In January 2021, Maya Millete, a 39-year-old mother of three from Chula Vista, California, disappeared without explanation. At the time, her husband, Larry Millete, expressed hope she would return home safe.
Maya never appeared, and Larry was arrested nine months after her disappearance and charged with first-degree murder. More than five years later, Larry is set to appear in court.
After multiple delays, his trial is set to begin May 11 at the South Bay Courthouse and could last as long as three months. He faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted on the murder charge.
Larry has pleaded not guilty and maintained his innocence, while prosecutors contend a breakdown of his marriage prompted him to kill Maya, based largely on circumstantial evidence.
Here’s what we know about Larry’s background, the timeline of the case, and what to expect during the trial.
Who Is Larry Millete?
As of April 2026, Larry Millete is 43 years old—placing his birthday sometime during the early 1980s. Little is known about his childhood.
As a teenager, Millete moved with his family from San Diego to Hawaii—allegedly following legal trouble. In April 2021, sources told CBS 8 in San Diego Millete was involved in a “gang related” stabbing incident on April 30, 1997. Millete, then believed to be around 15, was reportedly taken into juvenile custody and charged with assault with a deadly weapon. Official juvenile records from the case are closed.
It was in Hawaii where Millete met Maya, according to family members. The pair married as teenagers and had three children together.
Through a Freedom of Information Act request, CBS 8 acquired military records showing Millete enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1999 and served from 2000 through 2005. He worked as an optician at the Naval Medical Center San Diego and has no combat experience.
Maya worked as a civilian contract specialist for the Navy, according to Fox 5. The couple reportedly had marital problems the year prior to Maya’s disappearance, per CBS News, and she had expressed a desire to leave the relationship.
What Do We Know About Maya Millete’s Disappearance?
Maya Millete was last captured on surveillance footage arriving at her home in Chula Vista, California, on January 7, 2021, according to CBS News. Larry, the last person to see her, told family members conflicting stories about her possible whereabouts. After no contact with Maya for two days, her sister Maricris Drouaillet reported her missing.
Days later, on January 13, Larry spoke about Maya in a phone interview with local media. “I love you honey, just come back home,” he said. “I’m still very hopeful that will (with) all this media coverage, she’ll turn up and say, ‘Hey, I’m okay.’”
Over the next few months through May, police carried out several search warrants at the Millete home. Larry had to surrender multiple firearms to authorities. Additionally, an investigator found evidence that Larry had contacted multiple spellcasters, purchasing spells online, first in an attempt to improve his relationship with Maya, but eventually trying to harm her.
Despite the fact that Maya’s body has never been found, Larry was eventually arrested on October 19, 2021, and charged with first-degree murder in her death, as well as illegal possession of an assault weapon. He pleaded not guilty to all charges and has maintained his innocence.
Following Larry’s arrest, the Millete children were placed in the custody of his parents. However, a judge later granted custody to Maya’s sister, Drouaillet, in August 2024.
When Does Larry Millete’s Trial Begin?
Millete has been held without bail as his trial experienced multiple extended delays.
In June 2022, his attorney petitioned that he was not competent to stand trial. However, a judge found otherwise based on a psychiatric evaluation. The trial was then rescheduled for September 2023, August 2024, January 2025, and July 2025 for various reasons, according to NBC 7.
As of now, Millete’s trial is scheduled to begin on Monday, May 11, 2026. His attorneys filed a motion in April accusing the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office of presenting false testimony and misinterpreting evidence. They also requested the office be recused from the case. However, the judge denied the motion, as well as a subsequent motion to have the trial thrown out, meaning the trial can proceed as scheduled.
Millete was in court on Monday, April 27, for a hearing to discuss in limine motions, pretrial requests for admissibility of evidence and how a trial is presented, done without a jury present. Notably, Judge Enrique Camarena denied the presence of cameras in the courtroom for the trial, a move to allow jurors to deliberate without fear and concern about public perception.
Check back with Biography.com for more updates from the case.
Tyler Piccotti joined the Biography.com staff as an Associate News Editor and is now the News and Culture Editor. He previously worked as a reporter and copy editor for a daily newspaper recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors. In his current role, he shares the true stories behind your favorite movies and TV shows and profiles rising musicians, actors, and athletes. When he's not working, you can find him at the nearest amusement park or movie theater and cheering on his favorite teams.
