California Man Arrested for Murder After Wife's Remains Found Under Home
A homeowner's gruesome discovery in a crawl space led to the identification of skeletal remains and the arrest of a suspect in a 20-year-old cold case.
A California homeowner stumbled upon skeletal remains in a crawl space, a discovery that has now helped authorities solve a two-decade-old cold case. The remains, found in 2020 under a house in Big Bear, have been identified as those of Jill Maiorca, who was 29 when she disappeared more than 20 years ago.
DNA analysis conducted in 2023 confirmed the identity of the remains as Jill Maiorca. Following this confirmation, investigators identified her former husband, Jeff Maiorca, 53, as a suspect in her killing. He was arrested earlier this week at the Big Bear branch library and is currently being held without bail at the High Desert Jail in Adelanto.
Jeff Maiorca was formally charged with murder and the use of a deadly weapon during a court hearing on Wednesday. His next court appearance is scheduled for October 12. Court records indicate he filed for divorce from Jill Maiorca in Los Angeles County in 2004.
While Jill was reported missing in Big Bear Lake in 2007, investigations suggest she was murdered in November 2006. The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department has declined to release a mugshot of Jeff Maiorca, citing privacy concerns. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Jill Maiorca's death is ongoing.
