The trial of a 47-year-old mother accused of murdering a stranger in a Phoenix mall parking lot to fund her daughter’s cheerleading trip has begun, revealing a tragic tale of financial desperation.
Cherie Townsend is alleged to have stabbed 66-year-old Susan Leeds on 3 May 2018, with prosecutors asserting her motive was a $2,000 shortfall needed for the competitive cheer expenses.
Opening statements delivered this week painted a stark picture. The prosecution detailed how Townsend, driven to desperation by the crippling costs of youth sports, targeted Leeds in the Promenade mall garage.
A note found in Townsend’s possession reportedly outlined her financial distress. The defence was quick to point out the lack of concrete physical evidence, telling the jury, “There is no DNA evidence and no murder weapon linking my client to this crime.
Reasonable doubt abounds.” The victim’s family, who have waited seven years for the trial to begin, described the killing as “senseless.”
The case has cast an unflattering light on the intense financial and social pressures of competitive youth sports, an industry valued at over £800 million where costs have risen by 20 per cent in 2025 alone.
The long delay between the crime and the trial echoes challenges seen in other cold cases and has raised questions about judicial efficiency.
The testimony from other cheer mothers about costs ranging from $10,000 to $25,000 per year has sparked a national conversation about economic disparity and the lengths to which parents will go.
The outcome of this trial is likely to influence calls for subsidies and financial oversight in youth athletics, with advocates warning that without support, such extreme cases of desperation, while rare, could potentially be repeated.
Written by Were Kelly
Sources: East Bay Times (eastbaytimes.com), Law&Crime (lawandcrime.com).
