Husband Of Missing Mom, Who Vanished While Planning Daughter's Birthday, Hires Lawyer, Stops Answering Questions, Police Say

The husband of a missing California mother of three has hired a lawyer and stopped cooperating with police, authorities said.

Maya “May” Millete, 39, was last seen on Jan. 7 by relatives at her home in Chula Vista, the Chula Vista Police Department stated last month in a press release. 

Maya's husband Larry Millete has now stopped cooperating with the department.

“He has retained an attorney and isn’t responding to requests,” Eric Thunberg, a public information officer for the Chula Vista Police Department told Oxygen.com on Friday morning.

The department noted last month that no vehicle was missing from the home following Maya’s disappearance. She stopped responding to texts and vanished while planning a birthday party for her eldest child as she turned 11. She is also the mother of a 9-year-old and a 4-year-old.

While there have been several searches and vigils held for the missing mom since her disappearance, Larry has apparently not attended any of them, local outlet KSWB reports. He’s instead asked for privacy, and remained primarily at home with the children.

Maya’s brother-in-law Richard Drouaille told KSWB, “Yeah, it’d be nice to see him out here, you know, but I’m sure he does miss her, and I’m sure he’s probably broken at home.”

The husband did speak to the media early on in the investigation. He told KSWB in mid-January that he thought his wife perhaps wanted some space and time alone.

“Initially, that’s what I thought,” he said. “But as the days go by, it’s very unlikely that that’s it, because she wouldn’t be gone this long. I’m still very hopeful that with all this media coverage, she’ll turn up and say, ‘Hey, I’m okay.’”

He then used the outlet to speak directly to his missing wife: “I love you honey, just come back home.”

It appears, according to authorities, that Maya’s identification, credit card, and phone are missing. However, her credit card has not been used since her disappearance, and all calls to her phone have gone straight to voicemail.

On Friday, police held a news conference to tell the public that they are taking the case seriously and following every lead to see if the missing mom is the victim of a crime. They urge anyone with information to come forward.

"Someone out there knows something," Chula Vista Police Chief Roxana Kennedy said, adding that she will help anyone with information stay as anonymous as possible.

Maya's sister Maricris Drouaille made an emotional plea during the new conference, also urging for those with information to step forward. 

"Please bring her home," she said through sobs, adding that her sister's children "need their mom."

Following the conferernce, family and friends held a rally for support.

Millete stands at 5’2” and she has brown hair, freckles and a wrist tattoo. Anyone with information on this case is urged to contact Chula Vista police at (619) 691-5151.