Handyman identified as person of interest after missing elderly woman’s remains found encased in concrete

THURSTON COUNTY, Wash. (TCN) — Detectives located the remains of an elderly woman buried under a shed and have identified her handyman as a person of interest in her disappearance and death.

According to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, the family of 82-year-old Marcia Norman reported her missing on April 4 after they last heard from her three days prior. Norman’s two vehicles reportedly remained parked at her home in Tenino.

Deputies responded to Norman’s residence and determined she “may have left abruptly,” as certain household tasks had been left halfway done. Norman reportedly had dinner on the evening of April 1 with her handyman, Jeffrey Zizz, who authorities believe was the last person to have seen her alive.

Zizz had allegedly built a shed on a separate property in Olympia on April 5, the day after Norman was reported missing. Investigators moved the shed and dug out the ground, where they later found Norman’s remains buried and partially encased in concrete.

The sheriff’s office alleges that Zizz fled to Missoula, Montana, which violated his previous sentence conditions for an unrelated sex offense. Deputies traveled to Montana on April 13 and brought Zizz back to Washington. He remains held in the Thurston County Jail without bond for a child molestation sentencing violation warrant as Norman’s death investigation continues.

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