Horror after handyman, 47, developed crush on wealthy grandma, 82 (2025)

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A trusting grandmother let a handyman with a crush on her work on her beautiful lakeside home...only to find herself tortured to death with a nail gun, police say.

Marcia Norman vanished from her luxurious $900,000 cabin in Tenino, Washington, after a visit from her handyman of several years, Jeffrey Zizz, 47.

Her family went to her home on April 4 after not hearing from her for days and were able to access her text messages, which showed she had been in contact with the handyman.

Police then searched Zizz' house and found afive-page letter that appeared to 'be a meticulously planned out burglary/sexual assault of an adult woman, identified as a "customer."'

Zizz wasn't at home but was subsequently arrested in Montana for violating the terms of his release from a prior sex office conviction, as reported by KOMO NEWS.

An investigation found Zizz had rentedan excavator and a trailer after Norman went missing.

Police tracked the equipment to the house of a woman who said she had hired Zizz to build a shed on her property.

On April 9, Norman's remains were found buried and covered in cement at the property. Black Velcro straps were wrapped around her wrists and ankles and there was evidence she had been bound prior to her death.

Investigators eventually found she died from blunt force trauma and penetrating injuries to the head. Thurston County Coroner Gary Warnock said the injuries were from a nail gun and occurred over several hours, meaning Norman was likely tortured before she died.

Warnock said the case was the worst he has seen in his career.

Normal had previously told her family about a disturbing incident when she woke up in the middle of the night to find Zizz standing at the foot of her bed, according to police.

'(Norman) state that she told Zizz that it was inappropriate for him to be there and he needed to leave,' reads an arrest report.

'(Norman) told her son that she spoke with Zizz and made it clear to him that they were to keep a professional relationship and he was was not to cross those boundaries again.'

Police say Zizz admitted to the creepy encounter and stated he had romantic feelings for the grandmother.

'Zizz admitted that this had happened, he stated that he went into (Norman’s) room and while she was sleeping, he rubbed her shoulder, wanting to speak with her,' the arrest report adds.

'Zizz stated that (Norman) told him to leave. Zizz told detectives that he did have thoughts about (Norman) romantically.'

Officials said there is no evidence of sexual assault and they are still looking into a motive.

It is unclear whether Norman knew her alleged killer had a crush on her.

'If I had to guess at this point in time, it’s because the suspect that we have in custody is a violent person,' Sheriff Derek Sanders told NBC News.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Rosemary Fitzgerald said in court the 'The allegations here are among the most serious and very troubling in terms of the prepared plan and the execution.'

Zizz is facing charges of murder, kidnapping and unlawful disposal of human remains.

He is being held without bail.

Montana

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