Maya Millete’s final text messages, sent to a close confidante shortly before her January 2021 disappearance, were read into the court record this week, offering a stark look at the domestic tension preceding the Chula Vista woman’s vanishing. The messages, presented during the ongoing murder trial of her husband, Larry Millete, detail Maya’s expressed fears regarding her children and her husband’s reaction to her request for a divorce.
Larry Millete, 42, faces charges of murder and illegal possession of an assault weapon in connection with the disappearance of his wife, who was last seen at their San Miguel Ranch home on January 7, 2021. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges, maintaining his innocence throughout the legal proceedings, according to court filings from the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office.
Testimony on Domestic Control and Final Communications
Kristeen Timmers, a longtime coworker and friend of the victim, testified that Maya had firmly decided to end her marriage in December 2020. Timmers told the court that Maya described Larry as exerting “complete control” over the family’s finances, despite Maya serving as the primary breadwinner. According to Timmers, this financial leverage was one of several methods Larry allegedly used to maintain authority within the household.
The court reviewed a series of text messages, which prosecutors identified as the final communications Timmers received from Maya on the evening of January 7, 2021. In these messages, Maya expressed deep concern for her three children and described Larry as increasingly volatile. She relayed to Timmers that Larry had called her “cold-hearted” and accused her of “throwing him away like he was dirt” after she initiated conversations about separating.
Timmers further testified that Larry allegedly threatened to damage Maya’s professional reputation by escalating claims about an extramarital affair to her superiors. The defense, during cross-examination, questioned the extent of Timmers’ knowledge regarding the timeline of Maya’s personal life, specifically probing when she became aware of an affair Maya had with a coworker, Jamey Laird. Timmers acknowledged that while Maya initially denied the relationship, she eventually disclosed its existence in August 2020, though she maintained it had concluded by that time.
Digital Forensics and the January 8 Timeline
The prosecution’s case relies heavily on digital evidence, which was detailed in court by James Rhoades, an investigator with the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office. Rhoades provided a technical breakdown of activity on Larry Millete’s mobile phone during the 24-hour period following Maya’s last sighting.
According to the forensic analysis, the device was plugged in at 2:38 a.m. on January 8, 2021, and remained charging until 4:45 a.m. Rhoades testified that the phone was manually powered off at 6:35 a.m. and did not register further activity until it was turned back on at 6:35 p.m. that evening. This 12-hour gap in digital activity coincides with surveillance footage from a neighbor’s camera, which prosecutors state shows the family’s black Lexus SUV leaving the residence at 6:45 a.m. and returning at 6:06 p.m., as reported in local media coverage of the trial.
Larry Millete has previously told investigators that he spent the day at Torrey Pines beach with his son. However, investigators testified that they have been unable to corroborate this alibi through digital or physical evidence.
Evidence of Search History and Alleged Harassment
Beyond the timeline of the disappearance, the prosecution introduced evidence regarding Larry’s online behavior and alleged attempts to influence events through non-traditional means. Investigator Rhoades testified that a search warrant served on an email account linked to Larry revealed a history of searches for terms such as “painless death,” “hemlock flower,” “sleeping pills how much is too much,” and “shot in the heart instant death.”
Prosecutors also presented evidence that Larry had paid for services from various “spellcasters,” allegedly requesting hexes or charms to be placed on both his wife and Jamey Laird. The email account was also used to send anonymous whistleblower reports to the management at the Southwest Regional Maintenance Center (SWRMC), where both Maya and Laird were employed. Rhoades noted that the writing style and specific misspellings in those emails matched other documents attributed to Larry.
The cross-examination of Rhoades by defense attorney Colby Ryan was extensive, focusing on the limitations of the digital forensic data. Ryan challenged the investigator on the scope of the phone records, suggesting that the three-week window of data analyzed—spanning December 2020 through January 2021—might not provide a complete picture of Larry’s typical phone usage habits. Rhoades conceded that he could only analyze the data that was retrieved from the device.
Next Steps in the Legal Proceedings
The trial is scheduled to resume on Monday morning. The prosecution has indicated its intent to recall investigator James Rhoades to the stand to present additional evidence. The proceedings continue to draw significant public interest as the court works to establish a definitive timeline of the events surrounding January 7, 2021.
For those following the case, official updates and court schedules are periodically released through the San Diego Superior Court portal. As the trial progresses, further testimony is expected to shed more light on the digital and circumstantial evidence collected by law enforcement.