VISTA — Cedric Charles Von Ferdinand, accused of killing his foster mother and then forging documents to steal money from her accounts, pleaded not guilty at his Thursday afternoon arraignment on a murder charge at the Vista Courthouse.
He also faces two special circumstance allegations: murder by poison and murder for financial gain.
Von Ferdinand has been held without bail since Oct. 20. At his arraignment, Judge Brian Erickson ordered that he remain held without bail. His readiness hearing was set for Nov. 16 in Vista.
Prosecutors allege that Von Ferdinand, 34, gave a lethal dose of fentanyl to 65-year-old Nadine Jett in January 2024. Jett was a retired attorney who was battling pancreatic cancer at the time of her death. He is then alleged to have buried her remains on her Valley Center property, used her identity to siphon hundreds of thousands of dollars from her accounts and transferred title to the ranch to himself.
Von Ferdinand was initially charged with a slew of fraud charges 14 months ago, following the discovery of Jett’s remains on her Valley Center ranch when deputies searched the property following reports from family and neighbors that she had disappeared.
Medical tests on Jett’s remains earlier this year reportedly found high levels of illegal fentanyl in her system. A murder charge was filed last month, leading to his arrest.
Von Ferdinand’s public defender asked Erickson whether the ongoing fraud trial in San Diego could be moved to the North County courthouse to simplify scheduling.
Deputy District Attorney John Dunn had no objection to the request. Erickson said it made sense to him but that he had no authority to order the San Diego court to move the case.
Von Ferdinand’s attorney also noted for the record that her client’s legal name is Cedric Charles Von Ferdinand. He has been referred to as Cedric or Charles in legal documents and media reports.
Erickson ordered that the name be corrected in the official records.
