Man, Wife Listed As Persons Of Interest In 1983 Jane Doe Homicide Case

LAKE FOREST, CA — Orange County investigators sought the public's help for new information regarding a homicide of recently-identified Jane Doe, Maritza Glean Grimmett, and released the names of two people who may know more about her death.

Grimmett was positively identified in 2024, after decades of being referred to by anonymous pseudonym "Jane Doe" when her body was found over 40 years ago, the Orange County Sheriff's Department reported.

According to authorities, Grimmett's remains were discovered in April 1983 in a culvert in the area of Canada and Old Trabuco roads in what is now the City of Lake Forest.

"[Her positive identification] reinvigorated investigative efforts to solve her decades-old homicide," an Orange County Sheriff's Department statement read. "Investigators have identified two persons of interest in the case: Maritza's ex-husband, Howard Grimmett, and his current wife, Isabel 'Terry' Cruz-Grimmett."

Anyone with information regarding the case was urged to email the cold case homicide team at 714-647-7055 or coldcase@ocsheriff.gov.

Anonymous tips may be submitted to OC Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS.