For many of us, true crime has become a binge-able affair. Something we eagerly add to our Netflix watchlist and furiously stream as we melt into the sofa with a takeaway. The saturation of the true crime genre is undeniable. And arguably, we've all become a bit too desensitized when it comes to the subject matter, especially considering that the victims at the heart of these stories are often overlooked. An example of that is the recent smash hit, Monster: The Ed Gein Story.
Just one week after the release of the latest Monster installment, a new true crime documentary has arrived on Netflix. The Perfect Neighbor tells the tragic story of how Ajike 'AJ' Owens was killed by her neighbor, Susan Lorincz, in June 2023. Using police body camera footage, the documentary recounts the events that led to Owens' death, how Lorincz's team defended her in court, and how family, friends, and locals campaigned for justice.
The way the documentary has been put together has been described by critics as “revolutionary,” and director Geeta Gandbhir said she wanted to take a “show don't tell” approach to the narrative. “You don't have to beat audiences over the head with advocacy,” Gandbhir told the BBC of the documentary's production style. “I wanted to take people on a journey that embeds them within this community, like they were a fly on the wall.”
While this is all valid (and the documentary certainly gives us an insight into how such an act of violence came to be, as well as the devastating real-life impact it had), as a viewer, I couldn't help but feel that the “show don't tell” aspect didn't show or tell us enough about the life of AJ, who should ultimately be the central figure in this story, rather than Lorincz.
In The Perfect Neighbor, we repeatedly see and hear from Lorincz via the body camera footage, but only a short clip of AJ is included in the one-hour, 37-minute film. This is also true beyond the documentary, as countless news articles refer to Lorincz before mentioning AJ, and some only go as far as referring to her as “Lorincz's Black neighbor.”
So, with that in mind, who was AJ Owens, what did her family and friends think of her, and how will she be remembered?
Who was AJ Owens?
Ajike Owens, “affectionately” known as AJ, was a “devoted and loving” mother, according to a GoFundMe page set up by her own mother, Pamela Dias.
The GoFundMe goes on to describe 35-year-old AJ as having had an “infectious personality” with a smile that would “light up the room.” According to a charitable fund set up in her honor (more on that shortly), AJ “left a lasting impression on everyone she encountered with her warmth, generosity, and spirit.”
That love extended into her professional life, too. AJ worked in the restaurant and hospitality industry, where she “excelled” as a manager. AJ was also “devoted” to her Christian faith as well as to her friends. “Her care extended well beyond her household. [She] was a loyal friend who cherished her relationships and gave freely of herself to others. She often supported single mothers who faced struggles similar to her own, always leading with compassion and generosity.”
“There wasn't anything that she wouldn't do for those near and dear to her heart,” Dias added of her daughter on the GoFundMe page.
Most of all, however, AJ was “known for how much she loved and absolutely lived for her four children.” As a single mother to four—Isaac (14), Israel (12), Afrika (9) and Titus (6), some of whom we see in The Perfect Neighbor—AJ's life “centered” around her children, and she was the “team mom” for her kids' football and cheerleading squads.
Speaking about his mother, Isaac said (per a local news report) at AJ's memorial that she was “gentle and kind, beautiful, and gave from the heart.” Zywanda Bell, one of AJ's friends, also shared some words at the memorial, describing her as “calm, loving, and respectful.”
Although tragic, AJ Owens leaves behind a lasting legacy, one which her mother says means “her name is now tied to change.”
“We're deeply aware that gun violence continues to devastate communities across the nation—and our story is part of that larger reality,” Dias told CNN. “My daughter and I would often have conversations about what we wanted out of life, and she would tell me, ‘One day the world will know my name.’”
Dias went on to say that now, her daughter's story “reminds the world that love can be louder than hate.”
“We carry that love forward in everything we do,” she continued. “Ensuring that her legacy is not defined by tragedy but by transformation.” To do that, those close to AJ founded the Standing in the Gap Fund. Its mission is to “transform grief into action and loss into legacy.”
According to the Standing in the Gap Fund, AJ's family is the “first recipient of its support,” but by donating to it, supporters are also “providing resources to other families directly impacted by racial violence.” Donations also go to support those who are “organizing against racial terror and race-based violence.”
Learn more about the Standing in the Gap Fund here, or donate to the Justice for AJ Owens GoFundMe here.
The Perfect Neighbor is available to stream on Netflix now.
