Maya Millete’s family presses search years after California mom vanished

Maya Millete was last seen on Jan. 7, 2021, at her home in Chula Vista, California, and her family has spent years pushing for answers about the missing mother of three.

According to CBS News’ “48 Hours,” relatives and friends became worried almost immediately when the 39-year-old stopped responding while she was planning a Big Bear ski trip for her daughter’s birthday. Her sister, Maricris Drouaillet, told CBS that silence from Maya around such a family event was alarming.

Maya, who immigrated from the Philippines to the United States as a teenager, had built a life in Southern California with her husband, Larry Millete. CBS reported that both worked in Navy-related jobs: Larry as an optician at the Naval Medical Center and Maya as a supervisor contract specialist at Naval Base San Diego.

Her colleagues Claudia Julao and Allison Alexander described Maya to CBS as capable, respected and devoted to her children. Family members said she would not have left her children without contact.

Family says Larry gave shifting accounts

Maricris Drouaillet told CBS that when her brother went to the Millete home on Jan. 8, Larry said Maya had been in the bedroom for hours after an argument. The next day, according to Richard Drouaillet, Larry told relatives Maya had gone hiking.

Maricris reported her sister missing to the Chula Vista Police Department that night. Richard told CBS he felt officers showed too little urgency in the early stage of the case.

CBS reported that Chula Vista police said at the time Larry was cooperative, that the matter was being handled as a missing-person case and that they had not found signs of foul play. About a month later, according to CBS, Larry hired a lawyer and stopped cooperating with investigators.

A private search for clues

Billy Little, an attorney and former U.S. Navy criminal defense investigator, told CBS he began helping the family on Jan. 11, 2021. He said he went to the Millete home, noticed open windows and saw what he believed were recently repaired holes near the couple’s bedroom.

Little also said he collected neighborhood security footage. According to his account to CBS, one recording captured the Millete children playing outside around 10:30 p.m. on a cold school night, while another showed Larry backing a Lexus into the garage early the next morning and leaving for nearly 11 and a half hours.

Little told CBS a neighbor also had audio of loud bangs around 10 p.m. on the night Maya was last heard from. Little said he believed the sounds were gunshots coming from the Millete home, though CBS attributed that conclusion to him.

Marriage trouble and spellcaster claims

CBS reported that investigators said Maya and Larry had been having serious marital problems before she vanished. Little said texts from relatives and friends showed Larry was worried about losing the marriage and had monitored Maya’s accounts and spending.

Investigators said Larry contacted spellcasters before Maya disappeared, according to CBS. Little told the program he found evidence Larry first sought spells tied to the marriage and later wanted harm directed at Maya.

By December 2020, CBS reported, Maya and Larry were sleeping separately. Little said Maya found speakers in her room and believed Larry had used them to play subliminal messages while she slept.

On Jan. 7, 2021, according to CBS, Maya filled out a divorce intake form and made an appointment with a divorce attorney.

Police searched the Millete home on Jan. 23, 2021. Attorney and true-crime author Aleida Wahn told CBS officers seized firearms and later took the GPS system from Larry’s Lexus. In May 2021, police served Larry with a gun violence restraining order, citing, among other things, images of weapons found on his phone.

The Chula Vista Police Department declined CBS’ interview request, but told local media in April 2021 the investigation had been active since mid-January and that officials were withholding details.

This story draws on original reporting from CBS News.