California Foster Mother Death Ruled Homicide

“The death of a Valley Center foster mother whose body was found buried outside her home last year has been ruled a homicide, according to newly uncovered findings from the San Diego County Medical Examiner.

A death certificate for 65-year-old Nadine Jett states that she died from fentanyl toxicity and classifies her manner of death as homicide, indicating that the lethal drug was administered by another person.

Jett’s body was discovered in July 2025 on her rural Valley Center property after she had been reported missing for several months. Investigators found her remains buried about 30 yards from her home.

The case has drawn widespread attention because of the circumstances surrounding Jett’s disappearance and death. Friends and family members said Jett, a prominent Los Angeles attorney and foster mother, had been battling pancreatic cancer when she vanished in December 2024.

According to relatives, Jett was being cared for at the time by her foster son, Cedric Von Ferdinand.

Neighbor and friend Diana Hertz said she has long suspected foul play and remains frustrated by the pace of the investigation.

“It’s awful and disgusting,” Hertz said. “I don’t know why they have not made an arrest. I don’t know what’s going on.”

Although the medical examiner completed its report in December, details of the homicide determination only recently became public.

David Ross, a journalist with The Roadrunner who first reported the findings, said the case has been marked by unexpected developments.

“The thing I can predict about this case is that it will continue to be full of surprises because that’s all it’s been — one surprise after another,” Ross said.

Ross cautioned that investigators have not publicly identified a suspect in Jett’s death.

“It could be Ferdinand, it could be someone else,” Ross said. “I think they need to connect the dots, and that’s probably their big project.”

Von Ferdinand, 33, is currently facing nearly three dozen felony charges unrelated to Jett’s death. Prosecutors allege he fraudulently used Jett’s identity and financial accounts for personal gain. He has not been charged with homicide.

In a recent statement, Jett’s four foster daughters, known as the Lucci sisters, said they welcomed the medical examiner’s findings.”

Valley Center foster mother’s death ruled a homicide/

[Fox 5 San Diego 6/10/26 by Tony Shin]

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