Police in California say a 51-year-old mother of two sons has died under suspicious circumstances, and one of her sons is the prime suspect. Jamison Webster, 51, reportedly visited her son, 24-year-old Richard Leyva, at a Motel 6 in El Cajon on February 25, 2025. When she didn’t return, her second son, identified in a GoFundMe account as Xavier Leyva, went to find her. Tragically, it appears his mother died before he made it to the motel.
According to a media release from the El Cajon Police Department, Xavier Leyva found his mother’s body in the trunk of her Hyundai Sonata and contacted the police for help.
More from CafeMom: Mom of 2 Dies After Falling From Cliff in Hawaii as Her Boyfriend Watched
“Investigators have determined that an altercation then happened between the two brothers. Leyva got into the Hyundai and drove off, striking his brother in the process. The brother was uninjured,” the release explains. “Officers quickly responded to the scene and located the Hyundai. A traffic stop was attempted, but Leyva fled from the officers, leading them on a pursuit. The chase ended when Leyva crashed into two other vehicles. He was taken into custody after officers deployed a Taser to subdue him.”
Police arrested Richard Leyva and took him to San Diego County Jail. He was charged with homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, and evading law enforcement, the release notes. Police are working to determine exactly what happened to Jamison Webster but believe she likely died of strangulation, People reported.
Surveillance footage from the motel reportedly shows the mother entering the motel room, which was allegedly rented by Richard Leyva, and him dragging her “lifeless” body out of the room and putting it in the trunk of the car hours later.
Mike Webster, Jamison Webster’s former husband, told CBS 8 that he raised Richard Leyva and has contacted police multiple times because of the man’s behavior.
“He was always just a little off. We had to collect all the knives in the apartment we were living in and put them away just because of our own safety,” he said.
Jamison Webster’s friend, Karin Saunders, told the news outlet that she and her friend spoke of her son’s mental health struggles not long before her death.
More from CafeMom: Woman Hid Her Mom’s Dead Body for a Decade & Spent All Her Money
“I kind of wish I hadn’t said to her all we can do is keep trying. Maybe I should have told her, ‘Don’t try. Let him go.’ Maybe she’s still be here,” she told CBS 8.
Loved ones created a GoFundMe page to honor Jamison Webster’s legacy.
“Jamison was a kind and loving soul, beautiful both inside and out. She lived for her children; they were her whole world,” Rachel Lewis wrote on the page. “Jamison brought light, love, and warmth to everyone who knew her. Her kindness, laughter, and unwavering strength touched so many lives, leaving an imprint that will never fade.”
Lewis added, “Though our hearts ache in her absence, we find comfort in the memories we shared and the love she gave so freely. Her spirit lives on in the stories we tell, the lessons she taught us, and the love that will always remain.”
The fundraiser has brought in $1,800 of a $20,000 goal thus far.
