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Background: News footage of Michael Wayne Smith being led into the court for sentencing on Feb. 11 (WCHS). Inset: Cheyenne Johnson (Facebook).
A man from West Virginia has been handed a life sentence for the murder of a woman, whose body he subsequently discarded in a well.
Michael Wayne Smith, aged 46, was found guilty in October 2025 of the murder of 35-year-old Cheyenne Johnson. On Tuesday, his sentence was announced. In a hearing reported by WCHS, a local ABC/Fox affiliate, the judge sentenced Smith to life imprisonment, with the possibility of parole after 15 years, reflecting his status as a repeat offender. Additionally, he received a 40-year term for second-degree murder, along with shorter sentences for concealing a body, illegal firearm possession, and assault.
The conviction of Michael Smith came after testimony from his former girlfriend, Virginia Smith, 33, who is not related to him. She testified against him following her guilty plea to charges including first-degree murder, concealment of a corpse, and using a firearm in a felony. In December 2025, she was sentenced to life in prison with a chance of parole.
According to Law&Crime, on April 29, 2021, Johnson was shot with a rifle by Virginia Smith, who claimed she acted under Michael Smith’s orders. The incident followed a dispute over an allegation that Johnson had stolen Virginia’s car. The situation escalated into a physical altercation, with Johnson allegedly wielding a knife.
Michael Smith threatened Johnson with a rifle before commanding Virginia Smith to shoot her, which she did. A juvenile witness provided testimony confirming that Virginia Smith shot Johnson. Subsequently, Michael Smith disposed of Johnson’s body by lowering it into a deep water well on Virginia Smith’s property using a belt and ratchet straps.
Johnson’s body was found days later, after she was reported missing. It was Virginia Smith who had contacted authorities about Johnson’s whereabouts.
Michael Smith was originally charged with first-degree murder, but was convicted of second-degree murder after Virginia Smith admitted to being the one who shot Johnson.
During his sentencing hearing, Johnson’s brother called Michael Smith a “waste of human flesh” as he read a statement on behalf of himself and Johnson’s father. One of Johnson’s friends said Michael Smith was a “hollow shell of a man.”