A U.S. Army soldier has been formally charged with the murder of his pregnant wife and the intentional killing of their unborn child.
In a heartbreaking case that has shocked the nation, Private First Class Dewayne Arthur Johnson II, 28, is accused of killing his 19-year-old wife, Mischa Mabeline Kaalohilani Johnson, who disappeared from their home on Schofield Barracks in O’ahu, Hawaii, in July 2024.
Mischa, who was six months pregnant at the time, is “presumed deceased,” though her body has not been found.
The Army’s Office of Special Trial Counsel announced on Wednesday, Feb. 12, that Johnson faces five charges and 19 specifications under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
These include the murder of his wife, intentionally killing their unborn child, obstruction of justice, providing false official statements, and the production and distribution of child pornography.
Mischa was last seen on July 31, 2024, and was reported missing the following day. Johnson was arrested on Aug. 2 and placed in military pretrial confinement.
Initial charges included false official statements, obstruction of justice, and child pornography-related offenses. However, two months later, authorities accused him of murdering his wife, leading to the formal charges announced this week.
The case has left Mischa’s family devastated and feeling betrayed.
“We accepted him right into our family,” her sister, Mariana Tapiz, told Fox affiliate KHON. “I feel betrayed because, you know, we welcomed him.”
Tapiz expressed relief that charges were finally filed, allowing the family to update the public and seek justice.
The Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) has been actively investigating the case, offering a $10,000 reward for information about Mischa’s disappearance.
Despite extensive efforts, her body has not been recovered, complicating the murder case. However, legal experts note that the child pornography charges provide a strong basis for accountability.
“Child pornography, it’s either on your device or it’s not,” said Megan Kau, a Hawaii defense attorney. “When you have this murder case without a body, it’s not necessarily a slam dunk. And so at least the government will be able to hold him accountable for the child pornography.”
Johnson, a cavalry scout from Frederick, Maryland, enlisted in the Army in November 2022 and was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division in 2023. He has waived his right to an Article 32 preliminary hearing, and his case will now proceed to arraignment, pretrial hearings, and trial.
Mischa’s family remains determined to see justice served.
“If we can’t have Mischa, the least that we can do is make sure that man stays in jail,” Tapiz told Hawaii News Now.
As the investigation continues, the Army CID is urging anyone with information about Mischa’s disappearance to come forward. The case has highlighted the devastating impact of domestic violence and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable, even in the absence of a body.
This story is ongoing and will be updated as more information becomes available.
