Big Bear resident arrested in 2006 homicide cold case

Jeff Maiorca, 53, has been arrested in connection with the 2006 murder of his wife, Jill Maiorca, in Big Bear Lake, California. The arrest follows a multi-year cold case investigation by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

The investigation was reignited on October 28, 2020, after human remains were discovered in a crawlspace beneath a residence on Forest Road. While an autopsy determined the death was a homicide, the victim's identity remained unknown for several years. In 2023, advanced investigative DNA analysis identified the remains as 29-year-old Jill Maiorca, who had been reported missing in 2007.

Investigators determined that Jill Maiorca was murdered in November 2006, and her remains were concealed under the property without the homeowner’s knowledge. Jeff Maiorca was taken into custody at a local library and has been charged with murder and the use of a deadly weapon. He is currently being held without bail.