New allegations of fraud in Valley Center foster mom death investigation

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- Nadine Jett, a 65-year-old retired Los Angeles attorney who was dying of cancer, disappeared in December 2023. In July, San Diego County detectives discovered her remains buried about 30 yards from her home.

Her foster son, Cedric Von Ferdinand — who also goes by the name Charles — is now facing charges in a fraud case. Prosecutors say Von Ferdinand and Escondido notary Raymond Joseph Alto forged documents to transfer ownership of Jett’s million-dollar, 20-acre property. Investigators also suspect Von Ferdinand hid Jett’s body in an effort to steal her estate.

A homicide investigation remains ongoing.

Former foster daughter Paris Lucci said she and her sisters were told in April 2024 that Jett had died and been cremated in Mexico. Von Ferdinand even provided them with an urn he claimed contained her ashes.

“When we were spreading the ashes I asked him for the death certificate,” Lucci said. “He told me the Mexican consulate was taking forever to provide that.”

After Jett’s remains were found on her property, Lucci said the sisters realized the ashes they spread were not hers.

“Whose ashes are those then? We don’t know,” she said, adding she suspects they may have been Jett’s mother’s.

Meanwhile, tenant Jill Portwood said she unknowingly rented a cottage on Jett’s property in May 2024 from a woman named Kim, who still lives inside Jett’s home. Portwood said deputies later told her the arrangement was fraudulent.

“I called the cops myself, they met me down at the gate and they’re the ones that told me about Nadine missing,” Portwood said. She also said investigators should look into "Kim's" possible connection to the case.

Sheriff’s officials said they have no new updates on the homicide case. A San Diego judge is scheduled to hear the fraud case Sept. 5.