Recap: Jury finds Larry Millete guilty of 1st-degree murder in Maya's death

Deputy District Attorney Christy Bowles and Maya Millete's sister Maricris Drouaillet speak at a news conference just after jurors found Larry Millete guilty of the murder of his wife, Maya. 

Deputy District Attorney Christy Bowles lead a news conference following the guilty verdict of Larry Millete in the murder of his wife, Maya Millete.

"No verdict can erase the pain of losing May or the years of uncertainty that have endured. But we hope today's outcome provides a measure of justice and accountability," Bowles said.

Chula Vista Police Department's Assistant Chief of Police Dan Peak spoke next.

"Today gives a little bit of justice on behalf of May and to her family for her being missing for all these years. But it doesn't bring closure. She is still out there, she is still missing. And we are going to work tirelessly to continue looking for her and try to find her and bring her home so she can be with her family," Peak said.

Maya's sister, Maricris Drouaillet, who has been a public face in the case to find Maya since the beginning, spoke next alongside her husband.

“We thank Christy Bowles for her hard work," Drouaillet said, appearing on the verge of tears.

"Her entire five years, her dedication and her entire team to work on this case. I can't thank them enough for the hard work and I know she probably had sleepless nights," she said.

"Justice has probably been served today, but we still have my sister out there, we still have the second step to go through, we still have to bring my sister home, to bring her to her three children that's been waiting for her for five years. We still ask the public for help, maybe, you know, one of these days we can bring her home. Thank you everybody, and thank you for the media for always covering her story," Drouaillet said.

Jurors in the trial of Larry Millete needed only five hours of deliberation and one vote to find him guilty of first-degree murder.

The jury that found Larry Millete guilty of first-degree murder of his wife, Maya, came to their decision quickly and then had no doubts about it, said one of the jurors after the trial.

They were not swayed by the fact that Maya's body has never been found, said the juror. NBC 7 is not naming the jurors in order to protect their privacy.

"Oh there's a body. She's here. He knows where she's at," the juror said. "He did it. It's overwhelming evidence. When you put all those pieces together and then you look at those spellcasters …"

Testimony in the case revealed that Larry Millete had hired spellcasters to make his wife fall back in love with him and to curse the man with whom she was having an affair.

The jury deliberated for about five hours, taking their job seriously, the juror said. There was some discussion about whether to find him guilty of first-degree murder or second-degree.

However, when they took a secret vote, all 12 jurors said they believed he is guilty of first-degree murder.

The juror also described walking into the courtroom knowing the verdict -- but knowing that Larry and his defense team did not.

"It's a lot to bear that information, to hold it. And the heart pounding … it's terrible," the juror said, "It's not a good emotion; it doesn't feel good. But it was right. We have no reservation."

Later in the interview, the juror repeated that she believes Larry knows where Maya's body is.

"I think he has her. I think he knows exactly where he is, and I don't think he's ever going to tell anybody."