THE lover of a missing mom admitted he repeatedly lied about their secret affair — including to cops — as he tried to save his own marriage, a court has heard.
The trial of Larry Millete for the murder of his missing wife Maya, 39, has now entered its sixth week in San Diego.
Maya went missing in January 2021 in Chula Vista, California, and her body has never been found.
Her husband, with whom she had three children, was arrested in October 2021 and has remained in custody ever since, charged with killing Maya and disposing of her body the very next day.
Court statements revealed that Maya had reportedly been unhappy in the relationship and was considering ending it, while her family had allegedly grown suspicious of her husband.
Just days before the FBI arrested him, neighbors claimed they saw him throwing items over a fence.
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James “Jamey” Laird, a former co-worker, was having an affair with Maya but confessed in court he lied to police, his wife, family members, supervisors and co-workers when first quizzed after her disappearance.
When asked whether he had been truthful with investigators, Laird initially said he may have “held back some information” before agreeing that he lied.
He also acknowledged signing statements under penalty of perjury denying the affair and admitted deleting messages exchanged with Maya.
“I’ve deleted messages on every platform,” Laird testified.
Laird said a romantic relationship began in early 2020 after meeting the previous year while working as Navy contractors at the Southwest Regional Maintenance Center.
Both were married at the time.
While quizzed on the stand, Laird explained how the friendship developed into a full-blown affair and that he had fallen in love with her.
He said the two confided in each other about their marriages and developed what he described as an “us against the world” mentality.
Communication between the pair was through Instagram, with Laird admitting many of their conversations were sexual and included the exchange of photos and videos.
The affair became a source of concern in January 2021 after Larry contacted Laird’s wife and blew up their secret.
In court, Laird testified that he feared the consequences for his marriage and career and worried investigators could uncover communications between him and Maya.
He said he believed his life was “going to be ruined.”
Jurors heard that Laird and Maya discussed deleting communications related to the affair.
Laird also testified that he argued with Maya shortly before her disappearance.
“I can’t have this keep happening,” he recalled telling her.
Laird said his wife went into labor on the day Maya disappeared and that he remained at the hospital until January 10, claiming he learned she was missing when a relative and a friend contacted him.
Although Laird testified that he was concerned about Maya’s safety, he acknowledged that he did not contact her after learning what had happened.
Prosecutors have alleged that Larry, who has pleaded not guilty, killed his wife after she told him she wanted a divorce.
During opening statements, prosecutors described a marriage that had deteriorated over time, with Maya expressing concerns about Larry’s behavior.
Friends and family members have testified that Maya said she felt controlled and monitored.
Prosecutors have also presented that Larry searched for ways to harm his wife, including searches involving poisons and alleged attempts to find spell-casting services.
The defense, however, argue investigators focused too heavily on Larry while failing to examine other possibilities.
Before trial, defense attorneys sought to present Laird as a potential alternate suspect, arguing the affair could have provided a motive.
Judge Enrique Camarena ruled the defense could not present third-party culpability evidence.
Ryan continued questioning Laird about his prior statements, including interviews in which Laird said he was not concerned about Maya’s safety or Larry’s behavior.
Laird acknowledged those statements were not truthful, and his testimony is expected to continue as the trial proceeds.