California mom Cherie Townsend convicted of killing 66-year-old retired nurse in botched robbery to fund daughter’s cheerleading trip
A mother from California was found guilty almost ten years after a brutal killing that took place in the summer of 2018. Cherie Townsend, now 47, was sentenced for first‑degree murder after she stabbed 66‑year‑old Susan Leeds—an ex‑Kaiser District nurse—17 times while Leeds was safely seated in her Mercedes‑Benz SUV in the parking garage of the Peninsula shopping mall on May 3, 2018.
The motive was a desperate attempt to raise $2,000 so her daughter could attend a cheerleading competition in Florida. Prosecutors say Townsend was looking for an easy target in the upscale mall when she decided to rob the nurse.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department first named her a suspect, arrested her later that month, and then released her after a lack of evidence threatened to halt charges. She later filed a lawsuit alleging false imprisonment and defamation, but the case was dropped once she was re‑arrested in August 2023.
At trial, Townsend’s defense counsel argued there was no direct forensic link to the crime scene, citing a lack of DNA, fingerprints, witnesses, or surveillance footage that implicated her. However, a criminologist from the Sheriff’s Department testified that a cellphone found beneath Leeds’ vehicle carried DNA that matched Townsend. The phone, initially thought to belong to the victim, had been turned on and revealed a photo of Townsend.
Additional evidence indicated Townsend was in dire financial straits. While she had considered a GoFundMe, she declined it out of fear of embarrassing her daughter. She also discussed acquiring a fake ID with her son’s former football coach and even googled how Walmart verifies IDs for credit‑card purchases.
During the sentencing hearing, the victim’s stepson, Fred Leeds, expressed deep sorrow over the impact of the murder. “She was a wonderful, kind person who would do anything for anyone,” he told KTLA. He added, “It’s just hard to believe it took anyone’s life.” Fred also shared the words of Susan’s late husband, who said, “My Susie didn’t deserve this,” in the months before he passed away in 2022.
Townsend is slated to receive her sentence on January 23, with a potential term ranging from 26 years to life.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
