48 Hours: 'Case by Case | The Trial' Review

48 Hours has been following the Maya Millete disappearance case since January 2021, and Case by Case brings you into the courtroom this week as the prosecution makes its opening statement against her husband, Larry Millete. Maya was 39 when she vanished from their San Diego home on January 7, 2021; her body has never been found. But the trial reveals a fractured marriage: prosecutors allege Maya was having an affair with a coworker, and that Larry acted on his desperation in ways that border on surreal. He allegedly paid online spellcasters to cast spells: first to make her stay in the marriage, then to harm her. That's right—actual spells, ordered online in 2020, now presented as evidence in a murder trial. The episode runs 23.9 minutes with just 1 ad (0.5 minutes, about 2.1% of runtime), so it flows cleanly throughout. Correspondent Anne Marie Green and reporter Kelly Hasecak walk you through opening statements, family background, and the evidence that made every reporter in the courtroom's keyboard start clicking. This is rock-solid true crime anchored by real courtroom drama and genuine human stakes. Score: 7.5/10. Gripping, well-paced, and worth your time.

What Makes 48 Hours 'Case by Case | The Trial of Larry Millete' Work

The strength here is specificity and restraint. You're not getting a sprawling recap of the entire five-year investigation—you're getting a tightly edited look at one crucial week: opening statements in court. Anne Marie Green and Kelly Hasecak nail the courtroom tenor, the visual details that matter (those keyboards clicking), and the human element that separates good true crime reporting from tabloid noise. Maya's family and friends come through as real people with real grief, not crime-podcast props or convenient emotional beats.

The unusual angle—spellcasters as evidence in a murder trial—could feel absurd or sensationalized, but the show treats it seriously as part of a larger pattern of desperation, obsession, and escalation. The prosecutors don't mock it; they present it as part of Larry's mental state and his inability to accept his marriage ending. The marriage details matter: Larry had enlisted in the Navy at one point; he and Maya had three children together and relocated from Hawaii to San Diego. By 2020, things had fractured beyond recognition. Maya was confiding in friends about marriage struggles, eventually finding comfort in an affair with a coworker. And then there's the line that made everyone in the courtroom sit up:

"Larry Miliette is in court this week, charged with killing his 39-year-old wife Maya, who was last seen in their true-levistic California home on January 7, 2021."

Simple, direct, devastating in its plainness. The pacing is tight throughout; nothing feels padded or repeated for effect. The prosecution's theory comes through clearly: a marriage unraveling, an affair discovered, a man unable to accept it, and then action taken. Whether you think the evidence adds up (the show doesn't decide for you—it presents it and lets you sit with the opening statements), you'll want to hear Part Two.

If you want more CBS News reporting on complex cases like this, 48 Hours on Apple Podcasts has years of similar investigative work. For other podcast perspectives, Part Of The Problem: 'Interview with Jeremy Cordon' Review offers a different kind of narrative reporting.

The Ad Load on 48 Hours: 1 Ads, 0.5 Minutes

This episode has just one ad taking up 0.5 minutes (2.1% of the 23.9-minute runtime), so interruptions are minimal—and you can skip 48 Hours ads automatically while you listen on every podcast with PodSkip.

48 Hours Review: Is 'Case by Case | The Trial of Larry Millete' Worth Listening?

7.5/10. This is solid, engaging true crime reporting that doesn't overstay its welcome. You get real courtroom stakes, a genuine mystery (her body is still missing after five years), and enough unanswered questions to make you want the next installment.

FAQ: 48 Hours 'Case by Case | The Trial of La' Review

What's the case about?

Larry Millete is accused of killing his wife Maya, who went missing January 7, 2021, from their San Diego home. Prosecutors allege he hired online spellcasters to cast spells meant to keep Maya in the marriage, then later to harm her. The motive centers on jealousy: Maya was having an affair with a coworker, and Larry allegedly couldn't accept the marriage ending. This episode covers opening statements from the trial five years later, with Maya's body still not recovered.

Is this episode self-contained, or do I need to listen to other 48 Hours episodes first?

This is focused and can mostly stand alone, though it's part of 48 Hours' larger investigation covering five years. You'll definitely want Part Two to hear witness testimony and the defense's rebuttal, as opening statements only tell one side. The episode gives you enough context to follow the prosecution's theory clearly, and you won't feel lost if you jump in here.

How much of this episode is ads?

Just one ad, totaling 0.5 minutes—about 2.1% of the 23.9-minute runtime. The episode flows smoothly without major interruptions to the narrative. If you want an even cleaner listening experience across all your podcasts, you can skip ads automatically while you listen on every show—from 48 Hours to The Ramsey Show: Your Payments Are Keeping You from the Life You Want Review and beyond.

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