The day after his wife disappeared, Larry MilletteThe work supervisor and his family members tried to reach him throughout the day, but his cell phone was turned off, an investigator with the District Attorney’s Office testified Monday.
Millete is accused of the murder of his wife, May “Maya” Millettewho has not been seen or heard from since January 7, 2021.
Police and prosecutors allege that between 6:45 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. on January 8, 2021, Millete’s phone was turned off. Surveillance camera footage shows a black Lexus SUV, allegedly driven by Millete, leaving her house around 6:45 a.m. and returning to the house around 6 p.m.
District attorney investigator Matthew Grindley testified Monday that he reviewed activity on Larry and May’s cell phones.
Some of Larry’s text messages with his work supervisor were shown in court, showing that Larry regularly confided in his supervisor about his wife’s desire to divorce him.
On January 6, 2021, Larry showed his supervisor screenshots of the text messages May sent him. One of them said: “I DON’T WANT TO BE YOUR WIFE ANYMORE. I’m filing whether you like it or not. I should have been gone a long time ago and this time I’m not going to look back and say that again.”
Larry canceled work that day because he was “mentally, physically and emotionally exhausted,” he texted his supervisor.
On January 7 he did not go to work either. After his supervisor asked him when he was coming in, Larry texted, “I’m not okay.” The supervisor asked: “Have you eaten?” and Larry replied,
“I’m about to lose it.”
Throughout Jan. 8, Larry’s cell phone showed “very limited activity” with no outgoing calls or texts, Grindley testified.
However, several people tried to reach him that day, including his father, who sent him a text saying “please turn on your phone” because his boss “is calling about your work.”
After family members lost contact with May, her younger brother, Jay-R Tabalanza, went to Millete’s home on the night of January 8 to look for her. He previously testified that Larry told him that she had just come home from work.
Larry told investigators that he was in Solana Beach all day with his son, according to testimony. Detective Jesse Vincent de la Chula Vista Police Department testified that investigators were unable to find any evidence to confirm that Millete was on the beach that day.
Monday’s hearing also included testimony about Larry Millete’s Internet search history, which included inquiries about the use of subliminal messages.
One search was “subliminal wife training.” Others were for speakers that Grindley testified were placed throughout Millete’s home to play subliminal messages.
In earlier testimony, witnesses said May found a cell phone under her bed that was “playing subliminal messages.” Larry explained to his sister-in-law that these were recorded hidden messages like “I love you” or “Love me” that could be played over white noise.
Prosecutors also alleged in court documents that, in late 2020, Larry Millete approached “several people who appear to be selling ‘spells,'” who he believed could compel May to want to stay in the marriage. Larry later allegedly searched for spells that could render her incapacitated or “injured enough that she has to depend on me and need my help.”
Grindley also highlighted searches Larry did on December 16, 2020, regarding a variety of sedatives, including flunitrazepam and rohypnol, which are commonly known as “date rape” drugs. Another search conducted that day was “common over-the-counter drugs to incapacitate adults.”
Larry was arrested in October 2021 on suspicion of killing May and has remained jailed without bail ever since. At the conclusion of the preliminary hearing, a judge will decide if there is enough evidence for Larry Millete to stand trial for murder.
The City News Service contributed to this article.
