Maya Millete, age 39, was last seen on January 7, 2021, in Chula Vista, California.  She disappeared from her home following an argument with her husband.

Background of Maya Millete

Maya “May” Millete (born Tabalanza) was born on May 1, 1981 in the Philippines’ Southern Province of Ilocos Sur to Pablito and Noemi Tabalanza. She is the fifth child in a family of six.

Maya’s family immigrated to the United States in 1995 and settled in Honolulu, Hawaii. She graduated from Radford High School and the University of California, San Diego, with a major in International Studies.

Maya began a romantic relationship with Larry Millete, a coworker she met at a McDonald’s near Pearl Harbor, in 1998. The couple married in 2000 and moved to San Diego, California, where Maya gave birth to three children.

Larry discovered her alleged extramarital affair in late 2020, and their marriage began to fall apart. Even though the couple went through marriage counselling, Maya eventually filed for divorce.

Maya was working as a civilian contract specialist at Naval Base San Diego’s 32nd Street Naval Station at the time of her disappearance. She shared a home with her husband and three children on the 2400 block of Paseo Los Gatos in Chula Vista, California.

Maya was passionate about hiking, dirt-biking, traveling, and regularly camped with her family. She created her own youtube channel where she posted videos of herself singing cover songs and playing guitar and piano.

Details of Disappearance

Maya called a divorce lawyer on January 7, 2021, and made an appointment for the following Tuesday. She reportedly locked herself in the bedroom after a fight with her husband around 5:00 p.m.

Larry allegedly left the house early on January 8, 2021, without seeing Maya. Her family became concerned when she did not respond to a group text message about her daughter’s upcoming eleventh birthday trip to Big Bear.

Soon after, her brother went to check on her at the family home, but one of his nieces informed him that Maya had locked herself in her bedroom since the previous evening. He knocked but received no response, so he left, assuming she did not want to be bothered.

Larry and Maya’s father eventually managed to open the bedroom door on January 9, 2021, but there was no sign of her. Maya Millete vanished from her home and has never been seen or heard from again.

That evening Maya’s sister filed a missing persons report with the Chula Vista Police Department.

Investigation of Case

At approximately 8:30 p.m. on the night of Maya Millete’s disappearance, video surveillance footage from a neighbour near her Chula Vista residence captured eight loud bangs over a twenty-second period.

The next morning, at 5:58 a.m., video surveillance footage captured Larry Millete moving his vehicle, a black Lexus GX 460, to a spot in the garage where the back was not visible on camera.

Larry told police that he left home around 6:30 a.m. with his four-year-old son and spent the entire day at Solana Beach. He denied any involvement in his wife’s disappearance and soon stopped cooperating with police.

Authorities executed a search warrant at the family’s home and Larry Millete’s car on January 23, 2021. There was no evidence of blood spatter inside the house, nor was there any human blood or tissue inside his vehicle.

Husband of Missing Chula Vista Woman Arrested

On October 19, 2021, 40 year old Larry Millete was arrested and charged with the murder of his wife Maya Millete. He also faced a second charge of illegal possession of an assault rifle.

Authorities revealed that Larry had previously attempted to save his failing marriage by contacting multiple “spell casters” online in order to rekindle his wife’s love for him.

When his request was denied, Larry sought spells to cause Maya severe injury and make her dependent on him. He also inquired about harming a man whom he blamed for the breakdown of his marriage.

The arrest was made based on circumstantial evidence, including Maya’s extramarital affair and her desire for a divorce, which investigators believe prompted Larry to murder her on the night of January 7, 2021.

Larry Millete was the last person to see Maya before she vanished following an argument. When police executed a search warrant on the family’s home, one of his firearms, a.40 calibre gun, went missing as well.

Larry pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and weapons possession charges during his initial court appearance on October 21, 2021. He is being held without bail at the moment, and a preliminary examination review is scheduled for February 28, 2022.

The criminal proceedings against Larry Millete were suspended by the court on June 9, 2022, after his defence attorney questioned his competency to stand trial. On August 29, a competency hearing has been scheduled.

On September 26, 2022, Judge Cindy Davis deemed Larry Millete competent to stand trial. A status conference is set for September 30, at which time a preliminary hearing date may be scheduled.

Whereabouts

Maya Millete’s disappearance is being investigated as a possible case of foul play. Authorities believe her husband murdered her. Her body is still missing.

Maya “May” Millete’s disappearance remains unsolved, and her death is being investigated as a homicide. Her case is still unsolved.

Appearance

Physical Description:
Asian woman with brown hair and brown eyes born on May 1, 1981. Maya stands 5’2″ and weighs 105 pounds.

Distinctive Physical Features:
Maya has freckles and a wrist tattoo.

Investigating Agency

If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Maya Millete please contact the Chula Vista Police Department at (619) 691-5151, or call the San Diego County Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.