California Man Charged With Murder in Foster Mother's Death
Prosecutors allege Cedric Von Ferdinand poisoned Nadine Jett, buried her body, and forged documents to seize her assets.
A California man has been charged with murder after allegedly poisoning his foster mother, burying her body, and forging documents to gain control of her assets. Cedric Von Ferdinand, 34, faces charges in the death of Nadine Jett, 65, who was battling pancreatic cancer.
Prosecutors allege that Von Ferdinand told Jett's other foster children that she had died and been cremated in Mexico while undergoing treatment. However, an autopsy later revealed lethal amounts of fentanyl in Jett's system, with the medical examiner ruling her death a homicide.
Investigators found that Von Ferdinand had hired someone to dig a large hole on the property where Jett lived. Jett's body was discovered in July 2025, wrapped in a bedsheet and buried about 30 feet from her home. The San Diego County District Attorney's office stated that Von Ferdinand also forged a marriage license, purportedly between himself and Jett, and used it along with other forged documents to transfer two of her properties to himself. He is also accused of siphoning thousands of dollars from her accounts and purchasing another property with her funds.
Jett's other foster daughters, the Lucci quadruplets, became suspicious when Von Ferdinand prevented them from seeing their mother. They reported her missing in June 2024, prompting an investigation that led to the discovery of Jett's body and the alleged fraudulent activities.
District Attorney Summer Stephan described the case as one of "deadly greed," stating that Von Ferdinand preyed on Jett during her illness. He had previously been charged with numerous felonies, including forgery and identity theft, related to the scheme. Kim Fifer, who allegedly posed as Jett for the forged marriage, and Raymond Joseph Alto, a notary public involved in creating fake documents, have also been charged.
Von Ferdinand was scheduled for arraignment on the murder charge in Vista Courthouse. The Lucci sisters expressed their devastation and their desire for justice, highlighting Jett's role in providing them stability after a difficult upbringing in foster care.