A California jury found Larry Millete guilty of first-degree murder on July 9, 2026, in the death of his wife, Maya Millete, who disappeared from their Chula Vista home in January 2021. The case drew widespread attention due to its unusual circumstances, including allegations that Larry had sought help from spellcasters to influence his wife.
The disappearance of Maya Millete
Maya Millete, a U.S. Navy contract negotiator and mother of three, vanished just days before her eldest daughter’s birthday on January 7, 2021. Her family reported her missing on January 9 after she failed to make contact, which they described as highly out of character. Larry Millete provided shifting explanations for her absence, including claims she had gone hiking or visited wine country.
Friends, colleagues, and family insisted Maya would never abandon her children. Her sister, Maricris Drouaillet, and brother-in-law, Richard Drouaillet, immediately suspected foul play. A community search effort, dubbed Team Maya, began combing desert areas east of Chula Vista, where Larry had previously hiked with his wife.
Investigation and arrest
Private investigator Billy Little, hired by a colleague of Maya’s, noted suspicious details during a visit to Larry’s home on January 11, 2021, including recently repaired holes in a bedroom door and wall. Text messages later revealed Larry had contacted spellcasters, allegedly asking them to "punish May" and prevent her from leaving the house. Authorities stated the final call Maya made was to a divorce attorney the day she disappeared.
Larry Millete was arrested on October 19, 2021, and charged with murder. His defense team argued Maya had a history of leaving home and could still be alive, a claim her family and supporters vehemently denied. Despite the conviction, searches for Maya’s remains continue in areas like the Anza-Borrego Desert and Glamis sand dunes, where volunteers brave harsh conditions to seek answers.
Anyone with information is urged to contact San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477 or the Chula Vista Police Department at 619-691-5139.
