Authorities in California discovered the body of a woman in the trunk of her car following a police chase involving her son. The victim, identified as 51-year-old Jamison Webster, had gone to visit her son, Richard Leyva, at a Motel 6 in El Cajon but never returned home. Concerned for her safety, Webster’s other son, Xavier, went to the motel on Tuesday, February 25, to check on her.
Upon arriving at the motel, Xavier found his mother’s body in the trunk of her black Hyundai Sonata. An altercation then broke out between the two brothers, during which Leyva, 24, got into the car and drove off, striking Xavier in the process. Despite the impact, Xavier was not injured and immediately contacted law enforcement.
El Cajon police officers located Leyva and attempted to pull him over, but he refused to stop, leading authorities on a high-speed chase. The pursuit ended when Leyva crashed into two other vehicles, though the individuals in those cars were unharmed. Officers quickly confirmed that Webster’s body was still in the trunk of the Hyundai and used a Taser to subdue Leyva before taking him into custody.
Leyva was booked into San Diego County Jail and is facing multiple charges, including homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, evading law enforcement, and first-degree murder. He is currently being held at the George Bailey Detention Facility, a maximum-security facility in San Diego.
The investigation into Webster’s death is ongoing. Prosecutors stated that surveillance footage from the motel captured Webster entering Leyva’s room, and hours later, it showed Leyva dragging her lifeless body away by the ankles before placing her in the trunk of the car. Authorities indicated there was evidence of strangulation, though the official cause of death has yet to be confirmed.
Family and friends described Webster as a kind and loving woman who was devoted to her children. A GoFundMe page set up to help with her funeral expenses noted that Leyva struggled with mental illness and had left a mental health facility the same day he checked into the motel.
