20 Years After Big Bear Lake Woman Disappeared, Her Former Husband Is Charged with Murder
Cold case investigators identified Jill Maiorca’s remains and tied her former husband to the killing after renewed DNA analysis.
- On Monday, Sept. 21, 2026, authorities arrested 53-year-old Jeff Anthony Maiorca in connection with the 2006 murder of his wife, Jill Maiorca, and booked him into the Big Bear Jail on suspicion of murder.
- A resident's 2020 "suspicious discovery in the crawlspace" of a Forest Road home in Big Bear Lake led investigators to human remains; DNA testing in 2023 identified them as Jill, reported missing in 2007.
- Investigators believe Jill was killed in November 2006, and her remains were concealed beneath the Forest Road residence "without the homeowner's knowledge." Jeff Maiorca was charged with murder on Tuesday and appeared in Superior Court in San Bernardino.
- Sheriff's Department and District Attorney's Office spokespersons declined to disclose on Wednesday how they connected Jeff Maiorca to the death, though the murder investigation remains ongoing.
- Anyone with information regarding Jill's disappearance or death is asked to contact Detective Malcolm Page or Sergeant Justin Giles with the Specialized Investigations Division, Homicide Detail, at 909-890-4916 or text REPORT to We-Tip at 844-909-3006.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Former husband arrested in Big Bear Lake cold case after DNA identifies remains
The former husband of a 29-year-old woman reported missing in 2007 has been arrested after advances in DNA technology helped investigators identify remains found beneath a Big Bear Lake cabin.
Woman's body hidden under a California home without owner knowing, sheriff says
A California man was arrested this week on suspicion of killing his wife nearly 20 years ago and hiding her body beneath a house without the homeowner’s knowledge, authorities said.
Woman’s body hidden under Big Bear home for years; husband arrested in cold case
New details are emerging in the case of a Southern California woman whose body was hidden beneath a Big Bear Lake home for years without the homeowner knowing, authorities said. Jeff Maiorca, 53, was arrested Monday in connection with the death of his wife, Jill Maiorca, who was 29 when authorities believe she was killed [...]
California woman missing since 2007 found buried under mountain home. Her ex is arrested
The former husband of Jill Maiorca is accused of killing her in 2006 and hiding her body under the Big Bear Lake home "without the homeowner's knowledge," authorities said.
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