Larry Millete, the Chula Vista man accused of killing his still-missing wife, made a series of internet searches in late 2020 related to purchasing spells and hexes to control his wife’s behavior, but abruptly ceased those efforts after she disappeared, a police detective testified Wednesday. M illete, 44, is being tried on a murder charge stemming from the disappearance of May “Maya” Millete, who vanished on Jan 7, 2021, at age 39. Chula Vista Police Department Detective Lorenzo Ruiz testified Wednesday morning that a laptop belonging to Larry Millete revealed months of internet searches for spells and subliminal messages focused on making his wife love him, as well as “training” her. About a month before May disappeared, the searches became more “violent” in nature, Ruiz testified, with Millete allegedly seeking magic that would incapacitate May or make her sick so she would have to depend on him. But after May vanished, internet activity on the device turned suddenly mundane, with no searches for anything related to magic or his wife. Prosecutors have alleged Larry Millete was controlling and possessive of his wife and went to extreme lengths to monitor her whereabouts and communications before allegedly murdering her because she sought to divorce him. Ruiz’s review of the device also turned up apparent notes outlining detailed documentation of May’s day-to-day activities, including people she was meeting for lunch and stores she patronized. One entry noted that Larry observed his wife was not wearing her wedding ring, according to testimony. Ruiz also testified about emails the couple sent to one another during 2020, including one email Larry sent May regarding a website on “what men want from their wives.” May responded that Larry should “also focus on what women want from their husbands” and accused him of wanting her to “go back to the wife who didn’t rock the boat” and “didn’t assert her feelings,” the detective testified. May also made numerous searches on her work laptop throughout 2020 regarding divorce, Ruiz testified. Testimony from earlier in the trial indicated May had scheduled a meeting with a divorce attorney for Jan. 12, but never showed up for the meeting. Larry’s defense pointed out some of Maya’s online searches, she searched whether her phone would be traceable on airplane mode. Though she has never been found, prosecutors have argued there is nothing to suggest May was alive after Jan. 7. More on Millete murder trial Maya Millete 7 hours ago Expert says missing crime scene could help prosecution in Millete trial Maya Millete May 21 Recap: Judge, prosecutors, defense discuss Larry Millete's call to NBC 7 Maya Millete May 19 Recap: Judge clears court as Maya's father screams at Larry, ‘Why did you do this?' Maya Millete May 18 Recap: Millete murder case opening statements may reveal Maya's cause of death Ruiz testified on Tuesday that he undertook efforts to confirm May’s whereabouts, which included reviews of financial records, cellphone activity, and surveillance footage. The detective said the only credit card activity recorded for May after Jan. 7 were automatic renewals, while no data was recorded on her phone after that date. He also inquired with rideshare companies and confirmed no passenger pick-ups occurred in the area of the Millete home during the time she went missing. Ruiz also consulted with Border Patrol authorities and could find no evidence of May entering Mexico on or after Jan. 7. Surveillance footage capturing the Millete home from the evening of Jan. 7 to the morning of Jan. 8 does not show May ever leaving the residence, prosecutors allege. However, on the morning of Jan. 8, a black SUV can be seen leaving the home and not returning until that evening, about 12 hours later. Prosecutors allege Larry Millete was driving that SUV, but his whereabouts during that time period remain unknown. Former Chula Vista police Officer Chanelle Walsh testified that she responded to the Millete home on Jan. 9 after May’s sister reported her missing. Walsh said she searched the SUV and found it “exceptionally clean” for a family with three children and devoid of “daily living items,” with the SUV’s condition leading her to believe the vehicle was cleaned recently. Back in 2021, in their initial report, Police did not note the car looked oddly clean. Larry’s defense lawyer pointed out that all three of the family cars police searched were relatively clean and tidy. ...read more read less