Man Arrested Decades After Wife's Remains Found in Crawl Space
DNA analysis connected Jeff Anthony Maiorca to the 2006 disappearance of his wife, Jill Maiorca.
A Southern California man has been arrested in connection with the death of his wife, whose remains were discovered nearly 20 years ago in a crawl space beneath a Big Bear Lake home. Jeff Anthony Maiorca, 53, was taken into custody Monday by San Bernardino County authorities.
The remains of Jill Maiorca were found in October 2020 by deputies responding to a service call on Forest Road. At the time, the homeowner was unaware of the presence of the remains, and they had not yet been identified.
In 2023, DNA analysis performed by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the remains belonged to Jill Maiorca. This breakthrough led investigators to identify her former husband as a suspect in her murder. Authorities indicate Jill was likely murdered in November 2006, when she was 29 years old. She had been reported missing in Big Bear Lake in 2007.
Jeff Anthony Maiorca was arrested at the Big Bear branch library on Garstin Drive. He is currently being held at the High Desert Jail in Adelanto without bail. Court records show he was charged with murder and use of a deadly weapon during a court hearing on Wednesday. His next court appearance is scheduled for October 12.
Public records indicate Jeff Anthony Maiorca filed for divorce from Jill Maiorca in Los Angeles County in 2004. An autopsy conducted on Jill Maiorca's remains determined the manner of death was homicide. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death is ongoing. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department is seeking public assistance for any information related to the case.