Mother Of Victim In Oscar-Nominated Documentary 'The Perfect Neighbor' Remembers Her Slain Daughter

Pamela Dias speaks out about the police handling of the case that took the life of her daughter, Ajike Owens.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Pamela Dias, the mother of Ajike Owens, a working mother of four who was killed by her neighbor in Ocala, Florida, speaks out about her daughter's life and the police handling of the case that is explored in the Oscar-nominated documentary 'The Perfect Neighbor'. Dias expresses her belief that if the assailant, Susan Lorincz, had been a person of color, the narrative would have been different and she would not have received such 'gracious treatment' from the police.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing issues of racial bias, the use of 'stand your ground' laws, and the disparities in how law enforcement responds to crimes committed by white individuals versus people of color. The documentary 'The Perfect Neighbor' aims to shed light on these systemic problems and honor the memory of Ajike Owens.

The details

Ajike Owens, 35, was shot and killed by her neighbor, Susan Lorincz, a white woman known for harassing children of color who played in the area, including Owens' kids. Lorincz invoked Florida's stand your ground law in her defense, claiming she had feared for her life when Owens knocked on her door. She fired through the locked door, killing Owens. The documentary 'The Perfect Neighbor' explores the case, using police materials such as Ring camera footage, dash cam footage, detective interviews, and 911 calls to tell the story of Lorincz's history of antagonizing her neighbors and the police's failure to hold her accountable.

  • On June 2, 2023, Ajike Owens was shot and killed by her neighbor, Susan Lorincz.
  • It took about five days for Lorincz to be arrested after the shooting.

The players

Ajike Owens

A 35-year-old working mother of four who was killed by her neighbor in Ocala, Florida.

Pamela Dias

The mother of Ajike Owens, who is raising her four grandchildren in the absence of their mother.

Susan Lorincz

A 58-year-old white woman who shot and killed Ajike Owens, her neighbor, and invoked Florida's stand your ground law in her defense.

Geeta Gandbhir

The director of the Oscar-nominated documentary 'The Perfect Neighbor', which explores the case of Ajike Owens' murder.

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What they’re saying

“Had Susan been a person of color, the narrative would have been completely different. If she was a person of color, she wouldn't have received such gracious treatment from the police.”

— Pamela Dias, Mother of Ajike Owens (Deadline)

“Imagine a person of color abusing the 911 system. I think there would have been some type of repercussions if that had been a person of color, repeatedly, repeatedly year after year, calling the police for nothing... I don't think the police saw Susan as a threat, and that was due to their own biases.”

— Pamela Dias, Mother of Ajike Owens (Deadline)

“Ajika was a person with a big personality, and she loved, and she loved hard, and she loved dearly. She chose her friends very wisely, and all her friends were family. She worked hard for her family, for her children, and her life mattered.”

— Pamela Dias, Mother of Ajike Owens (Deadline)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Susan Lorincz out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing issues of racial bias, the use of 'stand your ground' laws, and the disparities in how law enforcement responds to crimes committed by white individuals versus people of color. The documentary 'The Perfect Neighbor' aims to shed light on these systemic problems and honor the memory of Ajike Owens.