Convicted child molester charged in murder, torture of 82-year-old Washington state woman

A convicted child molester has been charged in the disturbing murder of an 82-year-old woman in Tenino, Washington, whose body was found encased in concrete under a shed after being tortured. 

According to the Thurston County Prosecutor’s Office, Jeffrey Zizz, 47, is facing two counts of first-degree murder while armed with a deadly weapon—including premeditated murder—along with first-degree kidnapping and unlawful disposal of human remains.

The victim, Marcia Norman, had reportedly hired Zizz as a handyman to perform work around her home. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Rosemary Fitzgerald said during a court hearing this week, “The allegations before the court are shocking, both in their nature and that the alleged victim was an 82-year-old woman, a member of this community, who the defendant, over a two-year period, befriended and knew lived alone.” Judge Sue Wilson agreed and denied Zizz bail.

Court documents reveal that Zizz pleaded guilty to child molestation and inappropriate communications with a minor in 2022. He turned himself in the previous year, admitting to multiple sexual assaults involving children connected to him through family ties. Additionally, there was an outstanding warrant for Zizz in Thurston County on separate child molestation charges.

Newly released details from an arrest report obtained by KOMO News shed light on the investigation into Norman’s murder which was described by Thurston County Coroner Gary Warnock as the worst he has seen in his 25-year career.

On April 4, concerned family members went to Norman’s home after not hearing from her for days. Her wallet, car, and medication were there though she was not, and messages found on her Apple ID indicated she had planned to have dinner with Zizz on April 1. Initially, Zizz claimed he had dinner with Norman and left her home around 9 pm. However, automated license plate reader data showed his truck in Olympia during the early morning hours. Confronted with this evidence, Zizz admitted to returning to Norman’s house twice that night, allegedly to retrieve tools and a trailer.

Further investigation revealed Norman had previously confided in family members about waking up to find Zizz standing at the foot of her bed. Though she confronted him and emphasized boundaries, the incident was never reported to law enforcement.

Detectives obtained a warrant to search Zizz’s home, where they found a five-page typed document outlining a planned burglary and sexual assault targeting a female "customer." Shortly after, Zizz disappeared, prompting his roommate to report a stolen truck and concerns for Zizz’s well-being.

After reportedly striking an elk, the truck was found in a remote area between Kooskia, Idaho, and Missoula, Montana. Zizz was arrested in Montana later that day and extradited to Washington on April 13. He is currently being held in the Thurston County Jail.
 
Through GPS data provided by a rental company, detectives tracked an excavator rented by Zizz to a rural property where he was hired to build a shed. The property owner, who also knew Norman, told investigators she had hired Zizz at Norman’s recommendation. Cadaver dogs brought to the property alerted to the shed area. Excavation revealed Norman’s remains buried beneath it, encased in concrete. Her wrists and ankles were bound with long black Velcro straps.

An autopsy revealed that Norman suffered blunt force and penetrating injuries to the head. The coroner concluded that the wounds were consistent with a nail gun and suggested she was tortured over several hours.