OCALA, FL (352today.com) – This was the ultimate tragedy. It’s a hole in Pamela Dias’ heart that will never mend.
Dias and her four grandchildren—Titus, Africa, Israel, and Isaac—have had their lives permanently altered by the actions of Susan Lorincz. On June 2, 2023, Lorincz fired a shot through a locked metal door, fatally wounding Dias’ daughter, Ajike “AJ” Owens. The incident devastated the family and left a lasting impact on their lives.
The Incident
Susan Lorincz, a white woman, fired a fatal shot from inside her home at Ajike “A.J.” Owens, an unarmed Black woman and single mother. Owens had approached Lorincz’s door after Lorincz reportedly yelled at her children. Law enforcement had been called by Lorincz and was en route to the scene when the shooting occurred.
Sentencing
Susan Lorincz was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Nov. 25, 2024, after being found guilty of manslaughter with a firearm. The sentence was handed down by Fifth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Robert W. Hodges at the Marion County Courthouse.
Children Left Without a Mother
Owens’ four children, ages 3, 7, 9, and 12 at the time of the shooting, have been left without their mother. They have lost the ability to create new memories and will never again experience the hugs, kisses, and conversations they once shared with the person who meant the most to them.
State prosecutors were seeking the maximum sentence for Lorincz, which would have been 30 years.
Defense Argument
Dressed in a yellow jumpsuit, Lorincz appeared in court as her defense team highlighted a troubled past marked by emotional, physical, and sexual abuse by her father. Lorincz and her sister, Ellyn, testified about the lasting effects of their traumatic upbringing, which, according to the defense, contributed to the defendant’s struggles with mental health.
The defense called several character witnesses, including Ellyn and Dr. Yenys Castillo, a forensic psychology expert. Castillo testified that Lorincz suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), leading to panic attacks, dissociation, depression, and self-isolation.
Defense attorneys argued for leniency, asking that Lorincz receive credit for the 538 days she has already served in custody and be sentenced to probation. They emphasized that Lorincz had no prior criminal record and was willing to undergo treatment for her PTSD, which was unrelated to substance abuse.
However, prosecutors countered that PTSD was not the primary factor in Lorincz’s actions and did not justify a reduced sentence. They maintained that her response was rooted in anger, not fear, undermining the defense’s argument for a lighter punishment.
Judge’s Ruling
Judge Hodges acknowledged the defense’s evidence regarding Susan Lorincz’s PTSD but emphasized that Owens was not the instigator, aggressor, or provoker in the incident. Owens, who was unarmed, had asked Lorincz to come outside to talk and was not attempting to enter the dwelling.
Hodges stated that Lorincz acted out of anger, not fear, causing tremendous harm. This assessment played a key role in the court’s decision to impose the 25-year sentence.
Lorincz’s Statement
During sentencing, Lorincz read a letter to Dias expressing regret. “I wish I could go back and trade my life for A.J.’s,” she said. “I am profoundly sad, and I know everyone has suffered from this loss.”
A Family Forever Altered
“No one can ever fill that role for the children.” said Dias, in addressing the court. “I stand before you as a broken-hearted mother, who lost her daughter. I stand before you as an advocate for the grandchildren.”
Those words resonated throughout the courtroom. The children are left with the numbing reality that their mother is never coming back. Owens death means she will be missing milestones, and the important pivotal moments that a mother and children share together because of Lorincz’s actions.
As a result of what happened, the family’s dynamics have changed, as Owen’s four grandchildren have lost a fun-loving grandmother, who has now assumed a parental role, as the family struggles with grief and suffering.
“Four young children will be growing up without the love of their mother,” said Dias, who stressed that children need their mother well into adulthood.