A husband who tried to put a “spell” on his wife to stop her from going when she wanted a divorce, has now been charged with the murder of the missing woman.
Larry Millete has been taken into custody in Chula Vista, San Diego, accused of killing his wife Maya Millete and the mother of their three children.
District attorney Summer Stephan said that Mr Millete had tried to curse his wife who wanted to leave as their marriage fell apart and her final call was made to a divorce lawyer on January 7, reported the Daily Mail.
"Extensive search warrants uncovered a trail of things that were happening, that were of great concern," Stephan told a press conference outside the Chula Vista Police Department.
"Larry was trying to hold on to May. He resorted to contacting spell casters, who would be asked to make May stay in the relationship. In December he was asking for May to become incapacitated, to be in an accident and have broken bones so she could stay at home."
Ms Millete used Facebook to contact her family on January 7 at 8.15pm, and that was the last message that she sent while her phone’s activity stopped in the early hours of the following day.
At the same time Mr Millete reportedly sent a text message saying: “I think she wants me to snap and I am shaking inside ready to snap.”
Stephan said that neighbours heard nine loud bangs coming from the Milletes' house at 9:57pm on the night of January 7. At 10.34pm neighbours heard the couple’s children playing outside which they thought was strange at that time.
Then at 5.58am Mr Millete was seen moving his black Lexus.
"The Lexus was already backed into the driveway," said Stephan.
"He repositioned the Lexus so the back was in the entrance to the garage, and no video camera could capture whether a body was put in the back of the Lexus or not."
He was away the following day and told detectives that he had driven up the coast, while he left his phone at home and his boss was calling him to ask why he was not at work.
Mr Millete has been charged with one count of murder and one count of possession of an illegal weapon.
He was known as a gun fanatic who had a large arsenal of weapons which he had been ordered to give up but he had retained one of the guns.
"He had not turned over one of those weapons, a .40 calibre gun, and it remains outstanding today," said Stephan.
Ms Millete's sister Maricris Drouaillet, who raised the initial alarm, appealed for information in a press conference.
"I still want to see my sister. I still want her to come home to us," she said.
"Please, if you know anything at all. Please help us, I'm pleading. I still want her to come home.
"We made a promise to her 11-year-old daughter we will bring her home. Please, let the kids know where their mummy is at. Let them know the truth."
