California Man Charged With Murder in Mother’s Death After Week-Long Search Ends in Church Parking Lot

The death of a 61-year-old California woman has led to murder charges against her own son after authorities discovered her body abandoned in a church parking lot in Fullerton. Emmanuel Wesley, 23, of Santa Ana, faces allegations that he shot his mother, Theresa Jones, twice in the back while she sat in her vehicle outside the Fullerton Police Department on July 4, then repositioned her body and drove away.

Concern over Jones’ whereabouts first surfaced on July 7 when she failed to arrive for a scheduled grandchild pickup and became unreachable to family members attempting to contact her. Four days passed before officers located her remains inside her car in the parking lot of a Fullerton church on July 11, with evidence indicating she had sustained two gunshot wounds to the back.

Surveillance video allegedly captured the incident unfolding at approximately 2:46 p.m. on July 4, showing Jones arriving at the police department with Wesley in the vehicle’s back seat. According to authorities, Jones collapsed at the wheel moments later, after which Wesley exited the rear seat, transferred her body to the passenger side, and assumed control of the vehicle before departing.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer characterized the alleged crime as particularly heinous, stating that killing one’s own parent represents “another level of depravity.” Spitzer pledged to pursue justice for Jones and her grieving relatives, who described her as a devoted Christian and a fiercely protective mother and grandmother.

Family members memorialized Jones through a fundraiser, recalling her devoted faith, intelligence, humor, and infectious personality that earned her the affectionate nickname “Cardi B” among loved ones. The family described the ordeal of searching for Jones and the devastation of discovering her body as having left “a profound, empty space” among those closest to her.

Wesley has entered a plea of not guilty and remains incarcerated in Orange County Jail without bail. If convicted of murder with a firearm enhancement, he could face between 50 years and life in prison, according to prosecutors.