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CHULA VISTA, Calif. (KGTV) — The prosecution called its first witness in the murder trial of Larry Millete on Tuesday morning.
Cameras are not allowed in the courtroom for the duration of the trial. Larry sat in court watching as the witnesses testified. Tuesday he was wearing a dark grey-blue sweater with a light blue collared shirt. He had black-rimmed glasses on and was not wearing a Facemask.
Desteny Johnson was a receptionist at the local law firm that Maya Millete called on Jan. 7, 2021, the day she disappeared.
Johnson testified that Maya was adamant that she did not want to visit the office in person because she didn’t want Larry to know.
“She was determined. She knew what she wanted,” Johnson said on the stand.
Johnson originally offered an appointment for Jan. 8, but Maya said she had plans with her family. An appointment was made for Jan. 12.
Maya never made it to the appointment; she was last seen on Jan. 7, 2021.
During testimony, Larry kept his focus on the witness.
The second person to take the stand was Jasmin Rooker, a friend and former coworker of Maya.
Rooker appeared a bit nervous as she answered questions. She described how her friendship with Maya started in 2014 and developed as time passed.
Rooker says Maya was a private person and very hard-working and well-liked at work.
The prosecution asked Rooker about a May 2020 work trip she took with Maya to Virginia. Rooker testified that Larry Millete was constantly communicating with Maya, either via text, on the phone, or FaceTime.
“Consuming her time and we already had a lot to do with work,” recalled Rooker on the stand.
Rooker says that after the work trip, Maya confided in her about her marriage.
“That she loved him, but she wasn’t in love with him," Rooker said.
Rooker says Maya told her Larry would have an issue with her trying to leave the marriage.
“He told her he would never let her leave. If she left, no one would ever find her. I remember that specifically, No doubt,” Rooker said.
Rooker recalled multiple times when Maya would have to show Larry who she was with via FaceTime, and that one time Larry said: "My wife is just so beautiful and there’s all these guys after her, and I just have to keep this romance going."
Maya's coworker also testified that one time Larry appeared at Maya's office window, his face pressed against it as he peered in. Rooker said she was surprised and 'a little creeped out.'
On the stand, Rooker recalled a time when Maya said the following: "If anything ever happens to me, it was Larry.”
The prosecution ended their questioning with Rooker just before lunch at noon. The defense is expected to begin Rooker's cross-examination at 1:30 p.m.
