“The mystery behind the disappearance of Army wife Mischa Johnson, 19, who went missing in July 2024 from her home atSchofield Barracks, is now resolved,” U.S. Army Office of Special Trial Counsel Director of Communications Michelle McCaskill shared in an email to Dateline.
On June 3, 2025, Private First Class Dewayne Arthur Johnson of the U.S. Army 25th Infantry Division pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the death of his pregnant wife, Mischa Johnson.
Dateline reported on the 19-year-old’s July 2024 disappearance in August, as part of our “Missing in America” series. On August 19, a 25th Infantry Division Facebook post stated that Johnson had been taken into military confinement in connection with his wife’s disappearance. On August 27, they shared a media release outlining the charges against Johnson at the time, which were “providing false official statements, obstruction of justice, and the production and distribution of child pornography.”
Just over two months later, in November 2024, additional charges were added “for the murder of Mischa Johnson, intentionally killing her unborn child, obstruction of justice, and the possession of child pornography.”
According to McCaskill, Johnson admitted to killing Mischa and her unborn child with a machete on July 12, 2024 after an argument between the two escalated. He reported his wife missing on July 31, 2024, and “participated with community search parties that spanned the island to look for her.” McCaskill also stated that investigators searched Johnson’s home and “found blood, DNA, and other forensic evidence which led to Pfc. Johnson being charged with her murder.”
On June 5, following his guilty plea, Johnson was sentenced to 23 years in prison.
“Specifically, he pleaded guilty to the lesser included offense of voluntary manslaughter, obstruction of justice, and providing false official statements,” McCaskill wrote. “The charges of possession of child pornography and the production and distribution of child pornography were dismissed by the government per the terms of his plea agreement.”
“The military judge sentenced him to the maximum of 23 years in prison, reduction in rank to E-1, total forfeitures of pay and allowances and a dishonorable discharge on June 5 at the conclusion of the court-martial,” she wrote.
He will serve his sentence at the United States Disciplinary Barracks in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
Mischa’s body has not been located. However, according to McCaskill’s email, the remains “are presumed to have been transported to the island’s trash incinerator.”
The email from McCaskill also included statements from investigators and prosecutors involved in the case. “We extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Mischa Johnson, grieving the loss of Mischa and her unborn child,” Army CID Pacific Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Ruben Santiago said. “Army CID remains committed to investigating on behalf of victims, and we hope this outcome provides a measure of closure to the Johnson family and the community.”
