Husband paid ‘spellcasters’ to ‘hex’ wife from leaving — then she vanished, CA cops say

A California man paid “spellcasters” to harm his wife and keep her from leaving their marriage before she disappeared, prosecutors said.

His wife, Maya “May” Millete, 39, and a mother of three, has been missing since January, according to a news release from the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office.

“Whenever one of our community goes missing, we hope for their safe return,” District Attorney Summer Stephan said in the news release. “Sometimes missing persons cases remain unsolved, but as the evidence unfolded in this case, it pointed in one direction — that May was murdered.”

Larry Millete, 40, was arrested Tuesday in Chula Vista on charges including first-degree murder and possessing an assault weapon.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges on Thursday, according to his attorney Bonita Martinez.

Martinez told McClatchy News that cases without a body make it more difficult to prove murder.

“It’s still hard to accuse and convict someone ... when there’s no dead body,” she said.

May Millete wanted a divorce, Stephan said at a Tuesday news conference, and did not want to her children to be “subjected” to a toxic relationship.

Larry Millete did not want a divorce, Stephan said, and was determined to keep her in the marriage.

Detectives uncovered messages from Larry Millete to different spellcasters asking them to provide incantations that would keep his wife in their relationship, Stephan said.

“I’ve never had a case where that was involved,” Stephan said.

In December 2020, a month before she vanished, Larry Millete’s messages became “threatening,” Stephan said.

He asked the so-called spellcasters to make his wife become incapacitated or have her bones broken so she would stay at home with him, Stephan said.

Isabella Phillips, who says she is a psychic, spellcaster, witch and owner of California Love Spells, told KNSD, most people are looking for love spells.

If someone approaches Phillips or her mother, Tuesday Phillips, with a harmful spell request, they will refuse.

“I don’t work with people like that. I don’t go with black magic or anything,” Tuesday Phillips said.

Stephan said May Millete’s disappearance was triggered on Jan. 7, when she called and made an appointment with a divorce attorney for Jan. 12.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit, “Based on the totality of the investigation and circumstantial evidence including surveillance video, phone, text and social media communications, and motive, we have probable cause to believe that Larry Millete unlawfully killed his wife May and disposed of her body on or about January 7-8, 2021.”

Video footage shows Larry Millete repositioning his car in the early morning of Jan. 8. Then he leaves his home, without a phone, and does not return for 11 hours and 21 minutes, Stephan said.

Larry Millete remains in the San Diego Central Jail where he is being held without bail. A bond review hearing is scheduled for Nov. 4.

How to get help: If you or someone you know is being abused by a current or former partner, call the NationalDomestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233) for confidential support and assistance.

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