Remains of missing Tenino woman found in Olympia

The remains of a Tenino woman were found partially encased in concrete on a property in Olympia by local authorities less than two weeks after she was reported missing.

Marcia Norman, 82, vanished earlier this month from her residence near McIntosh Lake. Her family said they had not heard from Norman since April 1.

An investigation into the disappearance of Norman by Thurston County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) detectives turned up evidence that eventually led authorities to discover her remains.

She was last known to have had dinner with her handyman and convicted child molester, Jeffrey Zizz, at her residence on April 1. 

Zizz, who was identified as a person of interest in the case, left the state in the aftermath of Norman’s disappearance but was later arrested on an outstanding warrant at a motel in Missoula, Montana, by Missoula Police Department personnel. 

“Detectives discovered Zizz recently built a shed on an unrelated property in Olympia the day after Marcia Norman was reported missing. On April 9th, (detectives) obtained power equipment to move the shed and excavate the ground beneath it,” the sheriff’s office said in an update on the case on Tuesday, April 15.

“Detectives discovered human remains buried under the shed and partially encased in concrete. On April 10th, the Thurston County Coroner’s Office confirmed the remains were those of Marcia Norman.” 

A few days later, local authorities went to Montana to take Zizz into custody.

“On April 13th, TCSO traveled to Missolua and extradited Zizz back to Washington. Zizz remains in Thurston County Jail on a no bail hold for his child molestation sentencing violation warrant while (detectives) finish gathering evidence,” the sheriff’s department said.

“Zizz remains the primary person of interest in the ongoing investigation, and detectives are continuing to work closely with both the Thurston County Prosecutor's Office and Coroner’s (Office). Additional updates are forthcoming.”