Authorities in Thurston County are piecing together a deeply disturbing homicide case after the body of 82-year-old Marcia Norman was discovered buried in a shallow grave under a shed, concealed by a layer of concrete.
Thurston County Coroner Gary Warnock confirmed that Norman suffered fatal injuries caused by a pneumatic nail gun, and stated her death was not immediate. “It took hours,” he said, calling it the worst case he has encountered in his career.
The suspect, 47-year-old Jeffrey Zizz, had previously worked as a handyman for Norman. He was taken into custody on Sunday and faces charges of murder, kidnapping, and unlawful disposal of human remains. Thurston County Prosecutor Jon Tunheim said formal charges are expected by Wednesday.
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Zizz appeared in court Monday but has not yet entered a plea. He remains in custody without bail. No defense attorney was listed in court records as of Monday evening.
Norman was reported missing by her family on April 4 after they noticed unusual circumstances. Her body was eventually located on April 9 following a search involving cadaver dogs and ground-penetrating radar.
Investigators say Zizz was the last known person to have seen Norman—sharing dinner with her on April 1. During a subsequent search of Zizz’s residence, detectives discovered a chilling five-page letter allegedly outlining a plan to burglarize and sexually assault a woman described as his customer.
While there is no confirmed evidence of sexual assault in Norman’s case, Sheriff Derek Sanders stated the letter bore “disturbing similarities” to the crime scene. “It’s something our detectives are continuing to analyze carefully,” Sanders added.
Authorities say Zizz fled to Montana during the investigation. He was arrested in Missoula on April 7 on a probation violation tied to a prior child molestation conviction and extradited back to Washington on April 13.
Though initially cooperative, Zizz’s alibi began to unravel after a license plate reader captured his vehicle in Olympia on the night Norman disappeared—contradicting his earlier statements to investigators.
An arraignment is scheduled for May 6. Investigators are still working to determine a clear motive, though Sheriff Sanders described Zizz as “a violent person,” stating, “that alone may have been enough.”
The investigation remains active, with detectives continuing to follow up on leads and forensic evidence.
