Topline: A 23-year-old Santa Ana man is accused of killing his mother in a car outside the Fullerton Police Department and leaving her body in a church parking lot for days.
Published: July 20, 2026 11:34 am ET
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Fullerton Police Department via Google Street View.
FULLERTON, CA — A 23-year-old Santa Ana man has been charged with murder in the killing of his 61-year-old mother after authorities say she was shot inside her car outside the Fullerton Police Department and her body was later left in a church parking lot.
According to the Los Angeles Times and an Orange County District Attorney news release, Emmanuel Wesley was charged with one felony count of murder along with a firearm enhancement alleging discharge of a gun causing great bodily injury or death.
Prosecutors said Theresa Jones was in the driver’s seat of her vehicle when she was shot twice in the back on July 4. Security video reviewed by investigators allegedly showed her vehicle pulling up to the police station around 2:46 p.m., then showed Wesley getting out of the back seat after Jones slumped over, pushing her into the passenger seat, taking the wheel and driving away.
Jones was reported missing on July 7 after she failed to pick up her grandchild and stopped answering repeated calls, authorities said. Her body was found July 11 in the passenger seat of her vehicle in a Fullerton church parking lot, where investigators said the car had been left for days.
Wesley has pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail in the Orange County Jail. If convicted on the charged counts and enhancement, he faces 50 years to life in prison.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Orange County Man Charged In Mother’s Killing Outside Fullerton Police Station
A 23-year-old Santa Ana man is accused of killing his mother in a car outside the Fullerton Police Department and leaving her body in a church parking lot for days.
By Aaron Stephensen
Published: July 20, 2026 11:34 am ET
Fullerton Police Department via Google Street View.
FULLERTON, CA — A 23-year-old Santa Ana man has been charged with murder in the killing of his 61-year-old mother after authorities say she was shot inside her car outside the Fullerton Police Department and her body was later left in a church parking lot.
According to the Los Angeles Times and an Orange County District Attorney news release, Emmanuel Wesley was charged with one felony count of murder along with a firearm enhancement alleging discharge of a gun causing great bodily injury or death.
Prosecutors said Theresa Jones was in the driver’s seat of her vehicle when she was shot twice in the back on July 4. Security video reviewed by investigators allegedly showed her vehicle pulling up to the police station around 2:46 p.m., then showed Wesley getting out of the back seat after Jones slumped over, pushing her into the passenger seat, taking the wheel and driving away.
Jones was reported missing on July 7 after she failed to pick up her grandchild and stopped answering repeated calls, authorities said. Her body was found July 11 in the passenger seat of her vehicle in a Fullerton church parking lot, where investigators said the car had been left for days.
Wesley has pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail in the Orange County Jail. If convicted on the charged counts and enhancement, he faces 50 years to life in prison.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Orange County Man Charged In Mother’s Killing Outside Fullerton Police Station
A 23-year-old Santa Ana man is accused of killing his mother in a car outside the Fullerton Police Department and leaving her body in a church parking lot for days.
By Aaron Stephensen
Published: July 20, 2026 11:34 am ET
Fullerton Police Department via Google Street View.
FULLERTON, CA — A 23-year-old Santa Ana man has been charged with murder in the killing of his 61-year-old mother after authorities say she was shot inside her car outside the Fullerton Police Department and her body was later left in a church parking lot.
According to the Los Angeles Times and an Orange County District Attorney news release, Emmanuel Wesley was charged with one felony count of murder along with a firearm enhancement alleging discharge of a gun causing great bodily injury or death.
Prosecutors said Theresa Jones was in the driver’s seat of her vehicle when she was shot twice in the back on July 4. Security video reviewed by investigators allegedly showed her vehicle pulling up to the police station around 2:46 p.m., then showed Wesley getting out of the back seat after Jones slumped over, pushing her into the passenger seat, taking the wheel and driving away.
Jones was reported missing on July 7 after she failed to pick up her grandchild and stopped answering repeated calls, authorities said. Her body was found July 11 in the passenger seat of her vehicle in a Fullerton church parking lot, where investigators said the car had been left for days.
Wesley has pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail in the Orange County Jail. If convicted on the charged counts and enhancement, he faces 50 years to life in prison.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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