82-year-old missing Washington woman found dead 'encased in concrete' under shed

The body of an 82-year-old woman reported missing earlier this month under “suspicious circumstances” has been discovered buried beneath a newly constructed shed in Olympia, Washington.

The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the remains of Marcia Norman, who was reported missing on April 4, were found “partially encased in concrete” under a shed on an unrelated property. The remains were discovered on April 9, five days after her family alerted law enforcement that they had not heard from her since April 1.

Investigators say Norman’s handyman, 58-year-old Jeffery Zizz, has been identified as a person of interest in her disappearance and death. The sheriff’s office said Norman had dinner with Zizz on the night she was last seen, and both of her vehicles were later found at her Tenino home.

Shortly after Norman was reported missing, Zizz fled the state—a move that violated sentencing conditions pertaining to an unrelated sex offense. He was arrested days later at a motel in Missoula, Montana.

While Zizz was in custody, detectives learned he had constructed a shed on a property in Olympia the same day Norman was reported missing. Investigators obtained equipment to remove the structure and uncovered human remains buried beneath it during excavation. The remains were confirmed by the Thurston County Coroner’s Office to be Norman's on April 10.

Zizz was extradited to Washington on April 13 and is currently being held in the Thurston County Jail without bail for violating conditions related to a previous child molestation sentencing. Though not yet formally charged in Norman’s death, Zizz remains a person of interest as investigators continue to collect evidence. Detectives are working closely with the Thurston County Prosecutor’s and Coroner’s Offices on the ongoing investigation.

Court records reveal that in 2022, Zizz pleaded guilty to charges of child molestation and communication with a minor for immoral purposes. He turned himself in back in October 2021, admitting to “numerous sexual assaults” involving children known to him through family connections, according to court documents.

FOX 13 Seattle confirmed there is an outstanding warrant for Zizz’s arrest in Thurston County on two counts of second-degree child molestation and one count of communication with a minor for immoral purposes via electronic communications.

The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office has not yet announced formal homicide charges but emphasized that the investigation is active and ongoing.