A Southern California man has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of his former wife, who disappeared in 2006 and whose remains were discovered years later in a crawlspace beneath a home.

Jeff Maiorca, 53, was charged on September 22 in connection with the death of 29-year-old Jill Maiorca. Prosecutors believe a knife was used in the killing, according to a felony complaint obtained by PEOPLE.

Maiorca had not yet been arraigned at the time of the report.

The case began in October 2020, when deputies from the Big Bear Sheriff’s Station were called to a home in the 39000 block of Forest Road in Big Bear Lake following a report of a suspicious discovery.

According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office, the person who reported the discovery had requested assistance after finding something suspicious in the crawlspace beneath the residence.

Deputies and personnel from the Big Bear Fire Department responded and discovered unidentified human remains in the crawlspace.

An autopsy was conducted and determined that the person had died as a result of homicide. However, despite DNA testing and continued investigative efforts, authorities were initially unable to identify the remains.

The investigation remained unsolved until the sheriff’s cold case homicide team took over the case in 2023.

Investigators then submitted the remains for additional DNA analysis as they continued working to determine the identity of the victim and the circumstances surrounding her death.

Authorities eventually identified the remains as those of Jill Maiorca, who was 29 years old when she disappeared in 2006.

Investigators subsequently focused on her former husband, Jeff Maiorca, who is now facing a first-degree murder charge.

Prosecutors allege that Jill was killed with a knife, although the case remains pending and the allegations against Maiorca have not been proven in court.

The investigation into Jill Maiorca’s death continued for years before authorities were able to identify her remains and bring a murder charge in the case.

SOURCE: PEOPLE, Christine Pelisek, September 25, 2026.