A California man denied having killed his cancer-stricken foster mother in a dastardly plot to take control of her $1 million property.
Cedric von Ferdinand, 34, pleaded not guilty on Thursday at the Vista Courthouse to the first-degree murder of his 65-year-old foster mother, Nadine Jett, as she fought against pancreatic cancer.
Von Ferdinand allegedly poisoned Jett with a lethal dose of fentanyl and buried her on her 20-acre ranch in Valley Center in January 2024. Her body was not discovered until July 16, 2025.
Prosecutors claimed Von Ferdinand tried to take over Jett’s estate by falsely claiming that he was her husband, according to KUSI.
He allegedly enlisted the help of another woman, Kimberley Pifer, who posed as Jett to obtain a marriage license with Von Ferdinand.
Von Ferdinand moved in with Jett after she was diagnosed with cancer in August 2023 and learned she would have to undergo grueling chemotherapy.
Soon after moving in, he allegedly told Jett’s loved ones that she wanted to go to Mexico for a second opinion, adding that his foster mother wanted to be cremated without a funeral service when she eventually died.
Jett was allegedly last seen leaving for a chemotherapy appointment on January 14, 2024, and Von Ferdinand told Jett’s loved ones that she had died in Mexico shortly after.
Cedric von Ferdinand, 34, pleaded not guilty on Thursday to murdering his foster mother, 65-year-old Nadine Jett, in January 2024
Jett, who was battling pancreatic cancer, was allegedly poisoned with a lethal dose of fentanyl by Von Ferdinand
Von Ferdinand allegedly posted an advertisement for someone to dig a 6-feet-by-6-feet hole about two days after his foster mother’s last sighting, according to San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan.
Jett’s remains were found in a hole with similar dimensions approximately 30 yards from her home.
Von Ferdinand allegedly told a caretaker on January 17 of that year that her services were no longer required as Jett had died in Mexico, also telling her four foster daughters the same thing.
However, the daughters grew suspicious after Von Ferdinand was unable to produce Jett’s death certificate.
Jett was reported missing by her family in June 2024, according to Stephan.
Her family also reported suspicious real estate transactions by Von Ferdinand that included deeds to himself for Jett’s ranch and her two investment properties in Los Angeles County.
Prosecutors have also alleged that Von Ferdinand purchased a condo in Gardena using $500,000 in stolen money.
He allegedly sold one of Jett’s properties in LA County for more than $200,000 in April 2024, as well.
Prosecutors claimed Von Ferdinand tried to take over Jett’s estate, which had received an offer of $1 million, by attempting to pose as her husband
Jett was allegedly seen for the last time on January 14, 2024, leaving for a chemotherapy appointment
Noel Lawton, a San Diego real estate agent, said she met with Von Ferdinand in the spring of 2024 after a client wanted to buy Jett’s property for $1 million.
Lawton said she did not get a ‘strange vibe’ from him at first, but that changed as the deal pushed ahead.
She said Von Ferdinand failed to provide Jett’s death certificate multiple times, which was necessary to secure title insurance.
Lawton added that signatures on the property documents did not match, which is why she ‘definitely needed a death verification.’
‘We asked him for that many, many times, over and over again, and it was always, “Oh, this excuse, that excuse,”‘ Lawton told the outlet.
Von Ferdinand also told her Jett died in Mexico and said he was traveling there to get the documentation. The deal ultimately collapsed.
Von Ferdinand and Escondido notary Raymond Joseph Alto were charged with forgery and identity theft.
Pifer, who allegedly posed as Jett to get the fraudulent marriage license, was also charged with forgery and identity theft. She has pleaded not guilty.
Bianca Lucci, one of Jett’s foster daughters, said she believed the alleged murder was ‘all out of greed and money’
Stephan described Jett’s alleged killing as a ‘case of deadly greed’ during a press conference on October 21.
One of her foster children, Bianca Lucci, recalled her as the ‘mom we needed.’
‘She gave us a fair chance at life,’ Lucci told NBC San Diego after Von Ferdinand was charged last month.
‘I’m glad justice will finally be served. I do believe that this was all out of greed and money and it’s just sad.’
Von Ferdinand has been held without bail since October 20, and Judge Brian Erickson ordered on Thursday that he remain held without bail.
The accused killer is scheduled to return to court on November 16.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Von Ferdinand’s attorney, Ashley Mangold, and the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office for comment.
