Mom of Three Vanishes: Husband on Trial Years After Maya Millete’s Disappearance

Maya Millete was 39 years old when she went missing. She was a mother of three children from Chula Vista, California. Millete was reported missing by her sister in January 2021, after which authorities launched an extensive multi-agency search, but they did not find her body. Following a lengthy investigation, her husband, Larry Millette, was arrested and charged with her murder. His trial began in May 2026.

Millete’s husband, Larrey Millete, was the last person to see her before she disappeared. Maya Millete had sought a divorce and contacted a divorce attorney to begin the process on January 7, 2021, one day before she went missing. Investigators said Larrey Millete gave conflicting accounts to her family about where she might have gone.

According to investigators, on January 7, 2021, Maya Millete was captured on the home surveillance footage returning to her house at about 4:43 p.m. At about 8:15 p.m. that day, Maya sent her family a final message with a link to a trailer sale. This was the last time her family heard from her.

Maya Millete’s cellphone signal stopped early in the morning at about 1:25 a.m. on January 8, 2021. Larrey Millete was seen leaving the house in his Black Lexus SUV in the morning and was gone for about 12 hours, according to surveillance footage.

The investigation began after Maya Millete’s sister, Maricris Drouaillet, reported her missing on January 9, 2021, to the Chula Vista Police Department. Family members and friends created flyers to raise awareness about her disappearance.

Maya Millete’s sister and her husband, Richard Drouaillet, said they hoped she would be safe but grew concerned when Maya Millete did not appear for her daughter’s birthday.

Attorney Billy Little, a former criminal defense investigator for the U.S. Navy, learned about the case and offered to help. On January 11, 2021, Little went to the Millete home to search for clues. He said Larrey Millete appeared unconcerned and seemed to be airing out the house. Larrey Millete later told local media he believed his wife would return.

Investigators said Larrey Millete paid thousands of dollars to online spellcasters to harm Maya Millete. Little said he found evidence that Larrey Millete purchased spells online. Authorities said he initially wanted Maya Millete to fall back in love with him, but as their marital problems worsened, he sought to harm her. He allegedly wrote to a spellcaster, "Please punish Maya and incapacitate her enough so she can't leave the house."

The Chula Vista Police Department obtained a search warrant for the Millete home to collect evidence. Investigators also issued a gun violence restraining order against Larrey Millete and seized 16 firearms in May 2021. Authorities arrested Larrey Millete in October 2021, and a judge ordered him held without bail. He denied the charges and said Maya Millete left voluntarily.

Authorities conducted extensive multi-agency searches for Maya Millete, and volunteers spent hours travelling to search locations and days looking for her. The "Justice for Maya" campaign continues as Larrey Millete’s trial began following jury selection in May 2026.