To see the news conference and the surveillance video, click on the following link.
https://www.facebook.com/LosAngelesCountySheriffsDepartment/videos/2202640226429545/
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 1st floor of the parking structure of a shopping center in Rolling Hills Estates on May 3rd 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 1st 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 1st 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 DangeloRobinson
Sheriff’s Information Bureau – Newsroom
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
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