Sophie Townsend

Sophie Townsend is a villainess from "Money Plane," episode 3.17 of CSI: Miami.

She was played by Joan Severance.

Sophie Townsend is the mother of socialite Caitlyn Townsend, who was found dead after a private cargo jet crashed. Caitlyn had been running a charity for runaway girls, but as revealed later on, Sophie had been looting from her daughter's charity. As part of her embezzlement, Sophie had Heidi Dillon forge Caitlyn's signature onto checks that were intended for Caitlyn's charity, and later turned the checks into cash, which would be deposited into the Pummelo Corporation, Sophie's account in Charleston, South Carolina.

Calleigh Duquesne and FBI Agent Peter Elliott discovered Sophie's embezzlement, and made the connection due to the fact that Sophie's family made millions in the Florida citrus industry. In her confrontation with Calleigh and Horatio Caine, Sophie defended her actions, stating that she had to live up to the family name after a citrus freeze left her flat broke. In response to Horatio's question regarding Caitlyn's murder, Sophie denied killing her daughter. Though Sophie's denial about Caitlyn turned out to be true, it can be assumed that she was arrested for embezzlement.