The introduction of Jane Saunders (Taylour Paige) in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F expands the universe and creates a family unit for Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy). Thanks to Jane’s existence, he is no longer just the rogue cop with nebulous reasons to return to Beverly Hills. However, while her arrival shakes up the franchise’s dynamics, it also raises some important questions about who Jane’s mother might be.

There are plenty of new and returning characters in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, but Jane is the character that is most crucial to Axel’s emotional development. Little is learned about Jane’s connection to the previous films. Axel did not have children in the previous films, and it appears the short-lived TV series is not canon, since Axel does not have a son in the fourth film. Axel’s relationship with his daughter becomes a focal point of the movie. As a result, figuring out Jane’s mother’s identity is central to understanding the dynamics at play.

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F Doesn’t Answer Who Jane’s Mom Is

Jane’s Mother Is Left Intentionally Vague

Little is known of Jane’s mother. We know that she and Axel were married at some point and that she moved to LA with Jane following a divorce. The film is careful to avoid naming her. However, it may be possible that Jane’s mother was seen in a previous film in the franchise. Beverly Hills Cop 3 introduced Janice Perkins (Theresa Randall) as a romantic foil for Axel Foley. She was one of many Beverly Hills Cop characters missing from the sequel.

Given Jane’s age, it would be reasonable to assume that Janice could possibly be her mother. Janice was based in LA and could have moved home following a relationship with Axel. The relationship works in terms of logistics. Their names are even similar. That said, the timeline would need to be retconned to make such a twist work. Jane is 32. That means she was born in 1992, and Beverly Hills Cop III takes place a full two years after her birth. This means that, even working on the assumption that Janice is her mother, there is still a major mystery around Jane’s mother’s identity.

Why Jane’s Mom Isn’t With Axel in Beverly Hills Cop 4

Axel Foley’s Job Always Came First

Jane explains away her mother’s absence by commenting that Axel was divorced. Jane’s mother left Detroit with her daughter, and the distance contributed to the strained relationship between Axel and his daughter. Axel Foley is a wild card in all aspects of his life. While that can make for a good cop, it doesn’t always make for a stable father. After four Beverly Hills Cop movies, it’s interesting to see how Axel’s actions affect his loved ones.

Jane’s mother likely wanted her daughter to have more stability, which Jane eventually sought in her job as an attorney. Jane even denounces the survival skills Axel taught her in an effort to distance herself from her father. While Jane and Axel have a complex relationship, it stands to reason that her mother’s relationship with Axel is even worse. Whatever the reason for her absence, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F likely wanted to focus on the father-daughter relationship to give Axel stronger ties to Beverly Hills – perhaps saving the mystery of Jane’s mother for another movie.