CHULA VISTA, California — A jury on Thursday convicted Filipino American Larry Millete of first-degree murder in the 2021 disappearance and killing of his wife, May “Maya” Millete, ending a closely watched trial more than five years after she vanished.
After about six weeks of testimony, jurors deliberated for less than a day before finding the 44-year-old Millete guilty of murdering his wife of 20 years, who has not been seen or heard from since Jan. 7, 2021.
Millete faces a sentence of 25 years to life in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set because an assault weapon possession charge remains pending.
Deputy District Attorney Christy Bowles welcomed the verdict but said the search for Maya continues.
“While today’s verdict is significant, May is still missing,” Bowles said. “We continue to hope that one day she will be found so her family can lay her to rest with the dignity she deserves.”
Maya’s sister, Maricris Drouaillet, also expressed gratitude to the jury but said justice would only be complete once her sister’s remains are recovered.
Prosecutors argued Larry Millete killed his wife after she sought a divorce, then disposed of her body. Although Maya’s body has never been found, prosecutors said there is no evidence she was alive after Jan. 7, 2021.
The prosecution portrayed Larry as a controlling husband who monitored Maya’s movements, controlled her finances and sought the help of self-described “spell casters” in an effort to stop her from leaving him. Prosecutors said his requests escalated from trying to rekindle their relationship to asking that Maya become ill or dependent on him.
Investigators also found poison hemlock in the family’s home, and prosecutors cited Larry’s internet searches about the poisonous plant and other methods of killing or incapacitating someone as evidence supporting premeditation.
The defense argued the case relied on speculation because investigators never recovered Maya’s body, identified a murder weapon or located eyewitnesses. Defense attorney Liann Sabatini said Maya had been having an affair and contended Larry’s actions stemmed from heartbreak rather than criminal intent. She also rejected the prosecution’s poison theory, arguing Larry’s online searches were related to suicidal thoughts following the breakdown of his marriage.
Surveillance footage showed Maya arriving at the family’s home on Jan. 7, 2021, but never leaving. Her last known communication was a text message to one of her sisters that evening, while both Maya’s and Larry’s cellphones stopped connecting to cellular networks during the early hours of Jan. 8.
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said the verdict delivered long-awaited justice for Maya, her family and especially the couple’s three children, who have endured years of uncertainty since her disappearance.