UPDATE: A jury has just convicted Cherie Lynnette Townsend, a 47-year-old woman, of first-degree murder in the brutal stabbing death of Susan Leeds, a 66-year-old retired nurse, in the parking lot of a shopping mall in Rolling Hills Estates. This decision, announced on December 4, marks a significant moment in a case that has haunted the community for over seven years.
The horrific crime occurred on May 3, 2018, when Leeds was attacked and stabbed a shocking 17 times before suffering a fatal throat slashing. Prosecutors argued that Townsend, driven by financial desperation, specifically targeted Leeds as a vulnerable victim, using her phone to search for the mall and nearby gym locations just hours before the attack.
During the trial, evidence revealed that Townsend was approximately $2,000 short for travel expenses related to her daughter’s cheerleading competition in Florida. This dire financial state motivated her to seek out a victim, according to prosecutors. In a note found on her phone, Townsend expressed feeling “completely broken,” highlighting her emotional turmoil.
Townsend’s defense attorney claimed a lack of direct evidence linking her to the murder, including no DNA or fingerprints found at the scene. However, surveillance footage captured Townsend’s vehicle entering the mall’s parking structure shortly before 9:40 a.m. and leaving hastily after the crime.
On the day of the murder, Leeds had attended a workout class and was shopping in the Promenade on the Peninsula mall. Moments after Leeds returned to her vehicle at around 12:12 p.m., Townsend attacked her from behind. Witnesses reported Townsend’s vehicle cutting off another SUV and running a red light as she fled the scene.
Authorities confirmed that Leeds’ phone went missing after the attack, and it was later found that her phone signal traveled a route consistent with Townsend’s movements. The investigation into the murder was complex, with detectives initially focusing on Townsend but later exploring other leads.
After a lengthy investigation, Townsend was arrested on May 17, 2018, but was released due to insufficient evidence. She was re-arrested in August 2023 after the case was reopened. During police interviews, she provided inconsistent statements about her whereabouts and intentions that day.
The court has tentatively scheduled Townsend’s sentencing for January 23, where she could face a maximum sentence of 26 years to life in prison. As the community grapples with the impact of this tragic case, the verdict serves as a stark reminder of the violence that can disrupt everyday life.
This developing story has drawn significant attention, and updates will follow as Townsend’s sentencing approaches. Stay tuned for further details as they emerge.
