California man charged with killing foster mother and seizing her assets
Prosecutors in California have charged Cedric Von Ferdinand, 34, with murdering his foster mother, attorney Nadine Jett, and taking control of her assets. They allege he moved in to care for Jett during her pancreatic cancer treatment, then poisoned her with fentanyl and concealed her death.
Jett was last seen on 14 January 2024, and Von Ferdinand reportedly told relatives she had died in Mexico, but could not provide a death certificate. Her daughters reported her missing; her body was found buried near her ranch in July 2025. Prosecutors say he used documents bearing her signature to transfer two properties and withdraw hundreds of thousands of dollars, and had a hole dug two days after she was last seen. He had previously faced forgery and identity theft charges.
In short
- Von Ferdinand has been charged with murdering Nadine Jett.
- Prosecutors allege fentanyl poisoning and a concealed burial.
- They say he took property and hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Explained simply
California prosecutors say the case concerns the death of Nadine Jett, a lawyer who was receiving treatment for pancreatic cancer, and the handling of her property and money. Her foster son, Cedric Von Ferdinand, is accused of killing her and taking control of her assets; the allegations have not been proved in court.
Jett’s daughters reported her missing after she was last seen in January 2024. The case also involves claims that documents bearing her signature were used to move property and withdraw money, making it relevant to both the investigation into her death and questions of alleged financial crime.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Foster son accused of poisoning and burying cancer-stricken attorney mom to steal her fortune”.