Overview
- Jeff Anthony Maiorca, 53, was arrested Monday, Sept. 21, and has been formally charged with murder and use of a deadly weapon; he is being held without bail at the High Desert Jail.
- Unidentified human remains were found in a Big Bear Lake home crawl space in October 2020 and an autopsy at that time ruled the death a homicide.
- Cold-case detectives used additional DNA testing in 2023 to identify the remains as Jill Maiorca, who was reported missing in 2007 and whom authorities say was murdered in November 2006 at age 29.
- Investigators say the remains had been concealed in the crawl space without the homeowner’s knowledge and public records show Jeff Maiorca filed for divorce from Jill in 2004; arrest records say he was taken into custody at a Big Bear branch library.
- The case remains under active investigation as prosecutors prepare pretrial proceedings with a next court date on Oct. 12 and detectives are asking the public to provide any tips that could help the inquiry.