CA- Arrest made in Rolling Hills Estates stabbing

[JoeFromLB]

I didn't see this posted yet.

A woman was stabbed to death in her car parked at the Promenade Mall in upscale Rolling Hills Estates on May 3rd. A transient was arrested and later released. The police have now announced an arrest and will reveal the details in a press conference tomorrow. A shocking crime in one of the safest cities anywhere.

http://abc7.com/arrest-made-in-rolling-hills-estates-stabbing/3488865/

 

[AmberCox1]

I didn't see this posted yet.

A woman was stabbed to death in her car parked at the Promenade Mall in upscale Rolling Hills Estates on May 3rd. A transient was arrested and later released. The police have now announced an arrest and will reveal the details in a press conference tomorrow. A shocking crime in one of the safest cities anywhere.

http://abc7.com/arrest-made-in-rolling-hills-estates-stabbing/3488865/

I am glad they got a suspect.

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[JoeFromLB]

The suspect is a woman (didn't get the name, am looking for it now). She is in jail on $1 million bail. TV cut away immediately after the sheriff's opening statement, to cover the Texas school shooting.

Motive was robbery. The victim was selected at random. Suspect and victim did not know each other.
Investigation is extensive and ongoing, so they're releasing very little information at this time. LE is asking for possible witnesses to contact them and they're processing a lot of evidence, videos, etc.

 

[JoeFromLB]

Cherie Townsend, 38 (or 39) years old, arrested yesterday in Victorville, CA.

No photo. Police are withholding everything about her except her name. The investigation is very much active.

 

[whitelilac]

Thanks for starting this thread. I live in the area and was in fact at the other end of the parking garage of that very day.
This brutal murder has shocked our community.

I never believed the homeless guy was involved other than having been wandering in the area, due to his being on foot. I'm glad that the police now have an arrest....it is so tragic and senseless. The victim was a lovely woman.

 

[whitelilac]

Full PC.

https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/...ng-Death-Rolling-Hills-Estates-482988801.html

 

[JoeFromLB]

A little more info on the suspected killer of Susan Leeds.

https://www.sgvtribune.com/2018/05/18/suspect-arrested-in-rolling-hills-estates-slaying/

Police are asking anyone who may have been in the parking garage from 9:30 am that morning to contact them if they saw anything unusual or have any other information relating to this crime. The suspect's vehicle information was also released to the public.

This was the first murder in Rolling Hills Estates in nine years.

 

[justchrissy47]

http://abc7.com/suspect-being-released-in-rolling-hills-estate-fatal-stabbing-officials-say/3504797/


A suspect who had been arrested in the fatal stabbing of a 66-year-old woman at a Rolling Hills Estate mall has been released as prosecutors ask for further investigation into the case.

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[JoeFromLB]

The woman who was arrested and later released is suing several agencies including the Sheriffs Department for false arrest.

There are still no breaks in the case and it remains a mystery.

Woman Arrested In Rolling Hills Murder Sues Investigators

 

[LosAngeles]

From the "Daily Breeze" newpaper. Finally!

A 45-year-old woman on Monday, July 1, was ordered to stand trial on murder and robbery charges concerning the stabbing death of a retired nurse in the parking structure of a Rolling Hills Estates mall in 2018 by a judge who ruled prosecutors had presented enough evidence against her during a four-day hearing in Torrance Superior Court.

After prosecutors presented a mostly circumstantial case against Cherie Lynnette Townsend, Judge Alan B. Honeycutt ruled the case could move forward.

Townsend’s public defender, Elizabeth Landgraf, had argued for a dismissal of the charges, saying prosecutors did not present enough evidence to show that it was more probable than not that Townsend committed the crimes.

Townsend is accused of stabbing 66-year-old Susan Leeds, who was in the driver’s seat of her SUV at the Promenade on the Peninsula mall, 17 times in the neck and upper body on May 3, 2018. Just before 12:15 p.m., Leeds had returned to the parking structure after picking up to-go food from Rubio’s, according to evidence presented during the hearing.

Leeds also had a wound on her left index finger, indicating she may have tried to defend herself, said Dr. Paul Gliniecki, a deputy medical examiner.

Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials have said they believed it was a random robbery, though detectives who took the stand on Friday acknowledged Leeds’ checkbook was found in her passenger seat that day as well as some credit cards. They also said they never found evidence of anyone attempting to use Leeds’ credit cards, gift cards or financial accounts after she was killed.

 

[JoeFromLB]

Thanks for that update, @LosAngeles
Here's another story with more details:
Woman to stand trial for stabbing death of woman in Rancho Palos Verdes mall parking structure

 

[whitelilac]

Thanks for that update, @LosAngeles
Here's another story with more details:
Woman to stand trial for stabbing death of woman in Rancho Palos Verdes mall parking structure

First I hear of this ..."a phone belonging to Townsend was found underneath the driver's side of the victim's SUV"

 

[JoeFromLB]

Next court date: 9/23/24
I don't have any more details, just the court date. If this is the actual trial I would be surprised, as these cases tend to take years before proceedings begin. Townsend is being held on $2 million bail.
Torrance Superior Court.

 

[LosAngeles]

Any trial update? I'm assuming this is a pre-trial on Monday (9.23.2024). TYIA.

 

[JoeFromLB]

Any trial update? I'm assuming this is a pre-trial on Monday (9.23.2024). TYIA.

Next court date: 10/24/24
No further details. I only have access to an inmate locator where all they give is the court date.
She was bound over for trial in July so she will be tried for murder and robbery, but when is anyone's guess.

 

[JoeFromLB]

More details here:

Judge orders murder trial for woman accused of stabbing retired nurse 17 times at California mall