Investigators testified about evidence collected months after Maya Millete disappeared.
CHULA VISTA, Calif. — Testimony in Larry Millete’s murder trial turned Tuesday to a 2021 search of his family’s home, where investigators collected spell books, voodoo dolls and other evidence later shown to jurors.
The testimony focused less on the meaning of the objects and more on how police handled them. Prosecutors questioned investigators about photographs, labels, storage and processing as they worked to support the credibility of the evidence. Larry Millete is charged with killing his wife, Maya Millete, who disappeared in January 2021. Her body has never been found, and he has denied murder.
Jurors were shown several voodoo dolls, each about 8 inches tall, and books related to spells and magic. The items were recovered during a search in October 2021, the same day Larry Millete was arrested. Prosecutors have tied the evidence to a broader timeline of marital problems, online spellcasting contacts and Maya Millete’s disappearance from the couple’s Chula Vista home.
The home had been searched before. The first search warrant was served Jan. 23, 2021, about two weeks after Maya Millete’s relatives reported her missing. The October search was described in court as the most thorough search of the residence. Investigators testified about steps used to collect and preserve evidence, a process prosecutors said was needed to show jurors the items were properly tracked from the house to court.
Maya Millete’s disappearance has remained one of San Diego County’s most closely watched criminal cases. Prosecutors say Larry Millete killed her after their marriage broke down. The defense says the state has not proved that claim. The absence of Maya Millete’s body remains one of the central facts before the jury.
The case now moves forward through more testimony and evidence. Jurors have not been asked to decide the case yet. Prosecutors still must finish presenting their witnesses before the defense presents its case or rests without calling witnesses.
As of Wednesday, Larry Millete remains on trial in San Diego County, and the next phase of testimony is expected to continue the state’s timeline of the investigation.
Author note: Last updated June 17, 2026.