Full Notification

 
On May 3, 2018, Lomita Station Deputies responded to the “Promenade on the Peninsula” parking structure regarding a person down in their vehicle. When deputies arrived, they observed the victim in the driver’s seat of her vehicle suffering from multiple stab wounds. Paramedics responded and subsequently pronounced the victim deceased.

Investigative leads were followed, and the suspect, Cherie Townsend, was arrested for murder on May 17, 2018. On May 21, 2018, the case was presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. At the time, the case was rejected pending further investigation.
 
In July of 2022, the case was reassigned to new investigators, and the evidence was re-evaluated. Several witnesses were re-interviewed, and new witnesses were interviewed.

On August 16, 2023, investigators presented the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for their consideration of filing charges.  A warrant for murder 187(a) P.C. was issued for the arrest of Suspect Townsend. 

August 18, 2023, Suspect Cherie Townsend was eventually located and arrested for murder.

On November 12, 2025, the trial began at Torrance Superior Court, Department 8, under the Honorable Judge John J. Lonergan Jr.  
On December 4, 2025, Suspect Cherie Townsend was convicted of first-degree murder for the killing of Susan Leeds.   

Sentencing is set for January 23, 2026.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.

If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call "Crime Stoppers" by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP on Google play or the Apple App Store or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.
 
Forwarded by: 
Sheriff's Information Bureau
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
211 West Temple Street
Los Angeles California 90012 
http://www.lasd.org   
213-229-1700 

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Robert G. Luna, Sheriff
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department



ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE FROM 2018:
 
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Detectives are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the murder of 66-year-old Susan Leeds. The Victim’s body was found in her car which was parked on the 1^st floor of the parking structure of a shopping center in Rolling Hills Estates on May 3^rd, 2018.

This was crime shocked the community. Detectives initially confirmed they sought a man as a “person of interest”.  However, video surveillance and forensic evidence indicated that person was not involved in this crime. 

As the investigation continued, detectives collected critical evidence at the crime scene which led them to arrest Cherie Townsend, a 39-year-old female.

Suspect Townsend was taken into custody in the early morning hours of Thursday, May 17, 2018, in Victorville, California.  She is currently being charged with murder and held on $1 million dollars bail. The suspect’s booking photo will not be released in order to preserve the integrity of the investigation.

As the detectives continue to investigate this case, they believe the motivation for this crime was robbery and Mrs. Leeds was randomly chosen.  At this point, detectives do not believe the Suspect knew the Victim.  Detectives do not have any leads to other suspects at this time but have not ruled out the potential involvement of other suspects.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department continues to ask for the community’s help.  As of today, detectives are still looking for any potential witnesses.   A picture of the victim’s vehicle, a white 2016 Mercedes Benz SUV which was parked on the 1^st floor of the parking structure and the suspect’s vehicle, a gold 2008 Chevrolet Malibu have been released.

Sheriff Mcdonnell stated “we need to bring justice to the victim and closure to the family.” Two of the victim’s step-children, Fred Leeds and Ben Leeds are also asking for the public’s help in finding any leads or eyewitnesses to the crime.   Mr. Ben Leads said “It is heartbreaking to see such a great woman suffer such a horrific death. She will be missed by the community and certainly missed by the family.” 

Video Surveillance footage from the 1^st floor parking structure during the time of the crime has also been released.

If there is anyone who may have been at the Promenade on the Peninsula on the day of the crime between 9:30am and 12:30pm in the parking structure and may have seen or heard anything please contact Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323 890-5500.  Or if you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call "Crime Stoppers" by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP on Google play or the Apple App Store or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.

Authored by
Deputy Dangelo Robinson
Sheriff’s Information Bureau – Newsroom
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
Hall of Justice - First floor
211 W. Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
213-229-1700


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LA Crime Stoppers: Partner to prevent or report crime by contacting your local Sheriff’s station. Or if you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call "Crime Stoppers" by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP on Google play or the Apple App Store or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.