Crime & Safety
Man Accused Of Killing Mother, Leading Police On Chase In El Cajon
Richard Leyva, 24, was arrested after the black Hyundai Sonata he allegedly was fleeing in crashed into several other vehicles, police said.
EL CAJON, CA — A man who allegedly killed his mother in El Cajon this week and then led police on a chase in the woman's car with her body inside was behind bars Wednesday on suspicion of murder, authorities said.
Richard Anthony Leyva, 24, was arrested after the black Hyundai Sonata he allegedly was fleeing in crashed into several other vehicles in the 500 block of North Mollison Avenue, according to the El Cajon Police Department.
- Previous coverage: Woman's Body Found In Trunk Of Car Following East County Police Chase
The events that led to the discovery of the suspected matricide began shortly before 5 p.m. Tuesday, when Leyva's brother made an emergency call to report that he had found his mother dead inside her car at a Montrose Court motel where the suspect was staying, ECPD Lt. Nick Sprecco said.
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"Investigators have determined that an altercation then happened between the two brothers," the lieutenant said. "(Richard) Leyva got into the Hyundai and drove off, striking his brother in the process. The brother was uninjured."
When patrol personnel caught up with the suspect in the area of Madison and Magnolia avenues a few minutes later, he refused to yield and fled into Spring Valley before doubling back on Interstate 8 and getting into the crash underneath an elevated section of the freeway near El Cajon Valley High School at about 5:15 p.m., according to police.
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Officers took Leyva into custody after subduing him with an electric stun gun. They then discovered the body of his mother, 51-year-old Jamison Webster, inside her car, authorities said.
The other motorists involved the pileup suffered no injuries.
The motive for the alleged slaying and how Webster died remained unclear Wednesday, according to Sprecco.
"Detectives are continuing to investigate the circumstances that led to (her) death," the lieutenant said.
The suspect was being held at San Diego Central Jail without bail pending arraignment, scheduled for Friday afternoon.
— City News Service
