The items were recovered during a 2021 search of the family’s Chula Vista home.
CHULA VISTA, Calif. — Jurors in Larry Millete’s murder trial saw voodoo dolls, spell books and other items Tuesday as prosecutors questioned investigators about evidence collected from the Millete family home.
Millete is accused of killing his wife, Maya Millete, who vanished from their Chula Vista home in January 2021. Her body has not been found. He has denied killing her. The testimony came as prosecutors worked to show how officers photographed, labeled, stored and processed evidence after a search in October 2021, the day Larry Millete was arrested.
The evidence included several voodoo dolls, each about 8 inches tall, along with books tied to spells and magic. Prosecutors used the testimony to walk jurors through the chain of custody, a key step in showing that evidence was handled in a reliable way. Investigators described how items were documented at the home before they were moved into storage. Larry Millete has pleaded not guilty, and the defense has challenged parts of the investigation as the case has moved through court.
The October 2021 search was described as the most detailed search of the home, though it was not the first. Police first served a warrant Jan. 23, 2021, about two weeks after Maya Millete’s family reported her missing. Prosecutors have said the couple’s marriage was failing before she disappeared. Earlier testimony in the trial focused on messages and online contacts prosecutors say showed Larry Millete’s state of mind in the months before his wife vanished.
The trial has placed unusual evidence before jurors, including testimony about online spellcasters and items tied to magic. Prosecutors have argued that the evidence helps explain Larry Millete’s behavior before Maya disappeared. The defense has denied that he killed her and has pointed to the lack of a body as part of its challenge to the state’s case. What happened to Maya Millete remains unknown.
Prosecutors are expected to keep building their case through witness testimony, records and physical evidence. The court has not reached a verdict. Jurors must decide whether the evidence proves beyond a reasonable doubt that Larry Millete killed his wife.
The case remains active in San Diego County court, with more testimony expected as prosecutors continue presenting evidence from the long-running investigation.
Author note: Last updated June 17, 2026.