Full Breakdown
Jeff Maiorca Arrested in 20-Year Cold-Case Murder of Jill Maiorca
By Drooid · · How we work
Arrest in Big Bear Lake Cold-Case Murder
On September 22 2026, Jeff Maiorca, 53, was taken into custody without bail at the Big Bear Lake branch library after the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department linked him to the 2006 killing of his former wife, Jill Maiorca, 29. He has been charged with murder and use of a deadly weapon and is being held at the High Desert Jail in Adelanto.
Investigation Timeline
Jill Maiorca was reported missing from Big Bear Lake in 2007. In October 2020 deputies responded to a tip about a “suspicious discovery” in a home’s crawlspace and uncovered unidentified human remains. An autopsy classified the death as homicide, but DNA testing at the time failed to identify the victim. The sheriff’s Cold-Case Homicide Team assumed the case in 2023 and submitted the remains for additional investigative DNA analysis, which confirmed the identity as Jill Maiorca. Detectives later determined that she was murdered in November 2006 and that her body had been concealed beneath the residence without the homeowner’s knowledge. A hearing on the case is scheduled for October.
Official Statements & Responses
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said the investigation “resumed” after the 2020 discovery and emphasized that the autopsy confirmed homicide. Detectives reported that evidence indicated the murder occurred in November 2006 and that the remains were hidden beneath the home. The department continues to urge anyone with information to contact the homicide detail team.
Data & Statistics
- Time between murder and arrest: roughly 20 years.
- Victim age at death: 29.
- Year of missing-person report: 2007.
- Year remains were discovered: 2020.
- Year DNA identification succeeded: 2023.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Through continued investigation, detectives identified Jill's former husband, Jeff Maiorca, as a suspect in her murder.” — Detectives — Detectives