Respected attorney was battling cancer when foster son murdered her for her money, officials say

SAN DIEGO (KFMB) - A California attorney and foster mother disappeared while battling cancer in 2024. Now, her foster son is accused of poisoning her with fentanyl and burying her body.

Nadine Jett, a 64-year-old attorney and foster mother, disappeared in January 2024. She was battling cancer at the time and failed to show up for a medical appointment. Last year, her remains were found buried on her 20-acre Valley Center property.

The San Diego District Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday that they’ve made an arrest in the case. Jett’s foster son, 34-year-old Cedric von Ferdinand, is accused of poisoning her with illicit fentanyl in order to get his hands on her money.

“This is a case of deadly greed,” said San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan.

When Jett disappeared, von Ferdinand had been living with her, pretending to care for her, Stephan says. He allegedly told friends and family she would die soon and that she wanted to be cremated without a funeral service.

Von Ferdinand allegedly told a caretaker that was due to come to the house that she was no longer needed because Jett had died around Jan. 17, 2024. Stephan alleges it’s around that time that Von Ferdinand killed his foster mother.

Von Ferdinand raised suspicions when he tried to sell all three properties Jett owned, Stephan says. He allegedly forged a real estate document using his thumbprint, pretending it was hers. During a search, investigators also found a fake marriage license for von Ferdinand and his foster mother that he is accused of forging with a co-defendant.

“It was signed and notarized well after her death,” Stephan said.

In July 2025, Jett’s remains were found wrapped in a bedsheet in a 6-foot hole about 30 yards from her home. The medical examiner’s office determined she had massive amounts of illicit fentanyl in her system, and her death was ruled a homicide.

Bianca Lucci and her quadruplet sisters are Jett’s foster daughters, and they deeply miss her.

“Nadine took us in at a young age after about 10 foster homes, and she was the mom we needed. She gave us a fair chance at life,” Lucci said. “It is sad we’ll never get to see her again, but I do believe she’s looking from above, proud of us.”

Von Ferdinand is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday on a murder charge as well as two special circumstance allegations.