A woman from West Virginia, who informed authorities about her boyfriend’s involvement in discarding a woman’s body in a well, has been sentenced for her participation in the heinous act.

Virginia Smith, aged 33, received a life sentence with the possibility of parole on Tuesday, marking four years since the murder of 35-year-old Cheyenne Johnson. Smith had admitted guilt to charges of first-degree murder, hiding a corpse, and using a firearm during a felony in February 2023. Prior to her sentencing, she provided testimony against her ex-boyfriend, Michael Smith, aged 46, at his trial. Her testimony contributed to his conviction for second-degree murder on October 30.

According to local CBS station WOWK, Virginia Smith revealed in court that Michael Smith had instructed her to shoot Johnson with a rifle on April 29, 2021. As previously noted by Law&Crime, Michael Smith confessed to the authorities that he had killed Johnson following a verbal dispute. He accused her of stealing Virginia Smith’s car. When Johnson returned the car, a physical altercation ensued between the two women, during which Johnson drew a knife.

Michael Smith claimed that Johnson refused to leave Virginia Smith alone, prompting him to retrieve a rifle from his vehicle and threaten Johnson before fatally shooting her in the head.

While testifying at Michael Smith’s trial, Virginia Smith asserted that he had commanded her to fire the weapon at Johnson. Prosecutors highlighted that a young witness had informed law enforcement officials that they observed Virginia Smith shooting Johnson.

After Johnson was shot, Michael Smith disposed of her body in 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. She was found after a tipster alerted police to what Michael Smith had done. That tipster was eventually identified as Virginia Smith.

Virginia Smith told the court during her testimony that she had a serious drug problem at the time of the crime, something Michael Smith’s defense attorney attempted to use to discredit her story.

Virginia Smith was also sentenced to one to five years for the firearm charge, plus an additional 10 years for concealment of a body. She received credit for time served.

Michael Smith’s sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.

Matt Naham contributed to this story.