Overview
- A Chula Vista jury found Larry Millete guilty of first‑degree murder on Thursday after about six weeks of testimony and less than a day of deliberations.
- The prosecution’s case relied on circumstantial evidence including surveillance footage showing Maya entering the home, phone records that stopped after Jan. 7, 2021, journal entries, online searches and a vial that tested positive for coniine.
- There is no body, no murder weapon and no eyewitness to the killing, facts the defense highlighted as reasons jurors should not speculate about what happened.
- Millete faces a potential sentence of 25 years to life, a separate unregistered‑assault‑weapon charge will be tried by judge, and defense attorneys are expected to pursue appeals which can delay sentencing.
- Maya’s family called the verdict partial justice and have continued organized searches and public pleas for Millete to disclose where her remains are so the children can have closure.