Richard Leyva Accused of Murdering Mother, Leading Police Chase in El Cajon

Richard Anthony Leyva, 24, has pleaded not guilty to charges including murder after allegedly killing his mother, Jamison Webster, 51, at a Motel 6 in El Cajon and leading police on a chase with her body in the trunk of her car. The incident escalated when Leyva's brother discovered their mother dead in the vehicle and attempted to intervene, resulting in Leyva striking him with the car before fleeing. Authorities revealed evidence of strangulation and noted Leyva's history of mental health issues, including acute psychosis and bipolar disorder, which his mother had tried to address through treatment. The police pursuit ended when Leyva crashed the car, and he was subdued and arrested after officers found Webster's body. Leyva faces a potential sentence of 28 years to life in prison if convicted. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Webster's death remains ongoing, with detectives looking into the motive for the alleged murder.