Dramatic twist 10 months after mum of three vanished
The husband of a missing woman who was last seen in January this year has been arrested and charged with her murder.
Maya 'May' Millete, 40, was last seen by her family at her home in San Diego, California, at around 5pm on January 7, 2021.
Two days later, Ms Millete was reported missing to Chula Vista Police Department on January 9.
On Tuesday, local time, City of Chula Vista Police Chief Roxana Kennedy fronted the media and announced Ms Millete's husband Larry Millete, 40, was arrested earlier in the day.
Chief Kennedy said Millete was arrested in his home, while he was alone, while adding Ms Millete's children were safe.
The arrest came a day after San Diego County prosecutors charged him with murder and illegal possession of an assault weapon.
"To date, the investigation has included over 67 search warrants, 87 interviews, review and investigation of over 130 tips and thousands of hours of methodical investigative efforts," Chief Kennedy added.
"These efforts, ultimately generated a variety of pieces of evidence that have become clear, and overwhelming. Larry Millete, May's husband is responsible for May's murder and disappearance."
While the arrest was a "step towards justice", Chief Kennedy said it was not the end of the investigation, with authorities and family members asking for public help in trying to track down Maya Millete’s remains.
"While we are here to report the arrest of Larry Miller, they, nothing will change the fact that May's murder is a senseless tragedy," Chief Kennedy said.
"A mother is gone. A family is broken, and community is left with questions and confusion."
Ms Millete was a dedicated mother to her three children, aged 4, 9, and 11.
Mr Millete could face a life sentence if convicted of killing his wife and District Attorney Summer Stephan said prosecutors can file a murder charge without having a body.
May Millete tried to leave 'toxic relationship'
Ms Stephan offered new details about January 7, in the lead-up to Ms Millete's disappearance.
On January 7, Ms Millette sent her final text message to her family, just after 8pm and the final activity on her phone was at 1.25am on January 8.
Millete was seen moving his black Lexus to the garage in the early hours of the morning on January 8.
He repositioned his car at the entrance of the garage at 5.58am, Ms Stephan added there was no video to capture whether he moved a body into the car or not.
At 6.45am, Millete is seen leaving his residence and did not return for over 11 hours, he left behind his mobile phone.
He took his four-year-old child with him and leaves behind his two older children. Millete claimed he took his four-year-old son to Solana Beach on January 8.
Larry Millete told police that his wife voluntarily left the family. But investigators said he had been considered a “person of interest” in her disappearance.
Ms Stephan said Maya Millete was in a “toxic relationship” and that her last known call before she vanished on January 7 was to a divorce attorney.
Before Maya Millette disappeared, her husband opposed divorcing and hired “spellcasters” to keep her from leaving, Stephan said.
“He was asking for May to become incapacitated … so that she could stay at home, thus displaying his homicidal idealisations to harm May,” Stephan said.
Millete had previously said he thought his wife had left on her own accord, pleading with her through the media for her to come home.
With Associated Press
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