Cheer Mom Found Guilty in 2018 Rolling Hills Estates Mall Murder Awaits Sentencing

Mother Convicted of Murder in Cheer Trip Incident

LOS ANGELES COUNTY, Calif. — Cherie Lynnette Townsend, 47, has been convicted of first-degree murder following the fatal stabbing of retired nurse Susan Leeds, 66, in a parking garage in Rolling Hills Estates.

Townsend is set to be sentenced on Friday, facing a potential prison term of 26 years to life. The murder occurred on May 3, 2018, when Leeds was found in her Mercedes-Benz SUV, having suffered 17 stab wounds to her neck and upper body. Prosecutors allege that during a robbery attempt, Townsend fatally attacked Leeds.

Key evidence presented during the trial included Townsend’s cell phone, discovered beneath the victim’s vehicle, and inconsistencies in her alibis regarding her whereabouts on the day of the murder. Testimony revealed that Townsend was experiencing severe financial difficulties at the time, with low bank balances and a history of bounced checks related to her daughter’s cheerleading activities.

A witness testified to seeing Townsend at the mall, describing her behavior as unsettling and indicating a sense of impending danger.

While the prosecution asserted that robbery was the motive, the circumstances surrounding the case raised questions; Leeds was still wearing her jewelry and there was no indication that her credit cards or identification were used after her death. Moreover, no DNA evidence linking Townsend to the crime scene was found, and the murder weapon was never recovered. Townsend’s defense maintains her innocence, questioning how her cell phone ended up under the victim’s vehicle.

Timeline of Events:

• May 3, 2018: Leeds is fatally stabbed in a mall parking garage.
• May 2018: Townsend is arrested but released five days later pending further investigation.
• November 2018: Townsend files a federal lawsuit against Los Angeles County for false imprisonment and defamation.
• August 2023: Townsend is re-arrested by the Sheriff’s Department’s Fugitive Unit.
• December 2024: A jury finds Townsend guilty of first-degree murder.
• January 23, 2026: Victim impact statements are heard by Judge John J. Lonergan Jr.
• Upcoming: Townsend is scheduled to receive her final sentence.

Following her sentencing, Townsend will be transferred to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to begin serving her term. The defense has not yet announced plans to appeal the conviction.