She Entered Her Home and Disappeared. Five Years Later, Her Husband Was Convicted of Murdering Her
· Telemundo McAllen (KTLM)
SAN DIEGO – The jury in Chula Vista took just five hours to find Larry Millete guilty on Thursday of murdering his wife, Maya, in 2021. The first-degree murder verdict comes more than five years after the mother of three entered her home in San Miguel Ranch and was never seen again. Upon the reading of the verdict, sobs and tears were heard from Maya's family, followed by numerous hugs. Maya's family was the first to exit the courtroom amid cheers in the hallway, while Larry's family sat silently. After the verdict was read, he leaned towards his attorneys and appeared to thank them, with red eyes. The jury had several options for a guilty verdict, including second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, and involuntary manslaughter. They opted for the most severe conviction, indicating they believed Maya's murder was premeditated. Judge Enrique Camarena will impose a prison sentence that will keep Larry Millete incarcerated for a minimum of 25 years; however, he could die in prison if he is never granted parole. A sentencing date has not yet been set, although appeals in the case may delay it. District Attorney: Larry Showed a 'Pattern of Increasing Control and Obsession' San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan issued a statement Thursday afternoon regarding the verdict, stating: 'The evidence demonstrated a pattern of increasing control, obsession, and planning that culminated in Maya's disappearance.' Maya's body has never been found. 'Justice has finally been served for May and for all those who have borne the weight of her absence for over five years,' Stephan said in the statement. 'Our hearts are with Maya's family and friends, and especially with her three children, who have suffered an unimaginable loss,' Stephan added. 'Delayed justice can never erase years of pain, but today's verdict confirms that no victim is forgotten and no family is abandoned in our pursuit of the truth.' Stephan highlighted Christy Bowles for leading the prosecution over seven weeks. 'Veteran prosecutor Christy Bowles argued that while May's remains have never been recovered, the evidence undeniably shows that she was murdered by her husband,' the statement read. A Case Based Solely on Circumstantial Evidence Over 25 days of testimony, the prosecution worked diligently to leave no doubt in the jury's mind that Maya was murdered by her husband, Larry. That case, based entirely on circumstantial evidence, did not provide verified information about when Maya died, how she died, or what happened to her body. Instead, Deputy District Attorney Christy Bowles presented a roadmap of digital evidence and testimonies that revealed Larry's desperation to save his marriage. Bowles argued that when he could no longer control Maya, he turned to online sorcerers, subliminal messages, and digital tracking. Prosecutors said another key component of Larry's spiral of behaviors was a relationship between Maya and a subordinate coworker. Many of those sordid details were revealed for the first time during the trial, including evidence that Maya chose to terminate a pregnancy resulting from that relationship. Bowles claimed that Larry's desperation reached its peak on January 7, 2021, when Maya told him, without a doubt, that she would file for divorce. The jury was shown emails and text messages, in Larry's own words, from that day, where he said: 'I'm shaking inside and about to explode' and 'I'm about to lose control.' Although neighborhood surveillance cameras recorded Maya entering her home that night, none showed evidence of her leaving. In their only testimony offering an explanation for this enigma, Larry's defense attorneys said it was because Maya left the house voluntarily, taking a route that avoided being captured by more than half a dozen cameras. They claimed that this route involved jumping the family's backyard fence, moving through a drainage ditch, and then walking along a mountain path to one of several exits from the neighborhood. The defense did not provide any testimony about Larry's whereabouts the day after Maya was last seen alive. Prosecutors highlighted indications of a 12-hour unexplained gap for Larry on January 8, 2021. They said his phone was inactive during that period and that his SUV accumulated over 400 unaccounted miles. According to the prosecution, these figures led them to believe he traveled to a desert area he knew well, near the California-Arizona border. In an unknown location, they argued, he disposed of Maya's body. Larry chose not to testify in his own defense, despite two interviews from jail with NBC 7 Investigates in which he repeatedly dodged questions about his whereabouts, telling them he couldn't wait to share his side during the trial. Who Was Maya Millete? May 'Maya' Millete was a mother of three from Chula Vista and the wife of Larry Millete. She was last seen on January 7, 2021, after disappearing just days before a planned trip for her daughter's birthday. Her husband, Larry Millete, was charged with murdering Maya in 2021 and disposing of her body, which has never been found. He has maintained his innocence since her disappearance. At the time of her disappearance, Maya worked at the SWRMC, the Southwest Regional Maintenance Center of the U.S. Navy. She was a devoted mother to her three young children. Maya Millete's disappearance has shocked San Diego County. Strangers have collaborated in countless searches and have closely followed updates on the case, hoping for the day they find her.
AI summary · Source: Telemundo McAllen (KTLM) →
