Cheer Mom Convicted in 2018 Rolling Hills Estates Mall Murder to Be Sentenced

Cherie Lynnette Townsend faces 26 years to life for the first-degree murder of retired nurse Susan Leeds in a mall parking garage.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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Cherie Lynnette Townsend will be sentenced on Friday for the 2018 first-degree murder of retired nurse Susan Leeds. Prosecutors argue Townsend fatally stabbed Leeds 17 times during a robbery in a mall parking garage. Key evidence includes Townsend's cell phone found under the victim's SUV and shifting alibis regarding her presence at the mall that day.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing challenges of prosecuting violent crimes, especially those with circumstantial evidence and no clear motive. It also raises questions about the role of financial pressures and mental health in driving criminal behavior.

The details

Townsend was convicted of first-degree murder with a weapons allegation for the May 3, 2018, killing of Susan Leeds. Leeds was found in her Mercedes-Benz SUV at the Promenade on the Peninsula, having suffered 17 stab wounds to her neck and upper body. Investigators discovered Townsend's cell phone directly beneath the victim's vehicle. Trial testimony revealed Townsend was in financial distress at the time, with bank balances near zero and a history of bounced checks for her daughter's expensive cheerleading program. A witness also testified to seeing Townsend at the mall that day, described as "staring" at her in a way that made her feel "something bad was going to happen."

  • 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 LA 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.

The players

Cherie Lynnette Townsend

A cheer mom who was convicted of first-degree murder with a weapons allegation for the 2018 killing of Susan Leeds.

Susan Leeds

A retired nurse who was fatally stabbed 17 times in a mall parking garage in Rolling Hills Estates.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

Following the sentencing hearing before Superior Court Judge John J. Lonergan Jr., Townsend will be transferred to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to begin serving her term. The defense has not yet publicly confirmed if they intend to appeal the conviction.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges of prosecuting violent crimes, especially those with circumstantial evidence and no clear motive. It also raises questions about the role of financial pressures and mental health in driving criminal behavior.