Where's Susan Lorincz Now? True Story Behind 'The Perfect Neighbor' And The Tragic Death Of AJ Owens

Netflix has released its latest docu-feature, and it has already taken the internet by storm. On October 17, 2025, the streaming giant released The Perfect Neighbor, a true-crime documentary featuring the real-life 2023 killing of Ajike ‘AJ’ Owens, a 35-year-old mom of four who lived in Florida. The 1-hour, 37-minute-long documentary features chilling police bodycam footage and firsthand accounts of one of Florida’s most disturbing cases. AJ’s life was cut short by none other than her middle-aged neighbor, Susan Lorincz, who shot her in the chest and left her fatally wounded.

The tragic shooting shocked the small town of Quail Run in Ocala, Florida. And now, with the Netflix documentary, many viewers are left wondering what happened to the ‘perfect neighbor’, Susan Lorincz. Here’s everything you need to know about her whereabouts.

The tragic shooting of AJ Owens, which questioned Florida’s controversial Stand Your Ground law

On the night of June 2, 2023, Ajike ‘AJ’ Shantrell Owens, a single mother of four, was fatally shot through her neighbor’s front door. The 35-year-old approached Lorincz’s home to confront her over some past altercations involving her children when she was unexpectedly shot through the door, directly in the chest. AJ’s nine-year-old son watched the whole scenario unfold as his mother collapsed on the ground.

What prompted Susan Lorincz to shoot Ajike Owens?

The shooting incident happened after years of seemingly minor disputes between the two neighbors. The Netflix documentary explores the history behind the tragedy, which revealed a long-standing feud between Owens, a black woman and a single mother who worked in the local food/hospitality industry, and Lorincz, her 58-year-old white neighbor who worked from home as an insurance agent. 

Neighbors described Susan’s behavior as ‘obsessive’ and ‘antagonistic’, while Owens’ family said the single mom had always tried to maintain peace. According to arrest records, Lorincz threw roller skates at Owens’ children, which prompted AJ to confront her. Around 8:54 p.m., Owens was at Lorincz’s door, and the latter, having already called 911, fired a single shot from her .380-caliber pistol through the closed door. The mother of four was shot in the chest and collapsed.

Image credit: Netflix

At 9:01 pm, Lorincz made a second call to 911, declaring that she had shot a woman who had been banging on her door. When the officials arrived, Owens, though severely injured, was still breathing. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, but she couldn’t survive the injury and was pronounced dead shortly after.

But what could have driven the 58-year-old to shoot her neighbor? Well, as per Lorincz’s claims to the police, she feared for her life, as she believed Owens was trying to break the door down. She cited Florida’s controversial Stand Your Ground law, sparking nationwide outrage and reigniting debates around race and gun violence in the name of ‘self-defense’.

Years of tension and racial allegations that led up to the fatal night

According to court documents and witness statements, Lorincz had a long history of calling the cops on Owens’ children, often throwing racial slurs at them as they played outside in their shared grassy area. The Perfect Neighbor records some neighbors’ accounts of how Lorincz frequently recorded AJ's children and filed false reports to 911. Though Susan denied racial motives, the documents confirmed that she had indeed used derogatory language in the past.

On the night of the shooting, witnesses said Lorincz had thrown a roller skate at Owens’ children and taken a tablet from one of them. This led Ajike to knock on Susan’s door moments before she was fatally shot in the chest. AJ’s mother, Pamela Dias, told The View that it was Lorincz who had ‘created the situation’, adding that her grandson now carries immense guilt from that night. The teen believes his mother would have been alive and hadn’t gone to that door had he not forgotten his tablet.

What happened to Susan Lorincz, and where is she now?

Susan was detained the very night of the incident, but she was released the next morning with the advice to stay in a hotel or with relatives for some time. However, within just four days, on June 6, 2023, she was called in for yet another round of questioning, after which she was formally arrested. She was charged with manslaughter with a firearm, culpable negligence, battery, and two counts of assault. 

On August 16, 2024, the court found Susan guilty of manslaughter. Her sentencing happened in November 2024, when the court addressed her self-defense claim, declaring that she had no reason to pull the trigger, even under the Stand Your Ground laws. The judge declared:

“In this case, Ms. Lorincz was behind the door. The door was locked. She had already called law enforcement. They were en route. She knew they were en route… For some reason, she went into her room and found a gun.”

Susan Lorincz was sentenced to 25 years in prison, and she is currently serving her sentence at the Homestead Correctional Institution in Florida and will be eligible for release in 2048, at age 84.

The motive and message behind The Perfect Neighbor

Netflix’s The Perfect Neighbor was directed by Geeta Gandbhir, a family friend of Ajike ‘AJ’ Owens, who described the documentary as a ‘deeply personal project’ and a way to transform the grief of AJ’s tragic loss into purpose. In a statement, Gandbhir said:

“The Perfect Neighbor is a deeply personal project, created to transform grief into purpose and honor the lasting legacy of Ajike Owens and her family.”

More than telling a hate crime story, The Perfect Neighbor forces viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about race, fear, and accountability in modern America. As the world watches Lorincz serve her jail time, the haunting memory of AJ Owens endures.

Read Next: Did Khaby Lame Meet With An Accident? The Truth Behind Viral Health Update About The TikTok Star

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Get App

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Choose your device Android or IOS (Apple)