Editor’s Note: Recap updates on the verdict in the Larry Millete murder trial here.
Chula Vista jurors needed just five hours to find Larry Millete guilty on Thursday of murdering his wife, Maya, in 2021.
Maya Millete’s sister Maricris Drouaillet spoke at a news conference after jurors found Larry Millete guilty of the murder of his wife, Maya.
The first-degree murder verdict comes more than five years after the mother of three walked into her San Miguel Ranch home and was never seen or heard from again.
As the verdict was read, bursts of sniffles and tears could be heard coming from Maya’s family, followed by many hugs. Maya’s family exited the courtroom first to cheers in the hallway. Meanwhile, Larry’s family sat still and in silence. Following the reading of the verdict, he leaned over to his attorneys and appeared to thank them. His eyes were red.
Deputy District Attorney Christy Bowles and Maya Millete’s sister Maricris Drouaillet speak at a news conference just after jurors found Larry Millete guilty of the murder of his wife, Maya.
Jurors had several options to choose from to find him guilty, which also included second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, and involuntary manslaughter. They opted for the most severe conviction, indicating that they believed that Maya’s killing was premeditated.
Judge Enrique Camarena will hand down a prison sentence that will lock Larry Millete up for a minimum of 25 years – though he very well could die behind bars if he’s never granted parole. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled, though likely appeals in the cause could push that date back.
After five long years since Maya Millete went missing, her husband, Larry, was found guilty of 1st-degree murder. NBC 7’s Jackie Crea was live from outside the courtroom with reaction from Maya’s friends and family.
A case based solely on circumstantial evidence
Jurors in the trial of Larry Millete needed only five hours of deliberation and one vote to find him guilty of first-degree murder.
Over the course of 25 days of testimony, the prosecution worked hard to leave no doubt in the minds of jurors that Maya was murdered by her husband, Larry. That case, based wholly on circumstantial evidence, didn’t provide verified information about when Maya died, how she died, or what happened to her body.
Instead, deputy district attorney Christy Bowles laid out a roadmap of digital evidence and testimony that revealed Larry’s desperation to save his marriage. Bowles said when he was no longer able to control Maya, he turned to online spellcasters, subliminal messages, and digital tracking.
Prosecutors said another key component of Larry’s spiralling behaviors was an affair between Maya and a coworker. Many of those sordid details were revealed for the first time during the trial, including evidence that Maya opted to terminate a pregnancy that resulted from that affair.
Not long after the jury’s swift guilty verdict in the Larry Millete murder trial, NBC 7’s Alexis Rivas spoke outside the courtroom with one of the jurors about the decision.
Bowles said Larry’s desperation reached its limit on January 7, 2021, when Maya told him in no uncertain terms that she would be filing for divorce. Jurors were shown emails and text messages in Larry’s own words from that day where he said, “I’m shaking inside and ready to snap,” and “I’m about to lose it.”
Though neighborhood surveillance cameras recorded Maya entering her home that evening, none left evidence of her leaving. In their only testimony offering an answer to that puzzle, Larry’s defense attorneys said that was because Maya left the home of her own accord, taking a route that avoided being captured on more than a half dozen cameras.
They said that route involved scaling the family’s backyard fence, navigating down a drainage ditch, then hiking along a mountain trail to any number of neighborhood exits. The defense didn’t provide any testimony for Larry’s whereabouts the day after Maya was seen alive.
Prosecutors highlighted evidence of a 12-hour gap for Larry on January 8, 2021. They said his phone went dark for that span of time and his SUV had more than 400 unaccounted-for miles.
They said those numbers led them to believe he’d traveled to a desert area he was familiar with along the California-Arizona border. In a still-unknown spot, they said he disposed of Maya’s body.
Larry opted not to take the stand in his own defense. That’s despite two jailhouse interviews with NBC 7 Investigates where he repeatedly dodged questions about his whereabouts, telling us he couldn’t wait to share his story during the trial.
Not long after a guilty verdict had been reached in the Larry Millete murder trial, NBC 7’s Mark Mullen and Monica Dean spoke to defense attorney Marc Carlos for insight on the case.
Loved ones of Maya Millete shared their thoughts after the jury’s guilty verdict. NBC 7’s Jeanette Quezada has their reaction.