UPDATE: A 47-year-old woman has been found guilty of murder in a shocking case dating back to May 3, 2018. Cherie Lynnette Townsend was convicted Thursday, December 4, for the brutal stabbing death of 66-year-old Susan Leeds in the parking structure of a mall in Rolling Hills Estates. The jury deliberated for hours before reaching a verdict in this high-profile case that has gripped the community for over seven years.
The murder of Leeds, a retired nurse from Rancho Palos Verdes, marked a chilling first homicide in the area in nearly a decade. Prosecutors revealed that Leeds was stabbed 17 times and had her throat slashed. Evidence presented during the trial suggested that Townsend was driven by desperation, needing approximately $2,000 to support her daughter’s upcoming cheer competition in Florida.
Critical evidence included Townsend’s Google searches for the Promenade on the Peninsula mall, indicating she was actively seeking a vulnerable victim. Prosecutors detailed that on the morning of the murder, Townsend made multiple searches related to the mall and its facilities, including inquiries about an Equinox gym located there.
Witnesses reported that on that fateful morning, Townsend’s vehicle, a gold Chevy Malibu, was captured entering the mall parking structure shortly before 9:40 a.m. Leeds was seen returning to her SUV around 12:12 p.m., when Townsend attacked her from behind.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene as Townsend fled the parking structure, cutting off another vehicle and running a red light as she left the area. Surveillance footage showed her car leaving the scene hastily, raising suspicions among investigators.
Further complicating the case, Townsend’s phone was discovered beneath Leeds’ SUV, while Leeds’ own phone—key evidence—pinged cell towers in the direction of Townsend’s escape route after the murder. Despite the absence of direct evidence, such as DNA or video footage of Townsend inside the mall, prosecutors argued that her desperate financial situation and premeditated searches pointed to her guilt.
After initial release, Townsend was arrested again in August 2023 following further investigations. She maintained her innocence, claiming she had visited the mall for her son and never left the parking structure. However, her defense team struggled to establish an alibi, as no footage verified her claims of being inside the mall.
The court has set a tentative sentencing date for January 23, where Townsend faces a potential maximum sentence of 26 years to life in prison. This case serves as a stark reminder of the tragic consequences of desperation and the community’s need for justice following a violent crime that has left many unsettled.
As developments continue to unfold, the community awaits the final sentencing, hoping for closure in this deeply distressing case.
