A jury has convicted Larry Millete of first-degree murder in the death of his wife, Maya Millete, who disappeared from their San Diego-area home in January 2021. The verdict came Thursday after a two-month trial that presented a case built on circumstantial evidence, including Maya Millete's journal entries detailing fears of domestic abuse and infidelity.
Larry Millete, a Navy optician, was found guilty following approximately five hours of jury deliberation. Maya Millete, a mother of three, has never been found. Prosecutors arrested Larry Millete nine months after his wife's disappearance, piecing together evidence that they argued pointed to his guilt.
Key evidence presented during the trial included Maya Millete's journal, where she wrote about her fears of her husband. In one entry, she stated, "He abuses me physically. ... I want to be strong, so he never puts his hands on me again." Another passage read, "I’m literally afraid of your dad sometimes. He’s capable of hurting me." Maya Millete also alluded to marital rape, writing, "Nothing stops him from forcing himself on me."
As the couple neared divorce in the months leading up to Maya's disappearance, she described their relationship as "unhealthy" and "toxic." Prosecutors argued that Larry Millete was unwilling to accept the divorce, with Deputy District Attorney Christy Bowles telling jurors that "Divorce was not an option" for him.
The prosecution also detailed alleged efforts by Larry Millete to harm his wife through unconventional means. Investigators found a vial containing hemlock, a poisonous plant, in the Millete home. Prosecutors presented evidence of Larry Millete's online searches for poisons and information on how to mentally torture someone. He also reportedly sent hundreds of emails to online "spellcasters" seeking ways to influence or harm his wife. In one message, he allegedly asked, "Can you hex to have her hurt enough that she will have to depend on me or need my help?"
Testimony from a former Chula Vista Police Department forensic specialist indicated that investigators discovered what may be a small bloodstain in the trunk of Larry Millete's Lexus, along with streaks suggesting the area had been wiped clean. Despite the lack of a murder weapon or a body, prosecutors contended that the circumstantial evidence was sufficient for a conviction.
"You know what he did — you know why he did it. You just don’t know how," Bowles stated in her closing arguments. "The law does not reward a murderer for successfully hiding a body."
Following the verdict, Maya Millete's family expressed relief but emphasized that their search for her continues. Her sister, Maricris Drouaillet, who reported Maya missing, stated, "Justice probably has been served today, but we still have my sister out there. We still have to bring my sister home and bring her to her three children who have been waiting for five years. We still ask the public for help; one of these days, we can bring her home."