California Mother Sentenced for Murder of Retired Nurse
A California mother was sentenced almost ten years after fatally stabbing a former nurse during an attempted robbery. This tragic event occurred as she sought to secure funds to send her daughter to cheerleading camp.
Cherry Townsend, found guilty of first-degree murder, stabbed 66-year-old Susan Lees 17 times in her neck and upper body. This incident took place on May 3, 2018, in broad daylight while Lees was seated in her Mercedes-Benz SUV at a shopping mall parking lot in Peninsula.
Prosecutors revealed that Townsend, age 47, was aiming to steal $2,000 for her daughter’s cheerleading competition in Florida and was at the mall looking for an “easy target.” She was identified as a suspect and arrested shortly after the murder; however, she was released six days later due to insufficient evidence.
Though Townsend admitted to being at the mall, she maintained her innocence and filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in October 2018. Her claims included false imprisonment, defamation, racial discrimination, and emotional distress.
Fast forward to August 2023, she was rearrested on murder suspicion, but that case was dismissed.
During the trial, Townsend’s public defender argued that there was no direct evidence connecting her to the murder, such as DNA or eyewitness accounts. Yet, a criminologist from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department testified that DNA found on a cell phone beneath Lees’ SUV belonged to Townsend. Initially, investigators thought the phone was the victim’s until they discovered it held a photo of Townsend.
Additionally, prosecutors revealed Townsend’s financial struggles to fund her daughter’s trip, indicating she had contemplated a GoFundMe campaign but ultimately rejected it, fearing it would embarrass her daughter. Evidence also showed she had sought ways to obtain a fake ID and had researched whether Walmart verifies IDs for credit card transactions.
Lees was a retired nurse dedicated to helping patients with type 1 diabetes. Fred Rees, her son-in-law, expressed the impact of her murder, noting how it affected many lives. He described her as a kind person who lived a fulfilling life and lamented the brutality of her death.
Lees’ stepson mentioned that her husband, who died in 2022, never saw justice served. He recounted his father’s last words: “My Susie doesn’t deserve this.”
Townsend’s sentencing is set for January 23, where she could face up to 26 years to life in prison.
