Larry Millete, who was sentenced to 25 years to life for the murder of his wife, Maya Millete, continues to assert his innocence from behind bars. Maya Millete vanished from their Chula Vista home in 2021, and security footage confirmed her entering the residence but never leaving.
In an interview with Fox 5, Millete stated that he did not kill his wife and suggested she might be in hiding or is otherwise missing. He referenced cases where individuals reappear after many years, indicating that it is possible to remain hidden. Millete told the reporter that he doesn't know what happened to Maya, as he is not responsible for her disappearance.
During the interview, Millete maintained a calm demeanor, which he acknowledged has led to him being called "emotionless." He expressed that he still loves Maya and misses her, describing her as his best friend. He found the accusation that he harmed her and disposed of her body to be offensive.
Millete also claimed that on the night of his wife's disappearance, he and their son Lazarus heard and possibly saw her. He contested the timeline provided by investigators, stating that Maya was seen on January 7th, but he and Lazarus heard her when they were going to bed on January 8th.
He added that discovering Maya's alleged affair was more shocking and gut-wrenching than her disappearance. Millete reflected that he wished he had focused more on her disappearance than on the embarrassment he perceived from the affair, stating, "I should have done things a little different."
Evidence presented during the trial, which resulted in Millete's July conviction for first-degree murder, reportedly included details of domestic abuse, infidelity, and a campaign of fear against Maya Millete. She has never been found.
Millete was formally sentenced on November 2, 2026, to 25 years to life, with an additional consecutive two-year term for a weapons charge. He is currently awaiting transfer to a state prison.