Maya Millete’s household, pals proceed the seek for lacking California mother

This text was initially revealed on Feb. 18, 2022. It was up to date on July 18, 2026.

Maya Millete, a younger spouse and mom of three disappeared from her Southern California dwelling in January 2021. From virtually the start, Maya’s household and pals grew suspicious of her husband Larry.  Investigators say the couple had been having marital troubles and shortly earlier than Maya’s disappearance, Larry had been contacting spellcasters to have a hex placed on his spouse in order that she would keep within the marriage. The place is Maya Millete?  

A determined search

Greater than a yr has passed by since 39-year-old Maya Might Millete, mom of three younger kids, vanished in Chula Vista, California.

Maricris Drouaillet: I nonetheless have hope. I nonetheless have that hope that we’ll discover her alive.

Maya’s sister, Maricris, and her husband Richard Drouaillet have fought onerous so Maya’s disappearance does not develop into a chilly case.

Richard Drouaillet: It has been a extremely, actually robust yr for the entire household … we nonetheless do not have solutions but.

Maya was 13 years previous when she immigrated to america from the Philippines together with her mother and father and 5 siblings in 1995. Maricris says her sister thrived in Honolulu, Hawaii, the place the household settled to construct a brand new life.

Maricris Drouaillet: She’s at all times been, , the sensible one. And — she’s very lively at college. … training — it is crucial to the household. … I’ve at all times been so happy with her.

Maya met her future husband Larry Millete after they had been each working at a fast-food restaurant in Honolulu. Larry’s household had additionally immigrated from the Philippines. When Larry turned 18 and joined the Navy, the couple determined to get married. 

Jonathan Vigliotti | CBS Information correspondent: They had been so younger.

Maricris Drouaillet: Yeah.

Jonathan Vigliotti: Youngsters.

Maricris Drouaillet: Sure …  She’s the primary one to get married so it was a shock for everybody, however we revered her choice.

Maya and Larry moved to Southern California and constructed their careers working for the Navy. Larry was an optician on the Naval Medical Heart, and Maya labored as a supervisor contract specialist at Naval Base San Diego.

Claudia Julao: She was my mentor from day one.  

Allison Alexander: She was like this little, tiny particular person however she was an enormous character.

Claudia Julao and Allison Alexander labored with Maya on the base and have become pals.

Claudia Julao: We really negotiate contracts for the U.S. Navy. … And he or she was superb at it. … I used to joke round together with her as a result of she had a photographic reminiscence.

Allison Alexander: I had quite a lot of respect for her. … She was a really robust and assured chief. A variety of the ladies within the workplace actually regarded as much as her.

Claudia Julao: There was no glass ceiling. We might get wherever we needed, did not matter the place we got here from.

Maya and Larry determined to attend 10 years earlier than beginning a household. The couple finally welcomed two daughters and a son.

Maricris Drouaillet: It is pleasure to see them, that they’ve their very own household, too. … We’re at all times out tenting … We’re at all times outdoor.

Richard Drouaillet: Larry was dad … at all times attentive to the children, nice mother and father.

Jonathan Vigliotti: What kinda mom was she?

Maricris Drouaillet: Very caring, loving mom. She, fingers on. … She’s at all times instructing them somethin’, particularly, , music. … she has some movies together with her son … singing together with her.

Richard Drouaillet: Phrase by phrase. Phrase by phrase. Brings us to tears each time we watch it.

Claudia Julao: Her children had been every little thing. … She loved her children. 

In early January 2021, Maya was targeted on planning a ski journey to Large Bear for her daughter’s birthday. However her household grew involved when she all of the sudden stopped speaking on January 7.

Maricris Drouaillet: For her to not inform us … what’s gonna occur for her daughter’s birthday, , that was an enormous deal.

Maricris says when their brother J.R. drove over to examine on Maya the subsequent day, her husband Larry instructed him Maya had been within the bed room for a number of hours. J.R. knocked on the door however obtained no response. 

Maricris Drouaillet: He kinda simply thinks, “OK, possibly she’s simply, possibly she’s sleeping” … Larry did say that that they had an argument. … He left it at that.

Maricris Drouaillet: We believed Larry … that they had an argument and he or she simply, she simply wanna be left alone.

The next day, when there was nonetheless no information from Maya, Maricris and Richard drove over to the Millete home.

Richard Drouaillet: After we walked in, the home was a large number which I’ve by no means seen their home messy … and it was chilly. … It was January … and he had the AC operating, which was actually odd.

This time, Larry instructed them Maya was out.

Jonathan Vigliotti: So, Larry says Maya’s been the place?

Richard Drouaillet: Mountain climbing. She went mountain climbing.

Suspicious that one thing wasn’t proper, Maricris reported her sister lacking to the Chula Vista Police Division that evening.  

Jonathan Vigliotti: How did the police react? 

Maricris Drouaillet: They despatched — three officers … went by means of the home. … They questioned us …

Maricris and Richard had been upset with what they are saying was an absence of concern from the police.

Richard Drouaillet: It appeared like there was no urgency from the police division to analyze it correctly.

By January 10, Maya had now been lacking for 3 days. Her household gathered at her dwelling to have a good time her daughter’s birthday, hoping in opposition to hope.

Maricris Drouaillet (sobbing): We’re all, like, wanting on the door, hoping she’ll stroll in on her daughter’s birthday. She by no means did. I felt so unhealthy … After that she stated, “Mommy did not present up for my birthday.” I did not know find out how to consolation her.

As Maya’s household tried to maintain some normalcy for the sake of the youngsters, Richard was watching Larry through the social gathering.

Richard Drouaillet: Simply laid again, carrying his Navy sweats on a Sunday, no sneakers.

Richard Drouaillet: Larry had no concern in any respect on his face for his lacking spouse.  … Not even for his daughter’s birthday. 

That evening, Claudia obtained the distressing information that Maya was lacking and drove over to the Millete home. By now the party had changed into a search social gathering.

Claudia Julao: So, they had been exterior with infants and blankets, attempting to search for their sister, their daughter. … Her mother and father are aged … The brothers and the brother-in-law had been out knocking on doorways, giving out flyers.

Claudia Julao: He had little interest in serving to.

As phrase unfold that Maya was nowhere to be discovered, extra pals stepped in attempting to assist.

Billy Little: My spouse… Lou was working on the thirty second Road Naval Base. … stated {that a} pal of hers went lacking. … the household is anxious … would you assist them? …, anyone asks for assist, you simply do it, proper?

Billy Little: So, if she was nonetheless alive, I wanted to get to her shortly. … that is why I went straight to the final place she was seen, which was that home … I had no concept that it might flip into what it was.

A treasure trove of clues

On January 11, 2021, 4 days after Maya Millete was final heard from, lawyer Billy Little – a former felony protection investigator for the U.S. Navy – determined to step into the lacking particular person’s case.

Billy Little: I knew what needed to be performed, and I did it.

Billy Little: I went straight to the place the final place she was seen, which was that home.

Little needed to speak to Larry Millete. Amongst different issues, he had discovered it odd that Maya’s husband wasn’t the one who initially referred to as the Chula Vista Police Division.

Billy Little: In reality, when the household needed to name 911, he discouraged it.

Jonathan Vigliotti: Have been there police round additionally investigating at this level? No?

Billy Little: No. In keeping with the household, the police had come. He had given them I suppose the identical story.

In information stories on the time, a Chula Vista Police spokesperson said that Larry was being cooperative, they had been treating it as a lacking particular person’s case and had discovered no indication of foul play. Little says after he confirmed Larry his naval civilian ID, he let him in.

Billy Little: I began searching for issues that I assumed could be suspicious in the home.

Similar to Maricris and Richard, he observed one thing unusual.

Billy Little: A lot of the home windows in the home had been open. … It was clear he was attempting to air the home out.

Little knew from Maya’s household that the couple had had a combat on the day she was final heard from.

Billy Little: I used to be … seeking to see … if there’s any harm in the home that will point out some home violence.

Billy Little: I am additionally searching for defensive wounds on his fingers, which I do not see.

However Little says he did see one thing exterior the Millete bed room.

Billy Little: We went upstairs the place her bed room was, the very first thing I observed was the outlet within the door proper subsequent to the deal with … trigger it is proper within the space the place, in case you want entry to a locked room, you are going to punch proper by means of there.

Billy Little: And I touched the patch and it felt new; it felt moist. … I made a remark to Larry about, “Hey what’s this?” And he says, “Oh yeah, Maya punched a gap … within the door there.”

Contained in the bed room, Little says he observed one other gap on the wall that additionally appeared to have been lately repaired.

Billy Little: That might’ve been too excessive for Maya to punch as a result of she was smaller … and I stated, “Larry, what about this gap?” … And he stated, “Oh yeah, she obtained mad and punched that, too.”

Jonathan Vigliotti: Larry’s creating an image right here of a girl who’s violent … Is that this including as much as you? 

Billy Little: No … none of this story is including up.

Jonathan Vigliotti: Once you left the home that day after gathering these puzzle items, what had been you considering?

Billy Little: I assumed Larry killed her and we have to discover out what he did and what he did with the physique.

Billy Little: However … I wasn’t prepared to inform Maricris but as a result of I did not know, proper? I might be unsuitable.

Little started canvassing the neighborhood and knocking on doorways to trace down dwelling safety footage to see if something suspicious was caught on digital camera across the Millete home.

Billy Little: So, I knew we needed to get that shortly and protect it shortly.

Jonathan Vigliotti: Time was of the essence.

Billy Little: Oh god, sure. 

What little discovered was a treasure trove of clues. He says a digital camera from a neighboring home recorded the voices of the Millete kids enjoying within the yard, at 1030 p.m., on the evening their mother was final heard from.

Billy Little: On … a faculty evening … and it is chilly exterior … and the climate — I consider it was within the … excessive 40s that evening.

One other digital camera recorded Larry backing their Lexus into the storage at 5:58 a.m. the subsequent morning.

Billy Little: So, you’ll be able to’t see what is going on on, however you’ll be able to see it going within the storage.

Larry then leaves the home at 6:45 a.m. and does not return dwelling for nearly 11-and-a-half hours.  

Jonathan Vigliotti: You possibly can have … moved on. Why did you keep on this case and take issues into your personal fingers?

Billy Little: In my thoughts, my job wasn’t practically full.

Jonathan Vigliotti: It was simply starting.

Billy Little: It was simply starting (tears up) … Once I see Maricris and I see her crying, I am similar to, I obtained to determine this out.

Billy Little: It is simply not in me to give up, so I do not.

As Billy Little continued investigating, Maricris and Richard turned to native media and arranged the primary seek for Maya on the mountain climbing trails behind her home.

Richard Drouaillet: We’re determined for solutions … We needed motion and we needed to do one thing. Stayin’ at dwelling, sitting down wasn’t gonna carry us solutions.

Aleida Wahn: Her sister goes on tv and is begging the general public for assist, “assist me discover my lacking sister” and that actually moved individuals.  

Aleida Wahn, an lawyer and true-crime writer, noticed Maya’s case on the information and began following it intently.

Aleida Wahn: You understand that this was anyone that was very vibrant … was actually on the market dwelling her life. And that’s a part of why it is all so surprising that she’s lacking … It shocks your conscience. 

Because the case gathered steam within the media, on January 23, 2021, two weeks after Maya’s disappearance, the Chula Vista Police Division searched the Millete home.

Aleida Wahn: And what they did discover was that Larry had quite a lot of firearms. They seized two Glock handguns, a rifle and a shotgun. … they usually discovered that he was in possession of an unlawful assault weapon.

Investigators additionally downloaded pictures from Larry’s cellphone. Three days later, the police had been again.

Aleida Wahn: On January 26, they served one other search warrant … and the police take the navigation system, the GPS, from Larry’s Lexus

In the meantime, Maya’s pals had been revealing particulars in regards to the couple’s relationship.

Claudia Julao: I’ll say March or so of 2020, the obsession grew to become apparent.

Larry’s conduct had grown alarming earlier than his spouse went lacking. 

Claudia Julao: He would do subliminal messages for her to be that excellent partner. And it was in every single place she walked, at completely different instances, they might activate. … That’s insane. …  It appears like from a film.

Indicators of hassle

Claudia Julao: She did not simply stroll out. That is one thing she would by no means do.

A couple of month after Maya’s disappearance, her husband Larry Millete employed a lawyer and stopped cooperating with investigators.

Claudia Julao: I consider that he did one thing to her.

Billy Little was instructed by Maya’s family and friends that worrying indicators within the marriage started rising the yr earlier than.

Billy Little: And it began again in January of 2020 after they began having marital issues.

Maricris Drouaillet: Larry would name each single one among us … attempting to ask for assist to intervene, , into the wedding.

Larry was complaining that Maya was having a midlife disaster.

Richard Drouaillet: He is like, “Effectively, she’s been going out together with her pals extra typically. And he or she has a lotta single pals.”

Maricris Drouaillet: However my sister is saying , “It isn’t me, it is Larry.”

Maya’s pal Claudia hung out with the couple socially.

Claudia Julao: His relationship was very, sort of to the aspect and simply very watchful. … From what my commentary of him, he at all times needed to be in management.

Claudia remembers an occasion when Larry could not come up with Maya at work.

Claudia Julao: You understand when … anyone could be agitated otherwise you overhear their voice … I did hear, … “The place are you? …it takes you this lengthy to get out of your automotive to your workplace …Who had been you speaking to?“

Maricris Drouaillet: He needs her … to be submissive for her to conform to him … to be the identical particular person as, , she used to.

However Maya’s family members say that Maya was altering.

Richard Drouaillet: She was growin’ into somebody new. A robust lady, for certain.

Because the months handed in 2020, Larry’s grip on Maya tightened.

Billy Little: He is now monitoring her spending habits. He is gotten into all of her social media accounts. … She does not have any privateness.

And he discovered she was having an affair.

Billy Little: Larry … accused her of getting affairs with a number of males at work, wrote emails to her boss at work … he is aware of that, if he tells the boss that she’s having an affair with anyone at work, that she is going to get fired.

Billy Little: He tells all of Maya’s household, she’s dishonest, she’s sinful, assist me get her again on the Christian non secular method … begins forcing her to go to church.

These are texts that Larry despatched to Maya’s household.

Billy Little: He is quoting the Bible … and it says “for the lips of the adulterous lady drip honey … Her toes go right down to loss of life. … Her steps lead straight to the grave” … He is speaking about Maya.

Billy Little: In his personal phrases … he stated that he was “getting determined” … And he felt that the “satan was tempting him.” 

Sooner or later, Maya’s household says they instructed her they had been involved about what was unfolding.

Maricris Drouaillet: At the moment, we knew … that my sister is able to transfer on. … We instructed her, “No matter your choice is, we’re right here to assist you.”

By the autumn of 2020, Billy Little says Larry was rising more and more determined to carry onto Maya.

Billy Little: And, so, what does he do? He goes to witchcraft.

Billy Little: There are individuals on the web that’ll promote you for 5 bucks, , find out how to make a spell that can get her to be interested in you … to bind your marriage in blood. And that is what he tried to do … does a witchcraft blood altar.

Billy Little [referencing photo]: That’s the image that he took of the altar … An previous picture of them with blood thrown on it.

Little says Larry contacted quite a few spellcasters and even wrote a evaluation for one.

Jonathan Vigliotti: And he writes of this spellcaster … “She is type, skilled and courteous. My casting has not but manifested, however I am actually hoping and relying on it.” …leaving a evaluation like one would depart on Yelp for a meals order.

Billy Little: Like, it is an Uber trip. … Like, “Oh, 5 stars. Good job spellcaster.”

Billy Little: So, he isn’t fairly as sensible as he thinks he’s. He does not understand that each one of that stuff is pointing the finger at him. 

By December 2020, Maya and Larry had been sleeping in separate rooms. Little says Maya discovered audio system in her room and confronted Larry. He admitted he had been enjoying subliminal messages whereas she slept. Maya messaged a pal and stated her marriage was positively over.

Jonathan Vigliotti: What was that message that was popping out of these audio system beneath the mattress?

Billy Little: It is proper there.

Jonathan Vigliotti: Oh, “No extra males.”

Billy Little: “No extra males.”

On New 12 months’s weekend, Maya instructed her household her choice.

Maricris Drouaillet: She’s prepared for divorce, she’s lastly made up her thoughts. … I simply instructed her, “Simply watch out. Simply watch out.”

On January 7, the final day she was heard from, Maya stuffed out a divorce consumption type and made an appointment with a divorce lawyer.

Allison Alexander: I believe she instructed him that she was going to file for divorce.

Claudia Julao: He snapped when he discovered that he was lastly shedding her.

What had occurred in the home that evening? Little thinks he is aware of after a neighbor reached out with some data.

Jonathan Vigliotti: The neighbors, do they are saying, oh yeah, we heard gunshots?

Billy Little: Yeah. Not solely did they inform me that they have gunshots, however they have the … audio.

A house surveillance system from the neighbor captured loud bangs round 10 p.m. that evening. Little additionally believes they’re gunshots.

Billy Little: It is coming from Larry and Maya’s home.

Bear in mind, Billy Little had tracked down that different dwelling safety footage that police agreed captured audio of the Millete children enjoying within the yard at 10:30 p.m.

Billy Little: The image is changing into increasingly more clear. … He is obtained to wash up, and he is obtained to maneuver the physique … so he must ship these children exterior on a faculty evening … at 10:30.

Jonathan Vigliotti: Do you attempt to communicate to regulation enforcement?

Billy Little: I did. … I instructed them what I had discovered. … And time and time once more, there was simply no comply with up by the police.

The Chula Vista Police Division declined “48 Hours”‘ request for an interview, however in April 2021, they instructed native media that it had been an lively investigation since mid-January, they usually had been maintaining their playing cards near the vest.

Richard Drouaillet: It is robust … there was very minimal particulars. And that was a part of our frustration working with the police division.

Aleida Wahn: The household now’s having numerous rallies in entrance of the Chula Vista Police Division, principally demanding solutions. However … the police are usually not going to launch quite a lot of data to the household. That is doubtlessly a homicide investigation.

In Might 2021, the police served Larry Millete with a gun violence restraining order. Among the many causes: investigators had discovered a picture of weapons on Larry’s cellphone.  One other picture, which had been redacted, featured the couple’s 4-year-old son surrounded by weapons. 

Authorities retrieved extra firearms from the Millete home.

Billy Little: I believe that was a sensible transfer by the police … it protects the youngsters whereas they attempt to purchase a bit of little bit of time. … but it surely additionally protects them in the event that they must go in and arrest him.

In the summertime of 2021, investigators named Larry Millete an individual of curiosity in his spouse’s case.

Aleida Wahn: You retain questioning … is that this going to be the time that they’re going to arrest Larry?

On October 19, 9 months after the disappearance of Maya, investigators did simply that.

CHIEF KENNEDY (press convention): At this time at 11:42 a.m., the Chula Vista Police Division SWAT workforce … arrested Larry Millete for the homicide of his spouse Maya Millete.

And with that, much more proof got here to gentle.

A take a look at the proof

Maya’s household and pals anticipated the information of an arrest for months.

Allison Alexander: I perceive that there’s a case that must be constructed. There is just one shot. But it surely simply appeared prefer it was too lengthy.

But when Maya’s husband Larry Millete was arrested for her homicide in October 2021, it was nonetheless a combined vary of feelings.

Jonathan Vigliotti: Claudia, what was your response?

Claudia Julao: Relieved, but on the identical time, unhappy … and so though you retain that hope up now it grew to become actual.

Richard Drouaillet: I believe we had completely different reactions. I stated, “Lastly” (emotional). She began crying.

Maricris Drouaillet: He is been with us for 20 years. My sister did love him. She gave him three children. He simply could not let it go. 

In a press convention, San Diego County District Legal professional Summer season Stephan laid out a few of the particulars of the months-long regulation enforcement investigation.

SUMMER STEPHAN: In murder instances, there’s typically a triggering occasion. On this case, the final name recorded that Might made was to a divorce lawyer.

That decision was at 3:48 p.m. dwelling safety cameras captured Maya arriving at her home at 4:42 p.m. There have been no pictures of her leaving.

Investigators had additionally turned up extra proof of Larry attempting to maintain Maya within the marriage by means of the supernatural earlier than she went lacking.

SUMMER STEPHAN: I’ve by no means had a case the place that was concerned.

However the spells they found went past greater than asking Maya to be interested in him. In keeping with the arrest warrant, Larry now needed Maya to be harmed.

Aleida Wahn: Earlier than Maya went lacking, Larry despatched this message to an internet site that claims to solid spells … “Please punish Might and incapacitate her sufficient so she will’t go away the home. It is time to take the gloves off.”

It was proof, they are saying, of his “unbalanced mindset” and “homicidal ideation.”

Aleida Wahn: The day Maya went lacking, Larry despatched numerous emails to spellcasters. “I believe she needs me to snap … I am shaking inside, able to snap.”

What’s extra, in accordance with the arrest warrant, Larry had allegedly snapped earlier than.

Jonathan Vigliotti: Certainly one of Maya’s pals stated that Maya instructed her Larry choked her, to the purpose the place she was unconscious.

Maricris Drouaillet: I simply heard that. … Oh, I used to be mad. How might he try this?

Maya had by no means shared that with Maricris.

Maricris Drouaillet: She did not share … what she’s going by means of, ‘trigger she did not need the household to fret about her … she was additionally defending Larry … and he or she was defending the youngsters.

Jonathan Vigliotti: Have been you conscious of any bodily abuse?

Claudia Julao: No.

Allison Alexander: No.

Allison Alexander: She would say little issues right here and there, however … not at all times to the identical particular person.

Claudia Julao: There have been already incidents that had been enormous crimson flags that if all of us knew it on the identical time, it might have been a much bigger image.

Claudia Julao: I really feel responsible, , after the very fact, as soon as she went lacking it was a really harsh actuality for me (cries). … I wasn’t in a position to assist her … And I’ll perpetually stay with that.

Evelyn Rodriguez: No person had the total image proper moreover the 2 of them.

Evelyn Rodriguez is an affiliate professor of sociology who teaches on matters of race and identification on the College of San Francisco. She reviewed the case for “48 Hours.”

Evelyn Rodriguez: The indicators of home abuse may be so onerous to determine … as a result of we as a society … are unable to differentiate the road that divides that sort of, like zealous, passionate love from controlling conduct.

Evelyn Rodriguez: Larry Millete checks all of the bins for home accomplice abuse.

Evelyn Rodriguez: He knew what Maya’s strain factors had been. … And so he weaponized her work … He weaponized her kids, her household, her faith earlier than he obtained determined sufficient to attempt these different technique of controlling her and maintaining her in that marriage.

Rodriguez suggests when Larry turned to spellcasting as one other technique to regulate Maya, he might have been impressed by an old-world type of folks magic within the Philippines. 

Evelyn Rodriguez: And that is stuff of, like, the previous world to our mother and father even.

Evelyn Rodriguez: One way or the other that has developed into what I believe Larry was capable of finding.

However Rodriguez factors out that it’s important to not lose sight of what the difficulty is right here.

Evelyn Rodriguez: Actually the story right here is that this was an abusive accomplice, no matter his tradition, who was exhibiting each single … signal of home abuse.

With Maya’s alleged killer behind bars, her household knew their work was not performed. They had been extra decided than ever to seek out her — energized with new data that had come out after Larry’s arrest. Aleida Wahn was a part of that search.

Aleida Wahn: The factor that this case actually wanted was to have the ability to know the place to go looking. That was the issue right here. You’ll be able to’t simply search your complete world.

Jonathan Vigliotti: The place are we proper now? 

Richard Drouaillet: It is a scorching spot that Larry might have introduced Maya’s physique out right here.

Like Billy Little, investigators obtained footage that confirmed Larry leaving the home within the couple’s Lexus for nearly 11-and-a-half hours the day after his spouse was final heard from. They analyzed the automotive’s navigation system.

Richard Drouaillet: In keeping with the knowledge that we have now now … he was about two-and-a-half hours out from his home when he put his deal with in.

Someplace two-and-a-half-hours away from his home, Larry had entered his deal with to seek out his method again dwelling. That data was sufficient to heart the searches on locations Larry was acquainted with, just like the desert space the place he and Maya had gone mountain climbing.

Jonathan Vigliotti: What are you particularly searching for as you comb this space?

Richard Drouaillet: At this level, sadly, I hate to say it, however we’re most likely simply searching for clothes or bones. 

Over the months, droves of volunteers have responded to her household’s calls to the neighborhood and have joined Group Maya.

Richard Drouaillet: We’re simply so grateful and blessed to have everyone right here.

James Shelby | Volunteer searcher: I am San Diego Metropolis retired firefighter … I obtained a workforce, and we exit and we systematically cowl … areas the place somebody might probably disguise a physique. And it’s extremely unhappy to even discuss however it’s a must to do it. And it is the proverbial needle in a haystack. 

Jonathan Vigliotti: Why are you right here as we speak?

Damien Damage | Volunteer searcher: Actually simply to assist the household. … Hopefully we will carry peace to the household.

Jonathan Vigliotti: What drives you to do that for a complete stranger, anyone you do not even know?

Keri Park | Volunteer searcher: It felt that it must be a neighborhood effort … you simply need closure for this household a lot. … And that is why we’re out right here. It is why we hold coming. They deserve it. … Maya deserves it.

Because the seek for Maya continues within the huge lands of japanese San Diego, the hunt for justice is simply starting within the halls of the San Diego court docket system.

Aleida Wahn: The issue with this case … is you do not have a physique.

The search continues

Larry Millete has been behind bars since his arrest in October 2021, awaiting trial. He pleaded not responsible to costs of homicide and unlawful possession of an assault weapon. If convicted, Larry might resist 25 years to life in jail.

Billy Little: His ego was so broken by the very fact his spouse did not need to be with him anymore and he could not deal with it. So, he killed her.

Though there may be nonetheless hope Maya might be discovered any day, a sufferer’s physique isn’t required to convict somebody of homicide.

Billy Little: This is among the strongest circumstantial instances I’ve ever seen… you do not have a physique. So what? … You aren’t getting to get away with homicide since you’re good at disposing of our bodies.

However Larry maintains Maya left on her personal. His protection lawyer Bonita Martinez turned down “48 Hours”‘ request for an interview however spoke with reporters after a listening to the place Larry was denied bail.

BONITA MARTINEZ [to reporters]: … his spouse was used to leaving the home prior to now. … And you can not rule out that she’s alive.

Jonathan Vigliotti: Larry maintains that Maya voluntarily left him, left the youngsters to start out her personal new life. Do you consider that? 

Claudia Julao: No.

Allison Alexander: Nope.

Claudia Julao: In no way.

Allison Alexander: I might by no means consider that. By no means.

Claudia Julao: Maya beloved her children. There is no method she would have … up and left.

Aleida Wahn: The most effective argument for the protection right here is Maya isn’t lifeless. They do not have a physique. She’s alive and properly.

Legal professional Aleida Wahn says a “no physique” protection has labored earlier than in different instances. She says with no physique, the prosecution could also be at a drawback.

Aleida Wahn: They want robust proof … And the query is what have they got? Have they got one thing that they will carry out in a courtroom that positively ties Larry to homicide?

These loud bangs recorded on the neighboring safety digital camera will not be proof of something. An FBI evaluation was inconclusive.  

Aleida Wahn: They could not definitively say these had been gunshots as a result of the sound high quality was not ok.

In November 2021, Larry’s lawyer filed paperwork with the San Diego Superior Court docket with extra allegations about Maya.

Aleida Wahn: They consider that she had this wild life-style, that she was on the market having affairs, she’s courting completely different males off the web … that she’s consuming excessively, that she’s develop into this fully completely different particular person. And so, they’re pointing to 3rd social gathering culpability. If she’s harmed, it was anyone else.

Jonathan Vigliotti: Larry and his mother and father declare in court docket paperwork that Maya was primarily a celebration lady.

Claudia Julao: Positively not. … the Maya that I do know … was a loyal mom.

Not lengthy after Maya’s disappearance, Maricris and Richard say Larry minimize off contact between the youngsters and Maya’s aspect of the household.

Richard Drouaillet: We’re simply attempting to see them. … Going from hangin’ out, hugging ’em, leaping on my again … seein’ them at the least a couple of times a month — at the least, to not seein’ them in any respect for 9 months.

The Millete kids are nonetheless dwelling at dwelling within the care of Larry’s mother and father.  However after months of not seeing them, Maya’s household was granted visitation rights in November 2021. However the combat isn’t over. Maricris has filed a petition for guardianship of her sister’s kids.

Maricris Drouaillet: … simply present them that the entire whole household are ready for them. And, , are desirous to be with them once more.

Allison Alexander: What these kids will undergo, all these moments in life after they want their mother and he or she’s not going to be there. … It breaks my coronary heart.

In January 2022, Maya’s household and pals held a vigil to mark the one-year anniversary of her disappearance.

Claudia Julao (cries): There’s anyone on the market that is aware of one thing, that is seen one thing … They need to come ahead. … Have it in your coronary heart to assist us carry her dwelling.

Claudia Julao: She’s going to perpetually be my hero. that is what I’ll take with me, is a vibrant, shining star of a girl that gave each different lady, no matter what she was going by means of an inspiration to be whoever they needed. … That is who Maya is.

On July 9, 2026, a jury discovered Larry Millete responsible of first-degree homicide within the loss of life of Maya Millete.  

In August 2024, a decide granted custody of Maya’s three kids to her sister, Maricris.

Maya Millete has by no means been discovered.

When you’ve got data on the case, contact the Chula Vista Police Division at 619-691-5139.

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Produced by Asena Basak. Cindy Cesare is the event producer. Hannah Vair is a producer, and Lauren Turner Dunn is the affiliate producer. Ken Blum, Jud Johnston, Atticus Brady and Gary Winter are the editors. Lourdes Aguiar is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the chief story editor. Judy Tygard is the chief producer.

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