How a Florida Mother's Killing Became an Oscar-Nominated Documentary
The killing of Ajike Owens, a 35-year-old mother of four, shocked Ocala, Florida, when she was fatally shot by her neighbor in June 2023. The case drew national attention after Susan Lorincz, the woman responsible, claimed self-defense under Florida's stand your ground law. Now, the story is the focus of an Oscar-nominated documentary, The Perfect Neighbor, directed by Geeta Gandbhir.
On the evening of June 2, 2023, Ajike Owens was shot dead outside Susan Lorincz's home. Lorincz, then 58, argued she feared for her life when Owens knocked on her door. A jury later rejected this defense, convicting Lorincz of manslaughter with a firearm in August 2023. She received a 25-year prison sentence and remains incarcerated at Homestead Correctional Institution in Florida City.
Owens' mother, Pamela Dias, has since taken on the care of her four grandchildren. She remembers her daughter as a vibrant, hardworking woman with big dreams—including a prediction that the world is going to know my name. Dias believes racial bias played a role in the slow initial media response and the eventual conviction.
The case has now been documented in The Perfect Neighbor, which explores the tragedy and its aftermath. Director Geeta Gandbhir also discussed the film's creation in Netflix's Origin Story series. Meanwhile, Owens' children continue to struggle with their mother's violent death and the sudden void in their lives.
Lorincz is serving her sentence at Homestead Correctional Institution, located at 880 SW 4th Street, Florida City. Owens' family, left without a mother, now relies on Pamela Dias for support. The documentary ensures that Ajike Owens' story—and the questions it raises—remain in the public eye.
