A missing mother's lover has made a bombshell revelation at the trial of her husband, who stands accused of murdering her.
James 'Jamey' Laird sensationally admitted to lying during police interviews after the disappearance of Maya 'May' Millete, 39, as he took to the stand at San Diego Superior Court this week.
He also revealed that he had argued with his mistress in the days before she went missing on January 7, 2021. Millete is presumed dead, but her body was never found.
Laird was testifying at the trial of Larry Millete, 44, Maya's husband and the father of her children, who was arrested nine months after she vanished.
He has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and illegal possession of an assault rifle in the case before Judge Enrique Camarena. After several delays, the murder trial kicked off last month.
On Monday, Laird confessed that he was in love with May, but said he had deleted their messages when his wife went into labor, which was the same day she disappeared.
He testified that he was concerned for May because of her husband's controlling behavior and admitted he had argued with her because Larry had contacted his wife about the affair, City News Service reported.
Laird told the court that he had rebuked his mistress and said to her that he could not 'have this happening.' He was also grilled about his initial statements to the police.
Maya 'May' Millete vanished in 2021. She is presumed dead but no body has never been found
May's husband, Larry, is standing trial accused of murdering her. The couple had children together
Larry was arraigned for May's murder on October 21, 2021. After multiple delays, his trial began last month
After Maya disappeared Laird had told investigators that he was not concerned for her and was not worried about her husband's actions.
However, on Monday Laird told the court he had lied and admitted that his initial statements contradicted what he later told authorities.
'I was scared and didn't want the affair coming out. I was also fearful that something happened to her, and I was trying to save my marriage,' he said.
Laird told defense attorney Colby Ryan that he lied to police about the affair because he was worried his wife, who had just given birth, would find out.
Ryan also forced Laird to recall their secret meet-ups, including one instance where Maya's husband caught them in a car together.
Laird said the two would meet in his car, at the beach, at work and at hotels. He added that he would never bring his phone.
The two began an extramarital affair in 2020, a year after they met at the Southwest Regional Maintenance Center in San Diego.
'It became physical in early January,' Laird testified. 'Kind of like a newlywed feeling…but over time it became a deeper love.'
The defense questioned Laird about his messages with May. Attorneys argued that 76 percent of the messages were sexual in nature.
The last message between the two was on January 7, 2021. Laird told May that he was going to the hospital with his pregnant wife, and the two never spoke again.
Laird also testified that May got pregnant in 2020 and had had an abortion. He said during questioning that he neglected to tell investigators out of fear that the abortion would become public, NBC San Diego reported.
The FBI was seen searching the couple's former home before Larry's arrest. Law enforcement has also testified during the multi-week murder trial
Authorities found poison hemlock in the Millete's home. An expert witness testified that the plant grows in San Diego
'We were always working together to cover up the affair… there was no topic off limits… even things to repair my relationship,' Laird said.
He explained that the two used code names for their spouses and that May had confided in him about her husband's controlling behavior.
Laird cited Larry's refusal to let May drive herself to work and said her husband planted a tracking device in her car.
Laird said that May planned to file for divorce from her husband, adding that she had even told her eldest daughter about her intentions.
A letter sent from Laird to May in the summer of 2020 was also read aloud. Part of it said: 'You really are one of a kind … oh and very easy on the eyes. I have never met anyone like you before…. plus the tat is going to look so sexy on you,' Fox 5 San Diego reported.
Prosecutors connected the reference to a 'tat' to a tattoo May had around her wrist, resembling a bracelet that Laird had given her.
The affair was reported to their boss after Laird's wife saw a notification from May on his phone.
He testified in court that his mother-in-law called his office to report his extramarital relationship.
Their boss then had a meeting with Laird, May and Larry. They denied the affair, and Laird made up a story about how he cheated with a different woman who had a similar name.
Larry called Laird's wife to tell her about the affair. Laird testified that his wife, who was getting ready to give birth, was an 'emotional wreck.'
A few days after May disappeared and Laird's wife gave birth, he was contacted by her friend to see if he had heard from her.
May's lover testified that her husband, Larry, pictured, was controlling, would track her and refuse to let her use a car
In pre-trial proceedings, Larry's attorneys argued that Laird had a motive to kill May because of the affair.
However, Judge Camarena ruled that there was not enough evidence to consider Laird as a suspect. He also had an alibi because his wife was in labor when May disappeared.
Another expert witness took the stand on Monday to testify about poison hemlock, which was found in the Milletes' home before Larry was arrested.
Dr Jon Rebman, an expert in the field of botany, said poison hemlock grows in San Diego County and can be found where Larry worked.
He said that about 300mg of extract from the plant is enough to kill someone. The defense attempted to discredit the prosecution's theory by pointing out that Larry's youngest child could have accidentally grabbed the plant, not knowing it was lethal.
Earlier in the trial, prosecutors read aloud disturbing text messages allegedly sent between May and Larry.
'Dear Larry. You are right, I am not myself anymore. I've turned into this bitter, angry person who is careless with her words,' she allegedly wrote.
'But that's what our marriage has turned me into. And I hate it. I hate that you get me so angry all the time. And you speak so righteous while I speak so bitterly.'
The court also heard testimony regarding the couple's alleged search history on the fifth day of the trial.
A letter read aloud in court revealed that Laird told May that she was 'really are one of a kind'
Laird said Larry had called his wife about the affair after a meeting at their workplace. He said he was concerned for her, but did not report it to the police
Text messages sent from May to Laird and Larry were read aloud in court
Investigators found searches such as 'how to mentally torture someone with words' and 'psychological torture,' according to David Garber, a former forensic specialist with Chula Vista Police Department.
Detective Lorenzo Ruiz testified as well, telling the court that he reviewed Maya's credit card activity and found no record of her using any card after January 7, 2021.
Ruiz testified that he reviewed camera footage but found no evidence that Maya left the home on the same day.
Laird and his wife have since divorced. May's sister, Maricris Drouaillet, gained custody of her children in 2024.
The trial continues.
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