Susan Lorincz is serving a 25-year Florida prison sentence at Homestead Correctional Institution in South Florida for the 2023 shooting death of her neighbor, Ajike “AJ” Owens. She is not serving a murder sentence: a Marion County jury convicted her of manslaughter by use of a firearm.
Her case became nationally known because Lorincz claimed Florida’s “stand your ground” law protected her, while prosecutors argued that she fired through a locked apartment door without facing an imminent deadly threat. The jury rejected that defense. Since her conviction, the case has continued through an appeal, a wrongful-death lawsuit and public statements from behind bars.
Where is Susan Lorincz now?
Lorincz is incarcerated at Homestead Correctional Institution, a women’s prison in South Florida. She was transferred there from the Marion County Jail/Women’s Center in Ocala while beginning her state sentence.
She is serving 25 years in the Florida Department of Corrections. A precise release date should not be treated as settled without checking the department’s current inmate records. Various secondary sources have published different projected dates, but the stable and verified information is her sentence length and current incarceration at Homestead.
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In a September 2025 interview with WCJB/TV20, Lorincz spoke from the institution about the shooting and her life in prison. She said she never intended to kill Owens and acknowledged that she could not “take it back.” She continued to describe herself as threatened by Owens and Owens’ children. Those statements are Lorincz’s account, not established findings about what occurred.
Why is Susan Lorincz in prison?
On June 2, 2023, Lorincz shot Owens through the front door of a residence in Ocala, Florida. Owens later died from her injuries. The dispute that preceded the shooting involved Lorincz, Owens and Owens’ children, but accounts of the confrontation differed sharply.
Prosecutors charged Lorincz with manslaughter by use of a firearm, a first-degree felony. The state initially considered a second-degree murder charge but declined to pursue it, saying the evidence did not sufficiently establish the legal elements of “hatred, spite, ill will or evil intent” required for that charge. Additional assault, battery and culpable-negligence counts were dropped before trial.
That distinction matters. Lorincz was convicted of manslaughter with a firearm, not murder. Describing her as legally convicted of murder would be inaccurate.
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What happened at trial?
Lorincz relied on self-defense and Florida’s “stand your ground” law. Her position was that she feared Owens and believed she was in danger. Prosecutors presented the shooting differently: Lorincz was behind a locked door and, in the state’s argument, was not confronting an imminent deadly threat when she fired through it.
A six-person jury found Lorincz guilty on August 16, 2024. On November 25, 2024, Judge Robert Hodges sentenced her to 25 years in the Florida Department of Corrections.
The trial’s central question was not simply whether Lorincz and Owens had a hostile relationship. It was whether the shooting was legally justified as self-defense at the moment Lorincz pulled the trigger. The jury rejected that justification and returned the manslaughter conviction.
What has happened with her appeal?
Lorincz filed an appeal in January 2025. The reliable reports used for this article confirm the filing, but do not establish that an appellate court has overturned, reduced or otherwise resolved her conviction or sentence.
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An appeal is not itself a reversal. The outcome should be described only after checking the latest docket of Florida’s Fifth District Court of Appeal. Until then, the verified position is that Lorincz remains convicted and incarcerated under the 25-year sentence imposed in November 2024.
What did Lorincz say from prison?
During the September 2025 WCJB interview, Lorincz said that killing Owens was not her intention and that she regretted the irreversible result. She also maintained that she had been threatened.
The State Attorney’s Office disputed parts of her account, including her references to Owens’ children. Prosecutors said the children’s deposition testimony was not introduced at trial. Because the interview reflects Lorincz’s perspective after conviction, her allegations about threats, trespassing or the children’s conduct should not be presented as proven facts.
The interview illustrates that Lorincz has not accepted the prosecution’s account of the confrontation. It does not change the jury’s verdict or the sentence currently being served.
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Is there a civil lawsuit against Susan Lorincz?
Yes. Owens’ estate filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against Lorincz and landlord Charles Gabbard in Marion County. The case is identified as 25CA001118AX and seeks damages exceeding $50,000.
Reports have described the filing date differently, citing June 1 or June 10, 2025. The complaint itself is the stronger source for the case number and filing information. A civil wrongful-death claim is separate from Lorincz’s criminal case: it can seek financial damages and does not alter the criminal conviction or prison sentence.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Did Susan Lorincz sue Owens’ family?
Not according to the latest reporting available for this article. Lorincz threatened to bring a defamation countersuit against Owens’ mother and several of Owens’ children in a handwritten court filing. However, she had not officially filed a separate countersuit as of the latest reports located.
That distinction should be preserved in any account of the case. Lorincz threatened a defamation action; it should not be stated that she sued the family unless a later court docket confirms an actual filing.
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Susan Lorincz’s current status at a glance
| Issue | Verified status |
|---|---|
| Correctional facility | Homestead Correctional Institution in South Florida |
| Sentence | 25 years in the Florida Department of Corrections |
| Conviction | Manslaughter by use of a firearm |
| Victim | Ajike “AJ” Owens |
| Trial verdict | Guilty, August 16, 2024 |
| Sentencing | November 25, 2024, by Judge Robert Hodges |
| Appeal | Filed in January 2025; outcome requires current docket verification |
| Civil litigation | Wrongful-death lawsuit filed by Owens’ estate, case 25CA001118AX |
FAQ
Where is Susan Lorincz serving her sentence?
Susan Lorincz is incarcerated at Homestead Correctional Institution in South Florida. She is serving a 25-year Florida Department of Corrections sentence.
Was Susan Lorincz convicted of murder?
No. A jury convicted her of manslaughter by use of a firearm. Prosecutors did not pursue a second-degree murder charge.
Why did Susan Lorincz claim self-defense?
Lorincz argued that Florida’s stand-your-ground law protected her because she believed she was threatened. Prosecutors argued she was behind a locked door and was not facing an imminent deadly threat when she fired.
Has Susan Lorincz’s appeal been successful?
The verified reporting used here confirms that she filed an appeal in January 2025 but does not establish that the conviction or sentence has been overturned or reduced. The latest Fifth District Court of Appeal docket should be checked for a current outcome.
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The Bottom Line
Susan Lorincz remains in prison at Homestead Correctional Institution, serving 25 years for manslaughter by use of a firearm in the death of AJ Owens. Her appeal was filed but is not confirmed here as resolved. The case also includes a wrongful-death lawsuit brought by Owens’ estate, while Lorincz’s threatened defamation action against members of Owens’ family had not become a confirmed separate lawsuit in the latest reporting.
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