Prosecutors used the items to trace searches, messages and evidence handling in the long-running Chula Vista case.
CHULA VISTA, CA — Jurors in Larry Millete’s murder trial saw voodoo dolls, spell books and other items this week as prosecutors continued presenting evidence tied to the 2021 disappearance of his wife, May “Maya” Millete.
The testimony marked one of the most physical displays of evidence so far in a case built largely on records, witness accounts and digital messages. Maya Millete, a 39-year-old mother of three, was last seen Jan. 7, 2021, at the family’s Chula Vista home. Her body has not been found. Larry Millete has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and a weapons charge.
Several voodoo dolls, each about 8 inches tall, were shown to jurors along with books related to magic and spells. Prosecutors focused much of the testimony on how investigators found, handled and tracked the items after searches of the Millete home. The first search warrant was served Jan. 23, 2021, about two weeks after Maya’s family reported her missing. A later search was described as the most thorough review of the home. Criminal defense attorney Isaac Blumberg, who is not part of the case, said outside court that the timing of the searches could become a point of dispute. “I was shocked to find out that you have a missing person who clearly had plans for the future,” Blumberg said.
The spell evidence has become a central part of the prosecution’s theory. Earlier testimony from San Diego County District Attorney’s Office investigator James Rhoades described a timeline built from search warrants for Larry Millete’s phone, email accounts and online payment records. Prosecutors said the records show Larry Millete contacted people offering spellcasting services months before Maya disappeared. Deputy District Attorney Christy Bowles walked Rhoades through messages that prosecutors said began as requests for love spells meant to bind Maya to her husband, then shifted toward darker requests involving harm. Prosecutors have said some messages targeted Jamey Laird, a married co-worker whom Larry believed was having an affair with Maya.
Prosecutors have described the marriage as broken by late 2020. They have said Maya was taking steps to leave and had contacted a divorce attorney on Jan. 7, 2021, the day she was last seen. Her disappearance came days before the family was expected to travel to Big Bear for a daughter’s birthday. Maya’s sister, Maricris Drouaillet, reported her missing Jan. 9 after relatives could not reach her. In early trial testimony, jurors heard a 911 call in which Drouaillet told a dispatcher that her brother-in-law had “a tendency to be violent.” The defense is expected to challenge the prosecution’s circumstantial case and has pointed to the lack of a body or confirmed murder scene.
The case has moved slowly through court since Larry Millete’s arrest in October 2021. He was charged with murder in the first degree and with a weapons count tied to a gun found during one of several searches of the family’s home. A judge later ordered him to stand trial after a 2023 preliminary hearing. The trial was delayed several times before jury selection began in May 2026 at the South County Superior Court of California. Twelve jurors and six alternates were chosen for what court officials and attorneys have described as a case likely to last months.
Recent testimony has also included evidence about surveillance video, vehicle movements, family statements, workplace issues and communications before and after Maya vanished. Prosecutors have said Larry Millete sent messages to spellcasters close to the time Maya disappeared, including messages saying she had decided to divorce him and that he was “ready to snap.” They also said he later asked for hexes to be removed from Maya and redirected toward Laird. Larry Millete has maintained that he had nothing to do with his wife’s disappearance. His attorneys have not had to prove an alternate theory, and the burden remains on prosecutors to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
The courtroom has drawn family members, reporters and observers following a case that began as a missing person search and became one of San Diego County’s most closely watched murder trials. Maya’s relatives have spent more than five years searching for answers while also caring for the couple’s children through custody proceedings. The display of dolls and spell books added a new visual layer to evidence that prosecutors say shows Larry Millete’s state of mind. Defense attorneys are expected to keep pressing questions about timing, evidence collection and what investigators still do not know.
The trial is continuing in Chula Vista, with prosecutors expected to call more witnesses and present more records as they build their case. Maya Millete remains missing, and no recovery date or location has been announced.
Author note: Last updated June 21, 2026.