Name: Maya “May” Tabalanza Millete
Age: 39 years old
Last seen: January 7, 2021
Location: Chula Vista, California
Status: Still Missing
Case Information
39 year old Maya Millete was last seen in Chula Vista, California on January 7, 2021. She disappeared from her home following an argument with her husband.
Background
Maya “May” Millete (born Tabalanza) was born on May 1, 1981 in the Southern Province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines to parents Pablito and Noemi Tabalanza. She is the fifth amongst six children.
In 1995, Maya’s family immigrated to the United States and settled into the city of Honolulu, Hawaii. She attended Radford High School and later graduated from the University of California in San Diego with a major in International Studies.
In 1998, Maya began a romantic relationship with Larry Millete, a colleague whom she met at McDonalds by Pearl Harbor. In 2000, the pair got married and moved to San Diego, California where Maya gave birth to three children.
By late 2020, their marriage began to fall apart when Larry discovered her alleged extramarital affair. Though the couple engaged in marriage counseling, Maya eventually sought divorce.
At the time of her disappearance, Maya was employed as a civilian contract specialist with Naval Base San Diego at 32nd Street Naval Station. She lived with her husband and their three children in a home along the 2400 block of Paseo Los Gatos in Chula Vista, California.
Maya was passionate about hiking, dirt-biking, traveling, and regularly camped with her family. She created her own youtube channel where she posted videos of herself singing cover songs and playing guitar and piano.
Disappearance
On January 7, 2021, Maya called a divorce attorney and scheduled an appointment for the following Tuesday. Around 5:00 pm, she got into a fight with her husband and reportedly locked herself in the bedroom.
On January 8, 2021, Larry allegedly left the house early in the morning without seeing Maya. Her family grew concerned when she failed to respond in a group text message about her daughter’s upcoming planned eleventh birthday trip to Big Bear.
Soon after, her brother went to check on her at the family residence, but was told by one of his nieces that Maya had locked herself in her bedroom since the previous evening. He knocked on the door but no one answered, so he left assuming she did not want to be bothered.
On January 9, 2021, Larry and Maya’s father eventually managed to open the bedroom door but they found no signs of her. Maya Millete disappeared from her home, and has never been heard from again.
That evening Maya’s sister filed a missing persons report with the Chula Vista Police Department.
Investigation
On the night of Maya Millete’s disappearance, video surveillance footage from a neighbor near her Chula Vista residence recorded eight loud bangs, over a period of twenty seconds, at approximately 8:30 pm.
The following morning, video surveillance footage captured Larry Millete at 5:58 am moving his vehicle, a black Lexus GX 460, to a spot in the garage where the back could not be seen on camera.
Larry told police he left home early that morning around 6:30 am with his four-year-old son, and that they spent all day at Solana Beach. He denied his involvement in his wife’s disappearance and stopped cooperating with the police shortly after.
On January 23, 2021, authorities conducted a search warrant at the family’s home and Larry Millete’s car. They found no signs of blood spatter inside the house nor any human blood or tissue inside his vehicle.
Husband of Missing Chula Vista Woman Arrested
On October 19, 2021, 40 year old Larry Millete was arrested and charged with the murder of his wife Maya Millete. He also faced a second charge of illegal possession of an assault rifle.
Authorities revealed that Larry had previously sought magic to save his failing marriage by contacting multiple “spell casters” online to make his wife fall back in love with him.
When his request didn’t work, Larry sought spells to cause Maya to suffer severe injury and make her dependable on him. He also inquired about harming a man whom he blamed for his failed marriage.
Police made the arrest based on circumstantial evidence which included Maya’s extramarital affair and her desire for a divorce, which investigators believe triggered Larry to murder her on the night of January 7, 2021.
Larry Millete was the last known person to see Maya before her disappearance, which followed an argument. One of his firearms, a .40 caliber gun, was also missing when police conducted a search warrant on the family’s home.
On October 21, 2021, Larry pleaded pleaded not guilty on charges of first-degree murder and weapons possession during his initial court appearance. He is currently being held without bail and a preliminary examination review is slated for February 28, 2022.
On June 9, 2022 the criminal proceedings against Larry Millete were suspended by the court after his defense attorney questioned his competency to stand trial. A competency hearing has been set for August 29.
On September 26, 2022, Judge Cindy Davis deemed Larry Millete competent to stand trial. A status conference is set for September 30, at which time a preliminary hearing date may be scheduled.
Whereabouts
Foul play is strongly suspected in Maya Millete’s disappearance. Authorities believe she killed by her husband. Her body remains missing.
The circumstances of Maya “May” Millete’s disappearance remain unclear and her case is currently classified as a homicide. Her case remains unsolved.
Appearance
Physical Description:
Asian female born on May 1, 1981, with brown hair and brown eyes. Maya is 5’2 tall and weighs 105 pounds.
Distinctive Physical Features:
Maya has freckles and a tattoo on her wrist
Investigating Agency
If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Maya Millete please contact the Chula Vista Police Department at (619) 691-5151, or call the San Diego County Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
Resources & Further Information
Help Find Maya – Facebook
Help Find Maya Millete – Family Website
Maya Maya – Youtube
Disappearance of Maya Millete – Wikipedia
News & Media Links
Missing California mom: FBI, NCIS assisting Chula Vista PD in search for Maya Millete – Fox News 04/21
6 bangs, sounding like gunshots heard night Maya Millete missing – CBS 8 San Diego 04/21
Timeline: The Disappearance of Chula Vista Mom May ‘Maya’ Millete – NBC San Diego 09/21
Larry Millete, Husband of Missing Chula Vista Woman ‘Maya’, Arrested – NBC San Diego 10/21
Witches Demystify ‘Spell Casting’ After DA Says Larry Millete Sought Magic Cure to Failing Marriage – NBC San Diego 10/21
Focus shifts to finding Maya Millete’s body with husband in police custody – Fox 5 San Diego 10/21
Loved ones frantically search for any sign of missing Radford alumna in CA – Hawaii News Now 10/21
Leave a Reply