Family Members of Retired Nurse Killed in Rolling Hills Estates Ask for Maximum Sentence

Introduction to the Case

Family members of a retired nurse who was killed in the parking structure of a Rolling Hills Estates mall nearly eight years ago told a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge on Friday, Jan. 23, that had her killer merely asked, she would have helped.
Cherie Townsend, convicted in December of first-degree murder in the stabbing death of 66-year-old Susan Leeds of Rancho Palos Verdes, kept her head forward and lightly shook her head multiple times as Leeds’ stepchildren spoke to the judge.
Townsend, 47, who faces a possible sentence of 26 years to life in state prison, never once looked back at the speakers.
Susan Leeds is shown in security footage the day she was killed at the Promenade on the Peninsula mall. (Photo courtesy of Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department)
She is scheduled for sentencing on Feb. 6 so a close friend of Leeds, who was not available on Friday, can speak to the court.

Remembering Susan Leeds

Six family members remembered “Suzy” as the “glue of the family” and the “kindest, gentlest” caretaker who always took time to remind people to smile and be happy; she comforted without judging, and she made others feel safe and seen. Leeds loved baking cookies and finding new activities to do with her grandchildren.
“She was a nurse who dedicated her life to helping others,” stepson Benjamin Leeds said. “Compassion defined who she was.”
Her husband fell into a deep depression following her death, which “broke him beyond repair and hastened his death,” said Julie Leeds, a stepdaughter.
Most spoke of their fear of getting in and out of their vehicles in parking lots since her death. Some told the judge they instead park on a busy street several blocks away.
They asked the judge to hand out the maximum sentence.

The Crime and Investigation

Just past 12:10 p.m. on May 3, 2018, Leeds returned to her SUV in the parking structure of the Promenade on the Peninsula Mall in Rolling Hills Estates and was attacked by Townsend, who stabbed her 17 times and slashed her throat before getting into her gold Chevy Malibu and fleeing, according to evidence presented at trial.
The murder was the first in Rolling Hills Estates in nearly a decade.
Prosecutors argued that Townsend was desperate for money to pay for plane tickets for her, her daughter and three of her daughter’s friends so that her daughter could compete in a cheer competition in Florida. They presented evidence that Townsend had searched the mall and whether a high-end Equinox gym was there, then arrived and waited nearly three hours for a vulnerable victim.
“She researched and selected the most affluent neighborhood … to target the right victim,” said Julie Leeds, a stepdaughter. “After three hours, she chose Suzy to take her rage out on.”
Townsend’s defense attorney argued that there was no physical evidence tying Townsend to the murder, nor any direct eye witnesses. Neither Townsend’s fingerprints nor blood were found on Leeds or in her SUV.
But detectives found Townsend’s phone underneath Leeds’ SUV.
GPS data from the victim’s phone showed it pinging off of cell towers in the same general direction that Townsend drove while fleeing from the mall after the murder.
Following a weeks-long trial, jurors convicted Townsend of first-degree murder in less than a day of deliberating.
“The very best part of her is what made her vulnerable,” said Autumn Robinson, Leeds’ stepdaughter.

Aftermath and Sentencing

Townsend was released from custody following her first arrest. She filed a lawsuit against the county and the Sheriff’s Department, while also demanding that then-Sheriff Jim McDonnell declare her innocence. But in August 2023, Townsend was again arrested, and then charged with murder and robbery. The robbery charge was dropped before trial because of the statute of limitations.
“The defendant acted like the victim,” Robinson said, adding, along with others, that Townsend has not shown accountability or any remorse.
Some of the stepchildren told the judge that had Townsend simply asked for help, Susan Leeds would have provided it and more.
Instead, Robinson said, “Her bright light was snuffed out, and it’s made the world a darker place.”

Conclusion

The family of Susan Leeds has been forever changed by her tragic death. They remember her as a kind and compassionate person who would have helped her killer if only she had been given the chance. The sentencing of Cherie Townsend will bring some closure to the family, but it will never bring back the loving mother, wife, and friend that they lost.

FAQs

• Q: Who was the victim in this case?
  A: The victim was Susan Leeds, a 66-year-old retired nurse from Rancho Palos Verdes.
• Q: Who was convicted of her murder?
  A: Cherie Townsend was convicted of first-degree murder in December.
• Q: What was the motive for the murder?
  A: Prosecutors argued that Townsend was desperate for money to pay for plane tickets for her daughter’s cheer competition in Florida.
• Q: When is Townsend scheduled to be sentenced?
  A: Townsend is scheduled for sentencing on Feb. 6.
• Q: What is the possible sentence for Townsend?
  A: Townsend faces a possible sentence of 26 years to life in state prison.