San Diego wifes disappearance tied to deadly herb and reports of witchcraft

A chilling mix of alleged “hex” emails, a deadly plant poison, and a wife who vanished without a trace has gripped a San Diego courtroom as Larry Millete stands trial for the murder of his missing spouse, May “Maya” Millete.After opening statements wrapped Monday in Chula Vista Superior Court, prosecutors began calling their first witnesses Tuesday as the closely watched murder trial entered its first full day of testimony.Prosecutors opened the case with a blunt claim: Millete killed his wife because he would not accept the end of their 20-year marriage.“Divorce was not an option” for Larry Millete, San Diego County Deputy District Attorney Christy Bowles told jurors, painting a picture of a man determined to stop his wife from leaving at any cost.Maya disappeared in January 2021, just days before a planned family trip to Big Bear Lake for their daughter’s 11th birthday.She was never seen again.Her car remained parked outside the family’s five-bedroom home.Her phone went silent.Calls went straight to voicemail.Within days, her sister, Maricris Drouaillet, reported her missing.Now prosecutors say the case is not about a disappearance, but a murder.One of the most explosive allegations involves a vial found inside the Millete home.Investigators say it contained a liquid that testing later identified as hemlock, a highly toxic plant.Hemlock is not subtle.It attacks the nervous system and can trigger nausea, vomiting, rapid heartbeat, paralysis, and respiratory failure as the lungs shut down.Prosecutors also told jurors that Millete allegedly searched for information about hemlock online and looked up poisons that could kill quickly, suggesting a growing fixation on lethal methods.But it is the alleged “spell” communications that have added an unusual and disturbing layer to the case.According to investigators and statements discussed in court, Millete allegedly exchanged hundreds of emails with online “spellcasters” before his wife disappeared,...