Florida resident Susan Lorincz, whose 2023 manslaughter conviction drew national attention, is back at the center of a widening legal dispute as she signals plans to pursue defamation claims against members of the victim’s family. The development coincides with heightened scrutiny following the October release of the Netflix documentary The Perfect Neighbor, which revisits the circumstances leading to the fatal shooting that placed Lorincz under intense public examination.
Lorincz, 61, is serving a 25-year sentence after a Marion County jury found her guilty in the killing of Ajike Owens, a mother of four who lived in the same Ocala quadplex. The documentary details months of escalating tension between Lorincz and the neighboring family, culminating in a June 2023 confrontation that ended with a single shot fired through a closed door.
The renewed attention from The Perfect Neighbor has coincided with ongoing civil litigation. In June, the victim’s estate filed a wrongful death lawsuit for emotional distress, funeral costs, and lost future earnings.
Netflix’s The Perfect Neighbor’s Susan Lorincz Threatens To File A Defamation Lawsuit Against Ajike Owens’ Kids
In September, Lorincz notified the court of her plans to countersue for slander, libel, and defamation, naming three of Owens’ children, their grandmother, and the property owner as potential defendants. No formal countersuit has been filed yet.
Lorincz claims that public statements from the children and their representatives, some featured in the Netflix film, misrepresent her actions before and during the shooting. She alleges the family fabricated accounts of prior disputes, including one about a roller skate, and asserts these claims led to negative publicity. Lorincz argues she acted out of fear during the incident, citing no-trespassing signs and aggressive behavior at her doorstep.
The Netflix documentary has sparked increased debate over her claims. “The Perfect Neighbor” reconstructs the timeline with interviews, law enforcement records, and body camera footage, contrasting Lorincz’s statements with investigative findings. Prosecutors have argued that deputies found no evidence supporting her reports of trespassing and battery.
Depositions in the civil case are projected to continue into early 2025. As the litigation advances, Lorincz’s plans to pursue defamation claims, coupled with renewed attention from Netflix, put her at the heart of a complex legal battle that could extend beyond her criminal conviction.
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