Netflix's newest true crime documentary, The Perfect Neighbor, tells the tragic story of how Ajike 'AJ' Owens was killed by her neighbor, Susan Lorincz. Using police body camera footage, the documentary recounts the events that led to Owens' death, how Lorincz's defended herself in court, and how family, friends, and locals campaigned for justice.
If you haven't seen it yet, or you want a recap, in 2023, 35-year-old Owens—a Black woman and mother of four—was shot and killed by a single bullet, fired by 58-year-old Lorincz through her closed front door. The altercation began when Owens' son told her Lorincz had thrown a roller skate at him during an argument about where the neighborhood children could play.
Owens went to Lorincz's house to ask her why she had thrown an object at her son, but Lorincz would not open the door and eventually fired her gun through it. Here, we take a look at Lorincz's criminal case and reveal where she is now.
What happened at Susan Lorincz's trial?
During her trial, Lorincz's defense team argued that she was in fear for her life when Owens confronted her on the evening of June 2, 2023, citing Florida's Stand Your Ground law. The law allows people to use deadly force in self-defense, depending on the situation.
As well as pointing to self-defense, Lorincz's lawyers called an expert in psychological trauma, along with four character witnesses to the stand. Lorincz's sister also testified that the pair had suffered abuse as children and were brought up in an unstable home impacted by family addiction and mental health issues.
As a result of this, the psychological trauma expert testified that Lorincz suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, which her legal team used as part of her defense argument. The presiding judge, however, rejected this and told the court that any abuse Lorincz suffered years ago was not a mitigating factor in the case.
Ultimately, the defense argued that Lorincz, allegedly in “fear” of her life, had “no choice” but to shoot.
At the end of the trial, Lorincz was found guilty of manslaughter by the six-person jury, with Judge Robert Hodges calling the crime “very aggravated.” She had previously been charged with culpable negligence and two counts of assault, but those charges were dropped.
Where is Susan Lorincz now?
After being found guilty of manslaughter, Lorincz was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Owens' family and prosecutors had pushed for Lorincz to receive the maximum penalty of 30 years, but the judge said her lack of a criminal record played a part in his decision not to hand down the maximum sentence.
As of October 2025, Lorincz is serving her sentence at the Homestead Correctional Institution in Homestead, Florida. Speaking from the prison to a local news outlet in September of 2025, she told TV20 that reflecting on the crime makes her “sick.”
“I just never, ever thought in a million years this would happen, and it just, it breaks my heart,” she went on. “I can't take it back. I can't replace her.”
Owens' family have repeatedly rejected Lorincz's apology. “Susan's apology was a last-ditch attempt to save herself,” Pamela Dias, Owens' mother, told TV at the time of the killer's sentencing. “It wasn't sincere; she never showed remorse.”
The Perfect Neighbor is available to stream on Netflix from 17 October.
