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Cherie Townsend has been convicted of killing a retired nurse in what authorities say was an try and get cash to ship her daughter to a cheerleading competitors, in line with a number of stories.
Townsend was discovered responsible of first-degree homicide on December 4 for the killing of 66-year-old Susan Leeds on Might 3, 201, within the parking construction of the Promenade on the Peninsula shopping center in Rolling Hills Estates, California, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Division (LASD) confirmed in an announcement obtained by PEOPLE.
The Los Angeles Instances reported that Leeds was stabbed 17 instances shortly after midday.
In accordance with PEOPLE, the LASD stated in an announcement, “When [Lomita Station Deputies] arrived [at the murder scene], they noticed the sufferer within the driver’s seat of her automobile affected by a number of stab wounds. Paramedics responded and subsequently pronounced the sufferer deceased.”
The division additionally defined the lengthy timeline of the investigation, saying, “Investigative leads had been adopted, and the suspect, Cherie Townsend, was arrested for homicide on Might 17, 2018. On Might 21, 2018, the case was introduced to the Los Angeles County District Lawyer’s Workplace. On the time, the case was rejected pending additional investigation.”
They then shared that the case was later reassigned. “In July of 2022, the case was reassigned to new investigators, and the proof was re-evaluated. A number of witnesses had been re-interviewed, and new witnesses had been interviewed.”
The LASD added, “On August 16, 2023, investigators introduced the case to the Los Angeles County District Lawyer’s Workplace for his or her consideration of submitting fees. A warrant for homicide 187(a) P.C. was issued for the arrest of Suspect Townsend,” and confirmed she was arrested two days later.
Townsend’s public defender, Elizabeth Landgraf, argued that there was no direct proof — equivalent to fingerprints, DNA, eyewitnesses, or video surveillance that linked her shopper to the killing, in line with the Los Angeles Instances.
Whereas blood samples present in and round Leeds’ automobile didn’t match Townsend, DNA discovered on a cellphone found beneath the sufferer’s automotive did match her, the outlet reported.
Townsend beforehand claimed she had been on the mall looking for her son’s promenade, however she couldn’t clarify why her cellphone was discovered underneath the sufferer’s automobile, KTLA stated.
Leeds’ stepson, Fred Leeds, spoke with KTLA following the decision, saying, “So many lives had been impacted by this homicide,” and described his stepmother as “a form human being that might have finished something for anybody.” He added, “She lived an ideal life… and to be so brutally murdered, there’s simply no rationalization for it.”
He additionally expressed gratitude to investigators. “I wish to first begin out by thanking the police and sheriff’s division within the pursuit of this homicide,” including, “She didn’t need to be murdered for her purse.”
KTLA additionally said that Leed’s husband of 25 years died in 2022 and by no means obtained to see the case dropped at justice. “The final phrases from [my Dad] to me had been, ‘My Susie didn’t deserve this,’” Fred stated.
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