A vial of hemlock was found inside a man's home after his unfaithful wife vanished without a trace five years ago, a murder trial was told. Larry Millete, 44, is accused of murdering his wife, May 'Maya' Millete, who went missing on January 7, 2021, after returning from work in Chula Vista, California.
The then 39-year-old mother of three, who had an affair with a co-worker and considered divorcing Larry, was last seen pulling her car into the driveway and has not been seen since. Larry is believed to be the person who knows what happened to Maya, and on October 19, 2021, he was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. He pleaded not guilty, claiming his wife left on her own accord.
In California, prosecutors can charge a person with murder when the victim is presumed dead and no body has been located. Larry's trial began on Monday at the South Bay courthouse, where San Diego County Deputy District Attorney Christy Bowles told jurors that hemlock, an incredibly poisonous herb, was found inside the family home.
During a search of the couple's home, investigators uncovered a vial containing an unknown liquid substance. Testing revealed it was the fatal plant, Bowles said, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune. Hemlock, also known as Conium Maculatum, attacks the nervous system and can cause nausea, vomiting, rapid heart rate, and respiratory failure.
The discovery was not the only shocking find. Investigators noted that Larry Googled the word 'hemlock' and searched for poisons that could kill quickly, Bowles said. However, defense attorney Colby Ryan disputed this, stating that three of four tests showed no evidence of hemlock, and the fourth could have been a false positive due to a nearby plant.
The once picture-perfect family was turned upside down when Maya disappeared. They were planning a trip to Big Bear Lake for their daughter's 11th birthday, but after Maya failed to show up, her sister Maricris Drouaillet reported her missing on January 9, 2021. Maya's car remained in the driveway, but texts and calls went unanswered.
Drouaillet previously told the Daily Mail that Maya had consulted two divorce attorneys before vanishing and warned that the split would be 'messy.' Maya also said if anything happened to her, 'it's going to be Larry.' Investigators also found that Larry sent hundreds of emails to 'spellcasters' to 'hex' his wife, including one asking for a spell to cause physical harm so she would depend on him.
The trial, expected to last three months, will explore two narratives: Larry killing his wife because he opposed divorce, or Maya willingly disappearing. Prosecutor Bowles argued that 'divorce was not an option' for Larry, leading him to murder. Defense attorney Ryan countered that authorities overlooked other suspects, such as Maya's lover and his wife, a pregnant sheriff's deputy.
Family members of both Maya and Larry packed the courtroom, while attorneys and reporters watched via live video in another room. Superior Court Judge Enrique Camarena decided the trial will not be live-streamed or recorded to avoid affecting proceedings.
