SAN DIEGO, CA — Jurors in the murder trial of Larry Millete heard emotional journal entries written by his missing wife, Maya Millete, as prosecutors tried to show years of fear and abuse before her disappearance. The notes, read in court, described fights, physical abuse and her concern that her husband could hurt her.
The testimony came during the 12th day of trial in San Diego County. Prosecutors say Larry Millete killed his wife after she vanished on January 7, 2021, and concealed her body; he has maintained his innocence.
What did Maya Millete write in her journal?
Lead investigator James Rhoades testified about handwritten entries found during the search of the family home in the San Miguel Ranch neighborhood of Chula Vista. The notes were addressed to Maya’s two daughters and included references to arguments and long-running strain in the marriage.
One entry said, “Your dad and I had a huge fight tonight,” and added, “It’s the breaking point for me.” Other passages said, “He abuses me physically,” “I’m literally afraid of your dad sometimes,” and “Nothing stops him from forcing himself on me.”
What cellphone records did jurors hear about?
Rhoades also described cellphone evidence recovered during the investigation. He said investigators did not find a direct text thread between Larry and Maya on his phone, but did find a group chat that included Larry, Maya and Maya’s work phone from June 2020, when she had temporarily moved out.
According to Rhoades, Larry sent 473 of the 587 messages in that conversation. Many messages asked Maya to come back, and one appeared to reference infidelity: “I only strayed once. I promised to never do it again.”
Who else testified about the marriage?
The trial revisited testimony from Maya’s sister-in-law, Genesis Tabalanza, who had previously spent days on the witness stand while defense attorneys reviewed hundreds of texts she exchanged with Larry in 2020. Those messages covered his efforts to repair the marriage, his attempts to give Maya space and his concerns about the couple’s three children.
When prosecutors asked whether Maya would ever voluntarily leave her children behind, Tabalanza answered, “Of course not,” adding, “She would not abandon her kids.”
What other evidence did prosecutors present?
Another witness, former colleague Claudia Julao, testified that Maya had been making plans for the future shortly before she disappeared. Julao said Maya discussed estate planning, wanted to make sure her children would be cared for and planned to gather financial information after the new year because Larry controlled the family finances.
Jurors have also heard surveillance footage discussed by prosecutors, including video they say shows a freezer being wheeled out of the Chula Vista home and loaded into a vehicle. Investigators said hundreds of hours of neighborhood and Ring camera footage showed no video of Maya leaving after she went back inside around 4:45 p.m.
What happens now in the case?
Maya Millete’s remains have never been found, and the defense continues to argue that she left on her own. Prosecutors are using the journal entries, electronic records and witness testimony to support their case that she was killed and hidden.
The trial is continuing in San Diego County as jurors weigh competing accounts of the couple’s marriage, the missing mother’s final days and the evidence presented so far.
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