Maya Millete’s family furious case did not get as much attention as Gabby Petito before husband’s murder arrest
THE family of a "murdered" mom last month blasted the attention given to missing van life YouTuber Gabby Petito as her body remains unfound.
Maya Millete, 40, went missing in January but her sister claims the investigation stalled for nine months until cops dramatically arrested her husband on Tuesday.
Maya's family contrasted what they claim was a lack of initial urgency in her case with the huge search for missing vlogger Gabby, 22.
She vanished on a road trip with fiancé Brian Laundrie and was later found strangled to death in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.
The case drew headlines around the world and hundreds of millions of shares on social media as the FBI joined local police on the probe.
Maya's sister Maricris Droualillet hit out last month that it appeared that her case was not being given the same attention.
"We just wish we had the same urgency as Gabby," she said.
"I know the circumstances of Gabby's case are different but it just brought back a lot of pain.
"Chula Vista police are working very hard but the urgency we see in this case is heartbreaking."
Brother-in-law Richard Droualillet added: "Right now, we need more boots on the ground and we will continue looking for our sister until she is home."
Read our Maya Millete live blog for the very latest news and updates...
The family spoke out again yesterday after Maya's husband Larry's arrest.
Cops said he was the only person of interest in the case.
Maricris broke down in tears as she spoke about how she promised Maya's 11-year-old daughter “we would bring her mom home.”
“This is just overwhelming at this time for me,” she added.
“I’m still just trying to take it today.
“It’s hard to go against family,” Maricris continued.
“He’s been with us for 20 years. My sister did love him. She gave him three kids.
“We still have a long way to go. I just want to see my sister. I still want her to come home to us. Please, if you know anything at all, please help us.”
MAYA STILL MISSING
Maya, a mother-of-three, was last seen at her home in Chula Vista, near San Diego, on January 7.
Cops were handed audio of gunshots during an alleged row with her husband on the day she vanished, the family's private investigator claims.
Maya was reported missing two days later, and earlier this year Larry was named as a person of interest.
He said Larry had been taking out “large sums of money” from the bank in the last few days.
And neighbors told The Sun Larry was seen dumping items over the back fence.
Cops have video footage of him backing his SUV into the garage late at night, it is claimed.
'THREATENING'
It emerged Maya's last phone call on January 7 was to a divorce lawyer, arranging to meet the following week.
At a press conference after Larry's arrest yesterday, San Diego district attorney Summer Stephan said her husband was incensed that she wanted to end their marriage.
He even tried to cast a spell on her to force her to stay with him, it is alleged.
The DA said: "Larry was trying to hold on to Maya, and he resorted to contacting what are called 'spellcasters'.
"I've never had a case where that was involved.
"These spellcasters would be asked to make Maya want to stay in the relationship.
"But as December of 2020 came, those messages to spellcasters were a lot more threatening.
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"He was asking for Maya to become incapacitated, to be in an accident, to have broken bones so that she could stay at home, thus displaying his homicidal ideations."
On the day she was last seen, Larry is alleged to have sent a text reading: "I think she wants me to snap and I am shaking inside ready to snap."
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