Full Breakdown
Larry Millete Convicted of First-Degree Murder in the Disappearance of His Wife, May “Maya” Millete
7/10/2026, 6:33:17 PM
Conviction Details
A Chula Vista jury found Larry Millete, 44, guilty of first-degree murder on July 9, 2026 for the killing of his wife, May “Maya” Millete, who vanished on January 7, 2021. After roughly six weeks of testimony, jurors deliberated for less than a day before delivering the verdict. Millete faces a sentence of 25 years to life; a separate assault-weapon possession charge will be addressed before sentencing.
Background of the Missing-Person Case
May Millete, 39, was last seen entering the family home at 4:45 p.m. on January 7, 2021. Her final text to a sister was sent at 8:15 p.m.; her cell service ended at 1:25 a.m. on January 8, 2021. Larry Millete’s phone also went offline that morning, and he left the residence in an SUV at 6:45 a.m., returning around 6 p.m. The body has never been recovered, and investigators have found no crime scene, murder weapon, or eyewitness accounts.
Prosecution Theory and Evidence
Deputy District Attorney Christy Bowles presented a circumstantial case centered on Millete’s controlling behavior, including financial control, digital tracking, and repeated requests to “spell casters” to influence Maya’s decisions. Text messages from January 7 showed Millete expressing extreme distress (“I’m shaking inside and ready to snap”). Prosecutors highlighted a vial containing coniine, the toxic compound in poison hemlock, and Millete’s online searches for the plant and other lethal methods. They argued Millete loaded Maya’s body into the SUV and disposed of it during a 12-hour window on January 8.
Defense Narrative
Defense attorney Liann Sabatini portrayed Millete as a “tragic” figure subjected to emotional abuse and gaslighting by Maya, who allegedly concealed an affair and a pregnancy termination. She argued the prosecution lacked proof of any violent act, emphasizing the absence of a body, murder weapon, or forensic evidence. Sabatini suggested alternative explanations for Millete’s January 8 activities, including possible suicide motives for his poison searches or the plant being collected by his children.
Official Statements
Deputy District Attorney Bowles said the verdict affirmed that “the only reasonable conclusion” was Millete’s guilt, noting his motive, opportunity, and the “total picture” of evidence. Maya’s sister, Maricris Drouaillet, expressed relief that “justice has been served” but reiterated that Maya remains missing and that the family still seeks to bring her home. San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan declared that “justice has been served for Maya and for everyone who has carried the weight of her absence for more than five years.”
Criticism & Opposition
Sabatini challenged the prosecution’s narrative, labeling the poison-hemlock theory “silly” and asserting that the case relied on speculation rather than concrete facts. She warned jurors not to “let them shift their burden to you,” emphasizing the legal presumption of innocence and the lack of direct evidence linking Millete to Maya’s death.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The trial produced no forensic confirmation of Maya’s cause of death; the poison-hemlock theory remains disputed, with the defense arguing the plant could have been introduced by a child. Surveillance captured Maya entering the home but not exiting, and Millete’s whereabouts during the critical 12-hour period remain unverified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “There are too many coincidences,” — Christy Bowles
- “He’s either the unluckiest person in the world, or he’s guilty of murder,” — Christy Bowles
- “There is no playbook for heartbreak.” — Liann Sabatini
- “Do not let them shift their burden to you.” — Liann Sabatini
- “San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said in a statement released shortly after the verdict, "Finally, justice has been served for Maya and for everyone who has carried the weight of her absence for more than five years.” — Summer Stephan
- “While today's verdict is significant, May is still missing,” — Christy Bowles
What’s Next
Millete is scheduled for a status conference in August 2026, after which a sentencing hearing will be set. The court will also address the pending assault-weapon possession charge before imposing a final prison term.
