CHARLESTON, WV – A man convicted in a brutal 2021 killing that ended with the victim’s body being hidden in a well was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison, closing a tumultuous chapter in a case that rattled a West Virginia community.

Michael Wayne Smith, 46, learned his fate in a county courtroom, where a judge handed down a life sentence with the possibility of parole in 15 years due to Smith’s status as a repeat offender. The punishment addresses the killing of 35-year-old Cheyenne Johnson, whose tragic death led to multiple convictions for those involved. Smith received an additional 40-year term for second-degree murder and shorter sentences for weapons and concealment charges.

Smith’s former partner, 33-year-old Virginia Smith—who is not related to the defendant—played a key role in the state’s case against him. After pleading guilty last year to charges that included first-degree murder and hiding Johnson’s body, she agreed to testify about the events leading up to and following Johnson’s death. Virginia Smith, too, is serving a life sentence with the possibility of parole.

According to court testimony and law enforcement records, the events unfolded on April 29, 2021, on Virginia Smith’s property. A confrontation erupted after Virginia Smith accused Johnson of stealing her car. The dispute escalated, reportedly involving a physical altercation in which Johnson allegedly produced a knife.

Prosecutors detailed how Michael Smith armed himself with a rifle during the dispute and then directed Virginia Smith to shoot the victim. A juvenile witness told the court that they saw Virginia Smith pull the trigger after Smith issued the order.

In the aftermath, Michael Smith bound Johnson’s body with a belt and ratchet straps, then lowered it into a deep water well found on the property. Multiple days passed before authorities uncovered the body, acting on a tip provided by Virginia Smith, who ultimately revealed Johnson’s location.

During the investigation, Smith maintained he was not the shooter, a fact later confirmed when Virginia Smith took responsibility for firing the fatal shot. Nonetheless, prosecutors argued that Michael Smith orchestrated and facilitated the killing, leading to his conviction on second-degree murder charges.

The judge also imposed additional time for Smith’s convictions on illegal possession of a firearm and the concealment of Johnson’s body. Virginia Smith had already been sentenced in December after entering her guilty plea.

Family and friends of Cheyenne Johnson voiced their grief and anger in the courtroom. Johnson’s brother delivered a statement describing Smith in harsh terms, reflecting the profound sense of loss and devastation left in the wake of the crime. Another close friend of Johnson described the impact of her death, calling Smith “a hollow shell of a man.”

With sentencing concluded, both Michael and Virginia Smith face decades behind bars, as Johnson’s family continues seeking solace following her tragic and violent death.