Bond set for woman accused in death of neighbor

The Marion County Jail is shown at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office in Ocala, Fla. on Monday, Dec. 28, 2020. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2020.

Susan Lorincz, who is accused of shooting and killing her neighbor, Ajike “AJ” Owens, had her first appearance before a Marion County Judge on Thursday, June 8, via video link from the Marion County Jail. On Friday, June 9, bond for Lorincz was set at $154,000, according to an email from the Office of the State Attorney, Fifth Judicial Circuit, “with the condition that an ankle monitor be worn if the defendant bonds out of jail.”

Ajike “AJ” Owens. Submitted photo.

Owens, 35, the mother of four children ages 3 to 12, was shot and killed on June 2 while reportedly standing outside Lorincz’s front door. Reports from law enforcement described an ongoing feud between the neighbors and a confrontation at the time of the shooting.

On Thursday, Judge Lori Cotton read the charges against Lorincz, 58: manslaughter with a firearm (with) culpable negligence, two counts of assault and one count of battery. Cotton then asked Lorincz several questions prior to assigning her a Public Defender.

Lorincz told Cotton she lost her job two weeks ago and had no savings. Lorincz said she had filed for disability, owed $22,000 on a vehicle and helped out her 55-year-old sister.

In reply to further questions, Lorincz told the judge that she has lived in Marion County for 15 years and previously was living in Spring Hill. She stated she had no property here.

A discussion was held about bond amounts and pre-trail motions. A representative for the State asked about a higher than usual bond and Lorincz remained with no bond until Friday. A late Friday afternoon check through the Marion County Jail inmate search function indicated that Lorincz remained incarcerated.

Lorincz’s next court date is set for July 11.

Since the incident on June 2, the case gained national attention as supporters of Owens’ called for swifter action. The jail log indicates Lorincz was booked at 4:25 a.m. June 7. She had been arrested some hours before.

On June 6, following her arrest, Sheriff Billy Woods stated in a video posted on the MCSO Facebook page that over the days since Owens’ death, detectives had “worked around the clock” going through evidence and interviewing witnesses. Woods said he wanted “the same thing (as) Owens’ family … justice.” He said he was following Florida law and taking the necessary time for a thorough, error-free, investigation that will hold up in court.

For prior reporting on this subject, see Calls for justice, restraint | Ocala Gazette and Woman charged with manslaughter in death of neighbor | Ocala Gazette