A U.S. Army soldier has been charged with the murder of his pregnant and newlywed wife, who went missing from Schofield Barracks in Oahu, Hawaii, last summer. The Army made the announcement this week, bringing some long-awaited answers to the victim’s grieving family.
Nineteen-year-old Mischa Mabeline Kaalohilani Johnson was last seen on the night of July 31, 2024, at her home on the military base. She was reported missing the next day, sparking an investigation. Just a day later, on August 2, her husband, Private First Class Dewayne Arthur Johnson II, was arrested and placed in military pretrial confinement.
Initially, Johnson was charged with making false official statements, obstruction of justice, and producing and distributing child pornography—charges that stemmed from the search for his missing wife. Then, in November 2024, the Army’s Office of Special Trial Counsel hit him with new charges, including the murder of his wife, the intentional killing of her unborn child, and possession of child pornography.
Now, Johnson faces a total of five charges and 19 separate allegations under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), the set of laws that govern U.S. military members. The charges include murder, obstruction of justice, lying to authorities, and crimes related to child pornography.
Despite these serious charges, Mischa’s body has never been found. The Army’s Criminal Investigation Division has urged the public to come forward with any information that could help bring closure to the case.
For Mischa’s family, this development is both a relief and a painful reminder of their loss. “We have no control over these things, right? So we’re finally glad that the day is finally here, especially because now we can update the public,” said her sister. “I feel betrayed because, you know, we accepted him right into our family.”
Although many details remain unclear, some evidence has surfaced. Investigators say surveillance footage captured Johnson buying tools and cleaning supplies, raising further suspicion about his role in his wife’s disappearance.
Mischa was six months pregnant with a baby girl at the time she went missing. Now, as Johnson prepares for his court-martial, her family is determined to see justice served. “And now we just wait on a date for arraignment, which we will be present for in person,” her sister said.
As the case unfolds, authorities are continuing their search for Mischa’s remains, hoping to provide her loved ones with the closure they deserve.
