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Cold Case Solved: Remains Found Years Later
26 Sep
Summary
- Human remains found in Big Bear Lake crawl space identified as missing woman.
- DNA testing over years solved homicide case from 2006/2007.
- Ex-husband arrested in September 2026 for 2006 murder.
In October 2020, a disturbing discovery was made in Big Bear Lake, California, when a homeowner found unidentified human remains in the crawl space beneath their house. An autopsy confirmed the death was a homicide, but the victim remained unidentified for years.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Cold Case Homicide Team revived the investigation in 2023. Submitting the remains for enhanced DNA analysis, they successfully identified the victim as Jill Maiorca, a 29-year-old woman reported missing from Big Bear Lake in 2007.
Further investigation indicated Maiorca was likely murdered in November 2006. This crucial identification allowed authorities to examine her past. Court records revealed her ex-husband, Jeff Maiorca, had filed for divorce in 2004.
Following the identification, detectives named Jeff Maiorca as a suspect. He was arrested on September 21, 2026, and booked on suspicion of murder. The investigation into the precise circumstances of Jill Maiorca's death and the concealment of her remains is ongoing.
