Larry Millete Denies Killing Maya in Post-Sentence Talk

Larry Millete, sentenced this week to 25 years to life in prison for the murder of his wife, Maya, denied killing her in his first interview since the sentencing. The interview aired Wednesday on NBC 7 San Diego, according to the station.

A jury found Millete, a Chula Vista father of three, guilty of first-degree murder in July, based largely on circumstantial evidence, NBC 7 reported. A judge sentenced him on Monday. Maya Millete disappeared in January 2021 from the family's home in Rancho San Miguel, and her body has not been found.

Asked whether he killed her, Millete said, "No ma'am. I would never." He told NBC 7 he did not know who was responsible for his being in prison and pointed to "public pressure." He suggested Maya "went somewhere," but said he could only speculate.

Millete said Maya left on Jan. 7, but that he and his daughters heard her in the house between Jan. 8 and 9. He said their last interaction was about child care and was not contentious. He also said he never opened the locked master bedroom door, even after hearing noises, because of how upset she would get.

He disputed messages cited at trial, including texts and emails with phrases such as "I'm not right" and "I'm about to lose it." He also addressed surveillance video from the early hours of Jan. 8, 2021, which shows an SUV backing toward the garage. Prosecutors say he loaded Maya's body. Millete said he was moving the car to load his son and car seats and called it a habit.

At sentencing, two of the couple's daughters asked him to reveal where their mother is. The judge issued a 10-year protective order barring contact, and the children can petition for contact at 18, NBC 7 reported. Millete said he has no information about Maya's whereabouts and believes that will keep him from parole. He called it a "catch-22," saying admitting guilt would be a false confession.