Lorincz sentenced to 25 years for killing AJ Owens, mother of four
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Circuit Judge Robert Hodges on Nov. 25 sentenced 60-year-old Susan Lorincz to 25 years for the manslaughter of Ajike “AJ” Owens, after a three and a half hour sentencing hearing.
The state asked for the maximum sentence of 30 years.
Hodges explained to the audience that he found the circumstances surrounding the incident and severity of the consequences not only to Owens, but her children, did not allow him to apply any of the defense’s requests for downward departure for sentencing. However, Hodges took into account both Lorincz’ PTSD and lack of criminal record.
Lorincz’ defense argued that the woman shot her neighbor out of self-defense, based on the Florida Stand Your Ground Law. However, the jury decided on Aug. 16 after three days of witness testimony that Lorincz’ killing of Owens was not justified.
Owens is survived by her children; Isaac Williams, 12; Israel Owens, 9; Afrika Williams, 8; and Titus Owens, 3.
During the sentencing hearing, the court heard from Lorincz for the first time. For 12 minutes, Lorincz recounted the details of her poor health leading up to the incident and the fear she felt during the incident.
“I am profoundly sorry,” Lorincz told the court.
Hodges listened to Owen’s mother, Pamela Dias, for more than 30 minutes describe the pain she and her grandchildren experienced following the loss of Owens. “They have a lifetime of scars and trauma after witnessing their mother shot and killed by Lorincz,” she said.
Pamela Dias, the mother of Ajike “AJ” Owens, leaves the church with Owens’ children during the Celebration of Life for Ajike “AJ” Owens at Meadowbrook Church in Ocala, Fla. on Monday, June 12, 2023. Owens was killed on June 2 by neighbor Susan Lorincz who shot her through her closed door. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2023.
Dias said Lorincz knew law enforcement was in route but made “the hateful decision” from the safety of her own home to shoot Owens through the door.
“She has not shown remorse for leaving four children motherless,” said Dias.
Dias spoke to not only the loss and dreams of Owens, but also her own. Dias told the court that she had to give up her job as a flight attendant “traveling the world” as well as a social life in order to focus her efforts on her grandchildren.
Dias said the family’s dynamic was forever changed.
“The void left cannot even be filled by their loving grandmother … I can’t even enjoy the role of grandparent, because I have had to step into the role as parent,” said Dias.
“Future generations will be impacted…since the children’s children will be raised by parents who suffered early trauma,” lamented Dias.
Witnesses for the defense testified Lorincz worked as an EMT starting at age 20 and had a history of being a helpful provider to them in crisis.
Crystal Jewel-Maksou, who owns a cleaning company called Angel Maids, met Lorincz in 2012. She says she met Lorincz worshiping at Ocala Farm Ministries and described Lorincz as “decent and kind” and cooked often for friends and often took care of Lorincz sister, Ellen and nephew Gabriel.
Maksou said Lorincz worked a lot, but was active singing in the church choir and was welcoming to fellowship at the church.
Maksou said she was shocked to hear of Lorincz’s shooting Owens because it wasn’t like the woman she knew. Quite the contrary, Maksou said of Lorincz, “she taught me how to be a good friend.”
Maksou’s husband Michael testified he knew Lorincz for eight years and met Lorincz at another church in Summerfield. He described Lorincz as “generous” and “always helpful” to their family and the shooting of Owens “out of character.”
Shannon Lynn Harris, a pastor at Anthony United Methodist and Shiloh United Methodist said the shooting sent shockwaves through their church where Lorincz worshiped.
Harris spoke of the support Lorincz gave both her and her husband spiritually and physically during Harris’ husband’s cancer fight.
Harris said she never observed Lorincz have conflict with others, including children who attended the church.
“She was always involved in helping others at the church,” said Harris.
The Maksous and Harris said Lorincz had complained of neighborhood trouble and they had prayed about it.
Lorincz’s younger sister, Ellyn, testified that she and their family had a history of serious mental illnesses. Their mother had “depression issues” and their father, a holocaust survivor, was “always drinking.”
Ellyn described graphic instances of the emotional, physical and sexual abuse they experienced at the hand of their father, who she also said was “horribly prejudiced” against Black people.
“When we experience trauma it changes the way we view the world,” said Dr. Yenys Castillo, the forensic psychologist hired by the defense at the cost of more than $16,000 after spending 80 hours exploring Lorincz’s case.
Castillo diagnosed Lorincz with post traumatic stress syndrome over five examinations since November 2023 due to abuse she endured as a child, and trauma from personal health threats.
A PTSD diagnosis was found in medical records in the years leading up to the incident noted the forensic psychologist- but Lorincz did not receive treatment for it.
“It is difficult to find treatment for complex trauma in many communities,” Castillo said.
When the defense asked the forensic psychologist if Lorincz expressed regret over the shooting, the psychologist indicated that especially over the last two examinations Lorincz expressed now understanding that Owens was “just being a mama bear.”
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