The incident began around 4:55pm when the El Cajon Police Department received reports of a possible kidnapping involving a black Hyundai Sonata. Officers located the vehicle near Madison and Magnolia Avenues, but Richard Leyva refused to stop, initiating a high-speed chase through multiple neighborhoods, including El Cajon and Spring Valley, before exiting Interstate 8 and crashing into two other vehicles in the 500 block of North Mollison Avenue. While the other drivers escaped injury, police used a Taser to subdue and arrest Leyva.
The shocking discovery of a deceased adult female in the trunk was later identified as Jamison Webster, Leyva’s mother, who had visited a Motel 6 in El Cajon to drop off items for her son. Sources reveal Leyva had checked into the hotel after being released from a mental health facility on the same day he was admitted.Ìý
His older brother discovered her body in the trunk of her own car at the motel after not hearing from her, prompting Leyva’s flight. Friends and family described Jamison, who had recently separated from her husband after over 15 years of marriage, as a warm and helpful person. Her ex-husband noted Leyva's troubling behavior, including incidents requiring police intervention and the need to secure knives for safety at home.
The El Cajon Police Department is investigating the circumstances surrounding the murder, with initial reports suggesting Leyva's mental health struggles may have played a role. Leyva now faces a first-degree murder charge and is being held without bail.Ìý
Authorities have not released further details about the investigation, but anyone with information is encouraged to contact the El Cajon Police Department. Updates will be provided as they become available.
