1983 cold case murder: Investigators seek new leads for justice

Investigators in Orange County are asking the public for help Thursday in their search for leads after uncovering new information in connection with a cold case murder from 1983.

The murder victim, identified only as “Jane Doe” for decades after her remains were discovered in a culvert in the area of Old Trabuco Road in what is now the city of Lake Forest in April of 1983, was positively identified as Maritza Glean Grimmett in March of last year.

Now, investigators have also identified two persons of interest in the case including Grimmett’s ex-husband Howard Grimmett, and his current wife Isabel “Terry” Cruz-Grimmett. Authorities are hoping this information provided to the public will help solve Maritza Grimmett’s murder.

Maritza Grimmett, a Panamanian native, married U.S. Marine Howard Grimmett in the summer of 1978 and gave birth to a daughter, the Sheriff’s Office stated in Thursday’s news release. In late 1978, the family moved to the United States and lived in Columbus, Ohio then in Millington, Tenn., but began divorce proceedings in July of 1979.

Howard Grimmett later married Isabel “Terry” Cruz and subsequently moved to California. Maritza Grimmett later told her sister that she was going to go to California but her family never heard from her again.

“Investigators are actively investigating Maritza’s homicide and are interested in any details that might help establish how and when Maritza arrived in California,” the Sheriff’s Office stated.

Authorities also mentioned that they were interested in speaking with former military service members who may have seen her at the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station between late 1979 and April 1983.

Anyone with information was asked to contact the cold case homicide team at 714-647-7055 or coldcase@ocsheriff.gov. Anonymous tips may be submitted to OC Crime Stoppers at 855-847-6227 or at occrimestoppers.org.

More details about Maritza Grimmett’s story can be found on the OC Sheriff’s Cold Case website at ocsheriff.gov/coldcases.