Overview
- Closing arguments concluded July 7–8 with Deputy District Attorney Christy Bowles urging the jury to convict on first‑degree murder and the defense arguing prosecutors did not meet their burden of proof.
- Prosecutors presented a 24‑day circumstantial case that relied on phone records, home surveillance, witness testimony and hundreds of exhibits to place Maya Millete in the home on Jan. 7, 2021 and to show gaps in Larry Millete’s movements the following day.
- The defense challenged investigators’ focus on Larry, offered an alternate theory that Maya could have left undetected and stressed there is no body, no confession and no direct forensic proof of how she died.
- Key contested evidence included a vial containing coniine found in the Millete home and pretrial rulings by Judge Enrique Camarena that barred the defense from presenting third‑party culpability evidence naming co‑worker James 'Jamey' Laird.
- Jurors were instructed they may consider first‑degree murder, second‑degree murder, voluntary manslaughter or involuntary manslaughter and their verdict could send Millete to prison for up to 25 years to life if he is convicted.