Disappearance of Maya Millete

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Disappearance of Maya Millete
Maya-May Millete.jpeg
Maya Tabalanza
Born
Maya Tabalanza

(1981-05-01)May 1, 1981
Philippines
DisappearedJanuary 7, 2021 (aged 39) [1]
Chula Vista, California
StatusMissing for 1 year and 25 days
OccupationCivilian employee, United States Navy[2]
Height5 ft 2 in (1.57 m)[3]
Spouse(s)Larry Millete[3][4]
Children3[3][5]
RelativesMaricris Drouaillet (sister)[6]

Maya "May" Millete (born May 1, 1981) is a Filipino American woman who disappeared on January 7, 2021 in Chula Vista, California. A police investigation into her disappearance is ongoing.[1][7]

Biography of Maya[]

Maya Millete, a Filipino American, was a civilian employee of the United States Navy;[2] she last worked as a contract specialist for the Naval Information Warfare Center.[8][9] Millete was born in the Philippines[10][a] but raised in Honolulu.[12] She graduated from Admiral Arthur W. Radford High School, later attending and graduating from University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.[13][14] Maya met Larry Millete while she was a teenager, after he had moved to Hawaii from San Diego with his family following a juvenile gang related assault arrest in 1997.[15] They later married and he enlisted into the United States Navy for five years.[15][16][b] They moved to San Diego, and had three children; beginning in late 2020, however, Maya sought a divorce from Larry after he learned that she had an affair.[17][18] A friend of Maya alleges that Millete was a victim of domestic violence caused by Larry,[19] and that she feared for the safety of their children.[20] Another friend encouraged Millete to stay at a condo safe house.[21]

Disappearance and searches[]

On January 7, 2021, Millete was last seen at around 5 in the evening;[22] that same day she had called a divorce attorney.[17] The following day, Larry Millete was observed on a video, positioning a black Lexus GX 460 into a position where the back of the vehicle could not be seen by the camera recording the video.[23] Larry claims that he drove the Lexus to Solana Beach with one of their children that day; the vehicle was later impounded by the Chula Vista Police Department.[24][c] Two days later, on January 9, Millete's sister, Maricris Drouaillet, filed a missing persons report with the Chula Vista Police Department.[26] Millete is presumed to be dead.[27]

On January 13, 2021, volunteers searched Mount San Miguel Park for Millete.[28] On January 23, 2021, investigators conducted a search warrant at Millete's home, searching for clues or any evidence that would point to the cause of her disappearance or possible whereabouts.[26] In January, the maternal side of Maya Millete hired a private investigator to assist in finding her.[29] On February 5, 2021, the Chula Vista Police Department and Millete's family held a briefing to encourage the public to look for her.[1][8] Skeletal remains were found in Orange County that were thought to be Millete's remains, but this was proven false, and the remains were then said to be that of a male.[30] Later on the remains were proven to be animal bones.[31]

Additional searches for Maya Millete were conducted by volunteers in February at the Glamis sand dunes, March near Lower Otay Lake, and May in National City and at an abandoned golf course in Chula Vista.[28] In late July, at an event celebrating Filipino-American Friendship Day, an effort was made to increase awarness of the continued search for Maya.[32] In late October, searches were conducted near the Salton Sea, Fish Creek, and Glamis.[33] In early November, searchers returned to Glamis sand dunes;[34] the area of was also searched in November.[35] Searches for Maya continue to occur weekly through December.[36] On 8 January 2022, a prayer vigil was held commemorating a year of Maya Millete being missing, and searches continued in January including the use of ground penetrating drones.[37]

Audio recording[]

Eight loud bangs can be heard in an audio recording from January 7, 2021 at approximately 8:30pm in the vicinity of Milette’s Chula Vista residence. The audio recording, which was released to law enforcement and the public, corresponds to video surveillance footage that was not released to the public due to privacy concerns brought by the neighbor who provided the video footage and audio recording.[38]

National media attention[]

On April 6, 2021, Maya's disappearance was aired on Good Morning America.[28][39] The attorney for Milette's family, her sister, and her brother-in-law appeared on Dr. Phil on April 12, 2021.[40] In an article by Dateline NBC, the case of Maya's disappearance was included among 169 other missing individuals.[41]

Prosecution of Larry Millete[]

In an interview in January 2021, Larry admitted to having arguments with Maya in 2020.[42] A single phone call conversation with the children, supervised by Larry, was allowed with the children's maternal side of the family.[43][d] Beginning on February 3, 2021, Larry hired an attorney and stopped being cooperative with police.[28] In April 2021, it was reported that Larry wanted to hire someone to kill the man he suspected Maya had an affair with.[44]

In May 2021, following a filing of a petition, an agreement with the parents of Maya was made to allow them visitation with the children, yet no visitations were allowed by Larry.[43] In late July 2021, Larry was named a person of interest by the Chula Vista Police Department.[28] In September 2021, with visitation of the children still in dispute, Larry made accusations against members of Maya's side of the family, in an attempt to justify the lack of visitation.[45] On Tuesday October 19, 2021, Larry Millete was arrested and charged with the murder of his wife Maya.[46][47] During a press conference announcing the arrest San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan stated that the body of Maya Millete had not yet been found as of the time of the arrest.[46] The arrest came after 67 search warrants had been executed, and 87 interviews had been conducted.[17][e] After Larry's arrest, he remained in custody and held without bond.[49] On Thursday October 21, 2021, Larry pleaded not guilty at his arraignment at San Diego County Superior Court's South County Court in Chula Vista.[50]

On Wednesday October 27, Superior Court Judge Maryann D’Addezio ruled that Larry violated a protective order after he made over a hundred phone calls, totaling more than nine hours, to his three children; after which Larry, by order of the same judge, was limited to only being able to call his attorney.[51] On Thursday November 4, Larry was denied bail and release, with the judge citing his past threat of harm upon an individual he believes was having an affair with Maya.[52][53] That same day, Maya's sister submitted a motion to gain custody of the children, currently in the care of their paternal grandparents in Chula Vista, and move them to Moreno Valley, California, .[53][54] On Wednesday 10 November, Judge Julia Craig Kelety granted Maya's sister visitation rights, but allowed the paternal grandparents to retain custody so the children can continue to attend their current schools in Chula Vista;[43][f] the children were given a court appointed guardian.[55] By early December 2021, both Maya's sister and the paternal grandparents had both filed for guardianship of the children.[56] In mid January 2022, maternal family visitation rights were modified, to allow for the children to travel up to Riverside County every other weekend, while extending paternal grandparent custody until at least April 2022.[57]

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Maya was the daughter of Pablito and Noemi Tabalanza.[11]
  2. ^ During his time as a corpsman, Larry did not experience combat. As late as 2021, Larry was employed as a optician at Naval Medical Center San Diego.[16]
  3. ^ Another vehicle which they had, a black Jeep, was also impounded.[25]
  4. ^ No other communication with the maternal side of the family and the children would occur until November 2021, due to court mandated visitation rights being granted to members of the maternal side of the family.[43]
  5. ^ Through the investigation, evidence was obtained showing that Larry had attempted to utilize psychics, spellcasters, and spirit channelers to have his relationship with Maya mended, and later to wish that bodily harm would happen to Maya so that she doesn't leave him.[48]
  6. ^ Visitation by members of the maternal side of the family occur on Sundays.[35]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c Garske, Monica (February 8, 2021). "Timeline: The Disappearance of Chula Vista Mom May 'Maya' Millete". NBC 7 San Diego. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Oriel, Christina M.; Mendiola, Ritchel (14 April 2021). "Investigation Continues in Disappearance Of SoCal Fil-Am Mom". Asian Journal. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Gregorczyk, Kasia (16 January 2021) [15 January 2021]. "'It's been a nightmare': Search continues for missing Chula Vista mom of 3". KSWB. San Diego. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  4. ^ Best, Paul (19 October 2021). "Missing Maya Millete: Husband Larry arrested for murder 9 months after California mom vanished". Fox News. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  5. ^ "Community search underway for missing Chula Vista mother of 3". KFMB-TV. San Diego. 13 January 2021 [12 January 2021]. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  6. ^ "Sister of Maya Millete, Maricris, speaks out after arrest of Larry Millete". KUSI. San Diego. 19 October 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
    Stabile, Angelica (13 April 2021). "Sister of missing mom speaks out on disappearance, says victim's husband 'hasn't really searched'". Fox News. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  7. ^ Best, Paul (22 April 2021). "Missing California mom: FBI, NCIS assisting Chula Vista PD in search for Maya Millete". Fox News. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  8. ^ a b Gotfredson, David (22 April 2021). "4 law enforcement agencies team up on Maya Millete case". KFMB-TV. San Diego. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Police serve search warrant at missing Fil-Am mother's home". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Philippines. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  10. ^ Best, Paul (11 April 2021). "Missing California mother's family holds prayer march: 'We will bring Maya home and justice will be served'". Fox News. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  11. ^ Gotfredson, David (7 September 2021). "Husband of missing mother, Maya Millete, files response in family court". KFMB-TV. San Diego. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  12. ^ Wallace, Danielle (7 April 2021). "California missing mother, Maya Millete, volunteer search planned, Hawaii hometown also raising awareness". Fox News. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  13. ^ Morales, Manolo (18 February 2021). "Hope fades for family of former Hawaii woman now missing for six weeks". KHON. Honolulu. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  14. ^ "The search continues for a former Hawaii woman missing in California". KITV. Hawaii. 20 May 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  15. ^ a b Gotfredson, David (29 April 2021). "Maya Millete's husband arrested as juvenile in 1997 'gang related' stabbing". KFMB-TV. San Diego. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  16. ^ a b Gotfredson, David (10 May 2021). "Military record for Larry Millete includes 'pistol sharpshooter ribbon'". KFMB-TV. San Diego. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  17. ^ a b c Ancheta, Dillon (19 October 2021). "Larry Millete, husband of former Hawaii woman, arrested, accused of her murder". Hawaii News Now. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  18. ^ Meyer, Matt (20 October 2021). "Investigator says Maya Millete wanted to leave her marriage, not her life behind". KSWB. San Diego. Retrieved 23 October 2021. The 39-year-old had, however, been preparing to leave her husband, who recently learned that she had an affair, the detective says.
    Hessedal, Kelly (20 October 2021). "New details from arrest warrant for Larry Millete, husband of missing Chula Vista mother Maya Millete". KFMB-TV. San Diego. Retrieved 23 October 2021. It details how the marriage deteriorated between 2020 and 2021, and states Larry discovered May had an affair.
    Page, Eric S.; Rendon-Alvarez, Karla (21 October 2021). "Chula Vista Mom Maya Millete's Husband Enters Not Guilty Plea in Murder Case". KNSD. San Diego. Retrieved 23 October 2021. Larry also expressed interest in hurting the man with whom Maya was having an affair, court documents state.
  19. ^ Hood, Lindsay (4 May 2021). "May 'Maya' Millete's Family Says She Told Them: 'If Something Happened to Me, It's Gonna Be Larry'". KNSD. San Diego. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  20. ^ Meyer, Matt (28 October 2021). "'I think he would hurt the kids': DA says Maya Millete warned friends". KSWB-TV. San Diego. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  21. ^ Best, Paul (31 October 2021). "Maya Millete encouraged to go to safe house before she disappeared, friend says". Fox News. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  22. ^ Cavallier, Andrea (25 January 2021). "Family continues search for May "Maya" Millete who disappeared from California home three days before daughter's birthday". NBC News. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  23. ^ Donovan, Brittney (21 October 2021). "Focus shifts to finding Maya Millete's body with husband in police custody". KSWB-TV. San Diego. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  24. ^ Gotfredson, David (4 February 2021). "Human bones in East County appear unrelated to missing mom from Chula Vista". KFMB-TV. San Diego. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  25. ^ Gotfredson, David (20 September 2021). "Family of missing mom Maya Millete reacts to Petito case developments". KFMB-TV. San Diego. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  26. ^ a b Gotfredson, David (14 April 2021). "Search warrant served at home of Larry Millete's aunt and uncle". KFMB-TV. San Diego. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  27. ^ "Maya Millete's husband arrested nine months after her disappearance". Mercury News. Santa Clara. Associated Press. 20 October 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
    "Sister of former Hawaii woman missing in California seeks custody of children". KGMB. Hawaii. 12 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  28. ^ a b c d e "Timeline: The disappearance of Chula Vista mom Maya Millete". KSWB-TV. San Diego. 19 October 2021 [11 May 2021]. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  29. ^ "LISTEN: 'Vanished: The Maya Millete Story' Podcast Dives Into Case of Missing Chula Vista Mother". KNSD. San Diego. 21 January 2022 [7 January 2022]. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  30. ^ Gotfredson, David (20 April 2021). "Skeletal remains found in Huntington Beach not Maya Millete". KFMB-TV. San Diego. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  31. ^ Christensen, Kelsey (28 February 2021). "Remains found during missing mom search determined to be animal bones". KSWB-TV. San Diego. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  32. ^ Angeles, Steve (24 September 2021). "Missing Fil-Am's family cling to hope as search continues". ABS-CBN News. Philippines. TFC News. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  33. ^ Gotfredson, David (1 November 2021). "Search for missing Chula Vista mother heads east to the desert". KFMB-TV. San Diego. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  34. ^ Gotfredson, David (8 November 2021). "Search for Maya Millete in Glamis 10 months after she went missing". KFMB-TV. San Diego. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  35. ^ a b Gotfredson, David (23 November 2021). "Family of Maya Millete making time for visits and searches". KFMB-TV. San Diego. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  36. ^ Gotfredson, David (16 December 2021). "Defense pushes back against protective order at Millete hearing". KFMB-TV. San Diego. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  37. ^ Saunders, Mark (10 January 2022). "The Serach for Maya Millete: One Year Later". Court TV. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
    "Family Hosts Prayer Vigil on 1-Year Anniversary of May Millete's Disappearance". Times of San Diego. 9 January 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
    Fulcher, Albert (7 January 2022). "Beloved Maya still missing while husband sits in jail". The Star News. Chula Vista. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  38. ^ Gotfredson, David (17 April 2021) [8 April 2021]. "Surveillance video records 6 loud bangs on night Maya Millete went missing". KFMB-TV. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  39. ^ "Family of California mom missing for 3 months pleads for answers". Good Morning America. 6 April 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  40. ^ Gotfredson, David (9 April 2021). "The search for Maya Millete ; Attorney: That's exactly what a gunshot sounds like". KFMB-TV. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  41. ^ "Eight years of Dateline's Missing in America: 169 still missing". Dateline. New York. 6 December 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  42. ^ Kingsu-Cheng, Jane (14 January 2021). "Search for Filipina mom, Maya Millete, continues in California". Manila Bulletin. Philippines. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  43. ^ a b c d Gregorio-Nieto, Brenda; Rendon-Alvarez, Karla; Page, Eric S. (10 November 2021). "Judge Defers Request By Maya Millete's Sister for Custody of Kids; Permits Visitation". KNSD. San Diego. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
    Best, Paul (10 November 2021). "California judge says missing mom Maya Millete's kids will stay with accused murderer Larry Millete's parents". Fox News. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
    Ireland, Elizabeth (10 November 2021). "Judge Orders Visitation with Kids, But Denies Custody Request by Maya Millete's Sister". Times of San Diego. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  44. ^ Best, Paul (6 April 2021). "California missing woman's husband planned murder-for-hire scheme targeting alleged boyfriend: witness". Fox News. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
    "Husband of missing Fil-Am allegedly ordered a hit on her suspected lover". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 7 April 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
    Salo, Jackie (5 April 2021). "Missing mom Maya Millete's husband wanted to order hit on her lover: report". New York Post. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  45. ^ Adan, Melissa (8 September 2021). "New Family Court Documents Filed by Husband of Missing Chula Vista Mom". KNSD. San Diego. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  46. ^ a b Agcaoili, Gienel (19 October 2021). "Husband of Maya Millete arrested in connection with her disappearance". KUSI. San Diego. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  47. ^ Sheets, Mary (21 October 2021). "Maya Millete: Husband arrested over woman's death 'researched hemlock poison' before she vanished". Independent. United Kingdom. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
    "Husband of missing mom arrested for murder". ABC News. 20 October 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  48. ^ Meyer, Matt (20 October 2021). "What are 'spellcasters'? The dark magic myth at center of Millete arrest". KSWB-TV. San Diego. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
    Sedestrom, Jill (21 October 2021). "Maya Millete's Husband Sent Increasingly Frantic Emails To 'Spellcasters' Before He Allegedly Killed Her, Police Say". Oxygen True Crinme. NBCUniversal. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
    Wegner, Helena (22 October 2021). "Husband paid 'spellcasters' to 'hex' wife from leaving — then she vanished, CA cops say". The Fresno Bee. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
    Rohrlich, Justin; Melendez, Pilar; Montgomery, Blake (19 October 2021). "Hubby Called 'Spellcasters' to Curse His Wife Before He Murdered Her, Says DA". The Daily Beast. New York. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
    Meyer, Matt (21 October 2021). "Chula Vista man hired 'spellcasters' to hex Maya Millete before she vanished: Affidavit". KTLA. Los Angeles. Nextar Media Wire. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  49. ^ Best, Paul (22 October 2021). "Missing Maya Millete's husband Larry choked her until she passed out, Googled date rape drugs: warrant". Fox News. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  50. ^ "Larry Millete pleads not guilty to murder charge in death of wife Maya". KGTV. San Diego. City News Service. 21 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
    "California man with Filipino roots pleads not guilty to charge of murdering wife". ABS-CBN News. Philippines. 22 October 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  51. ^ Raffa, Allie; Gregorio-Nieto, Brenda (28 October 2021) [27 October 2021]. "May 'Maya' Millete's Husband, Accused of Her Killing, Ordered Not to Contact Their Kids". KNSD. San Diego. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  52. ^ "Husband Larry Millete denied bail after the alleged murder of his wife May "Maya" Millete". KUSI. San Diego. 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  53. ^ a b "Citing 'Clear and Convincing Evidence,' Judge Denies Request for Bail By Larry Millete, Accused of Killing Wife May 'Maya' Millete". KNSD. San Diego. 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  54. ^ Coronel, Marie (4 November 2021). "Sister seeks custody of Maya Millete's children". KGTV. San Diego. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
    Gotfredson, David (4 November 2021) [3 November 2021]. "Sister of Maya Millete petitions for guardianship of missing woman's 3 children". KFMB-TV. San Diego. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  55. ^ Gotfredson, David (10 November 2021). "'Forensic interview' of 3 Millete children already complete". KFMB-TV. San Diego. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  56. ^ Gotfredson, David (7 December 2021). "Larry Millete nominates parents for guardianship of children". KFMB-TV. San Diego. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  57. ^ Chris Gros (19 January 2022). Custody battle continues for Maya Millete's children (YouTube Video). San Diego: KFMB-TV. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
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