Florida girl sentenced to 25 years in deadly taking pictures of neighbor Ajike Owens

Susan Lorincz was sentenced on 25 years in jail on Monday for fatally taking pictures her neighbor Ajike “AJ” Owens via a locked door.

The sentencing got here after Lorincz was discovered responsible in August of first-degree felony manslaughter with a firearm. Lorincz had confronted as much as 30 years in jail.

The incident occurred in Ocala, Florida, on June 2, 2023.

“I discover that the taking pictures was fully pointless,” Decide Robert Hodges stated. “On this case, Ms. Lorincz was behind the door. The door was locked. She had already known as regulation enforcement. They have been en route. She knew they have been en route. She was in a comparatively secure place. For some purpose, she went into her room and located a gun.”

Hodges continued, “She might have stayed within the room and put one other locked door between her and Ms. Owens, however she got here again out, put herself in entrance of the door, and on the time she fired the gun via the door, she was secure.”

“There was no indication that she didn’t perceive what she was doing of that taking pictures an individual was towards the regulation,” the choose additionally stated.

Owens’ household, who had known as for the utmost penalty of 30 years, spoke exterior the courtroom on Monday night after Lorincz was sentenced.

Pamela Dias, Owens’ mom, informed reporters that the household is “happy” with the 25-year sentence.

“As I said, and because the choose said, this taking pictures — this killing, this loss of life of a mom, a daughter, a buddy — ought to have by no means occurred, however we received justice as we speak and now we actually can forge forward on the journey of true therapeutic,” Dias stated.

Lorincz, who’s white, shot Owens, a Black mom of 4, within the presence of her younger son. Owens had approached Lorincz’s door following a dispute about her kids enjoying close to Lorincz’s residence, in accordance with a June 6, 2023, assertion from the Marion County Sheriff’s Workplace.

Throughout her sentencing listening to, Lorincz recounted numerous disputes she had with Owens and her kids previous to the taking pictures and claimed that she was “terrified” of Owens. She additionally denied calling Owens’ kids racial slurs.

“I am so sorry that I took AJ’s life. I by no means meant to kill her,” Lorincz stated in a press release directed at Owens’ mom and kids.

“I’m simply profoundly unhappy. Not solely did a mom die, however a daughter, a sister,” Lorincz stated. “I consider your loved ones’s loss and understand how arduous it’s to lose somebody you like.”

Requested about Lorincz’s apology, Dias stated, “Susan’s apology was a last-ditch try to avoid wasting herself. It wasn’t honest. She by no means confirmed regret. As I said earlier than, her regret that she confirmed, if any, at greatest, was for herself.”

“It was a lackluster apology,” she added.

Dias shared a sufferer impression assertion throughout Monday’s listening to, the place she known as for Lorincz to be held “absolutely accountable” for the deadly taking pictures.

“Susan’s reckless act of manslaughter rendered my 4 grandchildren motherless,” she stated. “Sadly, Titus, Africa, Israel and Isaac must stay their remaining lives as a motherless youngster.”

“Our ache and struggling did not finish once we buried Ajike. Our ache and struggling did not finish when Susan was discovered responsible of manslaughter. Our ache and struggling will not finish with as we speak’s sentencing. Our ache and struggling will final a lifetime,” she added.

In the meantime, Lorincz’s authorized workforce known as a bunch of household and pals who testified on behalf of Lorincz, highlighting her Christian religion, her position as a caretaker for her sister and her dedication to caring for her nephew, in addition to numerous examples the place she supported her pals.

Her sister Ellyn Lorincz testified about alleged sexual and bodily abuse that the sisters skilled by the hands of their father and a psychologist testified about Lorincz’s “power PTSD” analysis.

Lorincz’s authorized workforce requested the choose to think about probation and stated that Lorincz would profit from PTSD remedy. The prosecution stated that the division of corrections presents psychological well being remedy and argued that “PTSD was not a driving power” on this case.

Lorincz’s legal professional, Amanda Sizemore, declined to remark in response to a request from ABC Information.

After a jury discovered Lorincz responsible on Aug. 16, Decide Robert Hodges stated that Lorincz can be held within the Marion County jail with out bond till her sentencing.

Forward of Lorincz’s sentencing listening to, Owens’ household shared a press release with ABC Information via their legal professional, calling for the choose to assign “the utmost penalty underneath the regulation.”

They stated that whereas the responsible verdict was an “essential step,” they have been nonetheless in search of “justice” within the type of sentencing.

Lorincz pleaded not responsible to the costs she was going through in courtroom.

Through the trial, her protection workforce argued that she must be discovered not responsible as a result of she was appearing in self-defense. They stated that she feared for her life.

In the meantime, prosecutors argued that Lorincz must be discovered responsible as a result of she fatally shot an “unarmed” Owens via a “locked” door.