released surveillance footage and reports indicating Johnson purchased tools and cleaning supplies before ever reporting her missing.
Pfc. Johnson waited 19 days after the murder before filing a missing person report on July 31, 2024. At the time, the Army offered a $10,000 reward for information.
Early coverage of the case revealed troubling signs. Mischa’s family said they were told by authorities that Johnson’s behavior had been suspicious for weeks and that he had become increasingly isolated from his platoon.
“He doesn’t associate with his platoon. He’s quiet and keeps to himself,” said a family member during a public livestream.
Army Prosecutor: Closure, If Not Comfort
Lt. Col. Nicholas Hurd, the Army prosecutor on the case, acknowledged the pain felt by the family.
“While no amount of confinement will ever be able to truly ease the pain of the loss of Ms. Johnson and her unborn child… it is my hope that Pfc. Johnson’s admissions of guilt and the information he provided as part of the plea agreement can provide some element of closure and finality for the family.”
Johnson enlisted in the Army in 2022 and was stationed at Schofield Barracks in June 2023.
Mischa Johnson, described by her family as sweet, hopeful, and deeply excited to be a mother, is survived by the family she left behind — and remembered as more than just a victim of violence.
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