The quiet town of Tenino, Washington, was rocked by a horrifying discovery this month. The remains of 82-year-old Marcia Norman were found buried under a shed, encased in concrete. The prime suspect? Her handyman, Jeffrey Zizz. Norman was last seen on April 1st, having dinner with Zizz, who initially claimed to have returned home afterward. However, security footage and license plate readers told a different story, placing Zizz back at Norman’s residence multiple times in the early morning hours of April 2nd.
This discrepancy led investigators down a dark path. A missing person report filed by Norman’s concerned family three days after her disappearance sparked a full-scale investigation. The fact that Norman’s cars remained at her home, and that partially cleaned dishes were left out, suggested a hasty departure. Investigators quickly focused their attention on Zizz, noting he was more than just a handyman to the family—he was considered a close friend. Adding to the suspicion, Norman’s son revealed a previous incident where she had found Zizz standing at the foot of her bed, an encounter she never reported to the police but addressed privately with Zizz.
As the investigation deepened, Zizz fled the state. His roommate reported him missing, which led to his arrest in Missoula, Montana, for violating the terms of a previous sentence related to a sex offense. It was a significant break in the case, bringing investigators closer to the truth. On April 9th, a grim discovery was made: Norman’s remains, buried and partially encased in concrete, were found beneath a shed that Zizz had recently demolished and rebuilt in Olympia, a short distance from Tenino. The timing of the shed’s reconstruction, following the missing person report, was particularly incriminating.
Zizz now faces charges of first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, and unlawful disposal of human remains. The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office is working diligently to piece together the events of that fateful evening and the days that followed. The prosecution is also seeking to revoke Zizz’s probation, stemming from a prior conviction for child molestation, given this latest serious offense. This tragic case serves as a chilling reminder of the importance of vigilance and the devastating consequences of violence. The community of Tenino, and Norman’s family, are left to grapple with the aftermath of this unspeakable crime.
