A Washington state handyman is charged with murdering an elderly woman and then partially encasing her remains in concrete underneath a shed, officials said Sunday.
Jeffrey Zizz, 47, was arrested and charged with murder, kidnapping and unlawful disposal of human remains in connection with the death this month of Marcia Norman, 82, the Thurston County Sheriff's Office announced in a statement.
Zizz, a former pastor, was previously convicted of child sex crimes.
"We extend our deepest condolences to the Norman family during this unimaginable loss," the sheriff's office said. "Despite their grief, the family has been actively engaged, supportive, and helpful throughout the investigation. "
Zizz’s attorney could not immediately be reached for comment Monday morning. He has been booked into Thurston County Jail after he was arrested at a motel in Montana and was scheduled to appear in court Monday afternoon for a preliminary hearing.
"Our family has experienced the loss of our center," Norman's family said in a statement Sunday. "Marcia was an engaged member of the community and family, full of life with plans for the future."
Authorities launched an investigation into Norman's whereabouts on April 4 after her family had not seen or heard from her since April 1.
After Norman was reported missing, the sheriff's office alleged that Zizz, her handyman, "built a shed at an unrelated property in Olympia."
Detectives then found Norman’s remains "buried under the shed and partially encased in concrete," according to the sheriff's office. The Thurston County Coroner's Office confirmed the remains were those of Norman on April 10.
Before Zizz was arrested, the sheriff's department identified him as a "person of interest" and held him in custody, alleging he violated the terms of his release in connection with child sex crimes.
Zizz, once a pastor at Calvary Chapel of North Thurston, pleaded guilty in 2022 to two counts of second-degree child molestation against victims ages 12 to 14, records showed.
He served 11 months in custody before he was freed to enter a treatment program that included a host of conditions, including not leaving Washington state, court records showed.
The sheriff's office alleged that once deputies started investigating Norman's disappearance, Zizz fled to Montana, where he was arrested. He was extradited back to Washington on April 13.
“Additional charges may follow as the investigation continues,” the sheriff's office said Sunday.
The Thurston County sheriff’s and district attorney's offices were set to hold a news conference about the case at 5 p.m. PT Monday.
