Following the preliminary hearing, the judge in the case of missing Chula Vista mom Maya Millete will determine if her husband Larry Millete will stand trial.
www.10news.com
Jan 17, 2023
LIVE BLOG - PART 2, PM
NOTE: Judge may order the camera to turn off during certain parts of the hearing (e.g. sidebar). Refresh this story for live updates from the courtroom detailed below.
4:30 p.m.: The judge dismissed Tabalanza for the evening. Court will resume at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18.
4:15 p.m.: Tabalanza said her communication with Larry increased during that time and Larry expressed to her that he was suspecting that Maya was having an affair. She said he never asked her if Maya was having an affair and he told her he was afraid that Maya was going to leave him.
The prosecutor presented a text message between Larry and Tabalanza where Larry asked her to help him with Maya and their marriage.
4:00 p.m.: Genesis Nicholas-Tabalanza from the Department of Defense U.S. Navy was called to the stand. Tabalanza said she works at the home of the San Diego Naval Information Warfare Center.
Tabalanza said she met Maya in 2004 and they were really good friends and Maya practically became a big sister to her. Tabalanza said even though they had a close relationship, Maya liked to keep things professional. Tabalanza temporarily lived with Maya and Larry for about three months in 2016.
Tabalanza said she first learned Maya and Larry were having issues in their marriage when Maya asked Tabalanza if she could live with them. Tabalanza said the word "separate" surprised her in regards to her and Larry. Maya then stayed with Tabalanza and her husband in February 2020 and left in June 2020.
3:54 p.m.: The prosecutor presented the bodycam transcript between Culver and Maya's sister, and Culver said Drouaillet indicated that she last spoke to her sister on Jan. 8.
Culver said from his understanding, the family was supposed to take a trip to Big Bear Mountain starting Jan. 8 and there was no indication of when they were coming back.
The defense rested and Culver was excused from the stand.
3:32 p.m.: Culver said Wilkening told him that it had been days since Maya spoke with them in their group chat. Wilkening also said another friend of theirs offered Maya a place to stay but no one had heard from her since.
When asked if he noticed any repairs in Maya and Larry's bedroom, Culver said he was not aware of any. Culver recalled speaking with Courtney Cobb, a friend of Maya's, who told him that Maya told the group that she and Larry had gotten into a big argument and she was planning to file for a divorce.
3:19 p.m.: Court resumes after a brief recess.
When the defense asked if Culver made a correction to the police report, Culver said the incorrect portion was that Maya never canceled the Big Bear trip.
Culver said he did not get a chance to see every single room of the house because his partner Officer Lopez and him divided the responsibility from the portions of the house that he did specifically observe. He was satisfied that there did not appear to be any sign of struggle or violence.
Culver said officers often have to ask for permission to enter homes but Larry was welcoming and invited them inside.
3 p.m.: The judge called for a 15-minute recess.
2:57 p.m.: Culver said he was made to believe the children in the home were sleeping so he did not speak with them.
Culver said Ms. Wilkening expressed concern for Maya's safety, specifically because she knew Maya and Larry had a number of marital difficulties over the years. Specifically, she told Culver that Maya and Larry had been in a number of altercations and that she was not sure if they ever got physically violent.
Culver said Wilkening specifically recounted an incident in that Maya was so fearful for her safety that she locked herself in a bathroom. But Larry allegedly punched through the drywall that was next to the bathroom door to unlock it from the inside so that he could approach Maya.
2:46 p.m.: Culver said while he and other officers checked the home, every makeup cabinet and all of the toiletries along with the clothing areas of the bedroom. All appear to be full and nothing looks like anyone grabbed any large quantities of clothing or supplies. He also said there were suitcases packed at the bottom of the stairs and the entire house was in a disarray.
Culver said Officer Walsh conveyed to him that Larry showed her his cell phone specifically to show that Maya did not reach out to him or contact him. But the entire history of their conversation only went back a day or two prior to that.
2:37 p.m.: Officer Ryan Culver with the Chula Vista Police Department was called to the stand. Culver said he is assigned to the traffic division as a DUI enforcement officer and collision investigator.
On Jan. 9 to 10, Culver said he was working as a patrol officer and he was assigned to the Chula Vista Police Department patrol division. Culver said assigned to assist one of the officers with a missing person investigation at a home in Paseo Los Gatos.
Culver said he arrived at the Milletes' home with two other officers and spoke with Larry, who invited them into the home. Culver said Larry was extremely cooperative with officers.
2:28 p.m.: In the cross-examination, Martinez asked Hinckley if there were requirements and if it offered insurance coverage, Hinckley said it is just a social group with jeeps and there's no insurance and it's not an organized official group.
Hinckley said the most he observed about Larry during the second trip was that Larry was not sitting in the front seat, and he did not enter the mud cave with them. As far as Maya and Larry's interaction that day, Hinckley said they both seem engaged.
The defense rested and Hinckley was excused from the stand.
2:20 p.m.: Hinckley said when they were in the mud caves, just excited as her kids were just engaged, playful, curious, adventurous, and laughing. He also said he hardly had any interaction with Larry aside from an introduction.
Hinckley said after the run on Dec. 26, Maya and the rest of the group made plans to do more explorations and camping in early 2021. Hinckley said when he mentioned visiting Laguna with his kids because it was snowing, Maya said she was envious of those who were able to go and she would not be able to because she had to work.
2:10 p.m.: On another trip to a Jeep run in Sin Nombre Canyon on Dec. 26, Hinckley recalled Maya bringing her entire family, including Larry and their son.
Hinckley said he orchestrated this trip and they all met at Golden Acorn Casino & Travel Center in Campo before going to mud caves. The prosecutor then showed Hinckley a group photo where he had to identify each individual.
2:05 p.m.: When shown exhibits by the prosecutor, Hinckley said he potentially recalled taking photos of Maya and one of her daughters. And when shown a string of private messages, Kevin, who was the leader of the run, made a joke by saying, "May (Maya), I think there's room for improvement on your technique."
Hinckley said he chimed in saying "oh but my you captured the best essence of life. Unfiltered fun and love. Your daughters are having pure fun with you."
2 p.m.: Hinckley said he met Maya at the run with her two daughters and she was excited because of her new Jeep Rubicon. He said she was a ball of energy and so were her daughters. The mother and her daughters appeared to be having fun and plenty of pictures were taken.
Hinckley said Maya was considered a "beginner" during the run and she seem more interested in learning more about them.
1:50 p.m.: Tabalanza was excused from the stand and Blaine Hinckley, a plumber who met Maya through an off-roading group on Facebook, was called to the stand.
Hinckley said he first physically met Maya around December 12, 2020, during a "run" or trail in the desert, far east in the Ocotillo desert area. He explained this run involves Jeeps and they would just ride the trails for a period of time.
1:44 p.m.: When asked if he returned to Larry and Maya's home to ask if Larry was responsible for his daughter's disappearance, Tabalanza said he simply just asked him where his daughter was and they did not see each other anymore after that.
1:39 p.m.: After returning from recess, Tabalanza said Larry showed him a handgun with the nickname "Black." He said after seeing the gun, he didn't assume Larry would use the gun to hurt anyone—yet.
12 p.m.: Judge dismisses court for lunch break. Hearing to continue at 1:30 p.m., with Maya Millete's father resuming his testimony at 2 p.m.
fox5sandiego.com
Heartbreaking what Maya went through. Now on a short break.
