Larry Millete, 44, was convicted of first-degree murder Thursday for the killing of his wife, May Maya Millete, who vanished without a trace more than five years ago. Following about six weeks of testimony and more than 60 witnesses, a Chula Vista jury deliberated for less than a day before convicting Millete of murdering his wife of 20 years. May Millete, who was 39 at the time, has not been seen or heard from since Jan. 7, 2021.
The Prosecution’s Case
Deputy District Attorney Christy Bowles argued that Larry Millete killed his wife in their home because she sought a divorce. Prosecutors allege that Millete loaded her body into an SUV and disposed of her on Jan. 8, 2021, during a period of about 12 hours in which his whereabouts remain unknown. While Bowles conceded to jurors that she could not specifically articulate the exact method of death, she argued that the lack of a body was evidence of a crime so well-planned that it is nothing other than premeditation.
The prosecution focused on what Bowles described as Larry’s possessive and controlling behavior. Evidence presented included records of Larry regularly tracking May’s whereabouts, controlling her finances, and soliciting the assistance of spell casters. Bowles argued these messages evolved from seeking to make May fall in love with him again to causing her to become sick or incapacitated so she would be dependent on him. The prosecutor noted that these requests abruptly ended following May’s disappearance.
The state also presented evidence regarding poison hemlock. A vial found inside the Millete home following his arrest tested positive for coniine, a poisonous compound found in the plant. Prosecutors noted that Larry had searched numerous times for poison hemlock online, as well as other methods for killing or incapacitating someone. Summing up the circumstantial evidence, Bowles told the jury: There are too many coincidences. He is either the unluckiest person in the world, or he is guilty of murder.
The Defense’s Argument
Defense attorney Liann Sabatini argued that Larry’s behavior was colored by May’s ongoing affair with a co-worker. Sabatini characterized Larry as a tragic figure who was being emotionally and psychologically abused and gaslit by his wife. She told the jury that Larry’s conduct, which the prosecution classified as stalking, was actually a tragic investigation in which he was trying to confirm whether May was cheating.
Sabatini dismissed the poison theory as silly, arguing there was no reason for Larry to keep the plant inside his home nearly a year after May’s disappearance if he were guilty. She suggested it was more likely one of his children picked the plant, as poison hemlock is commonly found throughout San Diego County, or that Larry searched for the plant as a means to commit suicide due to his despair over his deteriorating marriage. Sabatini maintained that the prosecution asked jurors to speculate rather than rely on facts in a case that lacked a body, crime scene, murder weapon, or eyewitnesses.
Timeline and Evidence
Surveillance footage captured May entering the family’s home at around 4:45 p.m. on Jan. 7, 2021, but no video footage captured her leaving. According to trial testimony, her last known contact was a text message with one of her sisters at around 8:15 p.m. on Jan. 7. Her cell phone terminated all cellular connections at about 1:25 a.m. on Jan. 8. Larry’s phone also terminated cell connections on the morning of Jan. 8. He allegedly left the family’s home in an SUV at about 6:45 a.m. and did not return until about 6 p.m. that evening.
Sentencing and Status
Larry Millete faces up to 25 years to life in state prison for May’s murder. A sentencing hearing was not set, as another unresolved assault weapon possession charge will be dealt with first. Millete is scheduled to return to court next month for a status conference.
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