A handyman in Washington state faces charges related to the death of a missing woman who was buried and partially wrapped in concrete under the shed he allegedly built.
Thurston County officials announced in a press conference on April 21 that Jeffrey Zizz, 47, faces charges of first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping and illegal handling of human remains. Prosecutor Jon Tunheim said the charges are expected to be formally filed by April 23 and there may be additional charges as the investigation continues.
Zizz was previously convicted of child sex crimes and was charged with killing 82-year-old Marcia Norman in early April, according to authorities and court records. The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office said Norman disappeared “in suspicious circumstances” from her residence, a small city about 15 miles south of Olympia.
The Sheriff’s Office said authorities began an investigation on April 4 after receiving reports of missing persons from Norman’s family. Her family reported that they had not heard from Norman since April 1, but her two cars were still parked at her residence.
Zizz was later arrested in Missoula, Montana and detained for suspected child sex offenses, according to Sheriff Derek Sanders. He was then extradited to Washington State and booked to Thurston County Jail, where he was released on bail without bail.
In a statement released on April 20, Norman’s family described her as a “dedicated member of the community and family” who “full of life and plans for the future” and “loved by many.”
“Our family has experienced the loss of our center,” the Norman family said. “Macia is the one who brings us together. Our family is grieving and looking for ways to remember her memories.”
Marcia Norman, 82, of Tenino, Washington. She heard the news on April 1, 2025 for the last time. She was reportedly missing a few days later and her body was found in Olympia on April 9, 2025.
Investigate the timeline of Marcia Norman’s disappearance
In a press conference on April 21, Sanders provided a timeline for the investigation after the reported disappearance. Investigators learned that on April 1, Norman had dinner with Zizz, who was identified as her handicraft figure and was the last known person to meet her at the time, Sanders said.
Patrol deputies and investigators were dispatched to Norman’s residence on April 4 after his son and neighbors reported missing. Sanders added that investigators determined that “the situation at her residence did not add up” and returned the next morning to secure some areas of interest.
Sanders said investigators also conducted interviews throughout the day and spoke with Zizz, who was then a co-op. The sheriff noted that Zizz provided a “meaningful” answer, which led to the investigation being stalled.
But evidence from the license plate reading camera system caught Zizz “lied” and added that investigators were able to execute a search warrant in the case. Zizz later failed to perform a polygraph inspection on April 5 and asked a lawyer in a second interview with investigators.
Sanders said when investigators conducted a search warrant on April 5, they grabbed Zizz’s truck and searched his storage unit and trailer. Investigators also searched his home and grabbed several items, including a five-page letter, “a careful plan to burglary and sexual assault on a woman known as a client.” Sanders said.
Between April 6 and April 9, Sanders said investigators continued to search for suspicious areas and searched nearby Lake McIntosh. On April 7, investigators sought Zizz’s alleged probation warrant but found he had fled the state with his roommate’s truck.
“We later learned that the truck hit a elk near the border of Montana, Idaho, and at that time, we started mobilizing and seeking help from the Idaho State Police and Missoula Law Enforcement,” Sanders said. “Later that night, we learned (Zizz) was detained with the assistance of Missoula Law Enforcement.”
Authorities said that at that time, the special body was taken to a property in Olympia and searched the shed that investigators learned Zizz had built the day after Norman disappeared. Sanders said a second search was conducted on April 8, with two of the three bodies indicating that human remains may be present in the shed.
Authorities moved the shed on April 9 and dug the ground below it, placing the human remains in shallow graves about 18 inches underground and in shallow graves, Sanders said, “concrete poured on top.”
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Local coroner reveals the cause of Marcia Norman’s death
Sanders said the county coroner’s office conducted an autopsy on April 10. The coroner’s office later confirmed that the body was Norman’s.
Thurston County coroner Gary Warnock said Norman’s direct death was “a sharp injury to blunt force and penetration.” He added that other important illnesses that caused her death were blunt force damage caused by her torso and limbs.
The autopsy also showed that Norman’s injury was the result of another person’s assault and that it caused harm while she was still alive. The coroner’s office found no evidence of sexual assault, but Warnock said the test results are still waiting.
“Our focus will be on Marcia, her life, her family (will continue to live in her name) and investigations … to ensure that the investigation seeks justice for her,” Sanders said in a press conference.
A man served for 45 years due to murder. He just admitted to killing another woman.
Suspect pleaded guilty to child sex crimes in 2021
Court documents previously obtained by the U.S. today found that Zizz pleaded guilty to three children under the age of 15 in October 2021.
Zizz pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree child harassment and communication with minors, according to court documents filed in August 2022.
Zizz is prohibited from possessing a firearm or approaching a victim until October 2032, and a six-year community custody or supervision of release and rehabilitation was also ordered, court records show. He was sentenced to nearly nine years in prison, but was released 11 months later because he received credit for the service, according to court records.
Contribution: Salaine Martin, USA Today
This article was initially seen in USA Today: Marcia Norman Case: Washington State Handyman
