What happens when a neighborhood feud turns deadly? And what if a gun is involved? Netflix’s chilling documentary The Perfect Neighbor dives into the shocking story of Susan Lorincz, a Florida woman whose actions raise disturbing questions about race, self-defense laws, and the consequences of unchecked aggression. But here’s where it gets controversial: Lorincz, now serving a 25-year sentence for manslaughter, claims she acted in fear. Does that excuse her actions? Let’s unpack the details—and the aftermath—of this tragic case.
Released in October 2025, The Perfect Neighbor chronicles the harrowing events surrounding Susan Lorincz, a woman who, for over two years, terrorized her neighbors in Florida. From hurling obscenities at children to making frequent 911 calls over minor issues like kids playing near her rented property, Lorincz’s behavior escalated until it reached a deadly climax in June 2023. After an argument with her young neighbors, Lorincz called the police to report trespassing. Witnesses claim she threw roller skates at a 10-year-old boy. When the boy’s mother, 35-year-old Ajike Owens, confronted Lorincz at her door, Lorincz shot Owens through the locked door, killing her.
In her second 911 call—made just two minutes after the first—Lorincz claimed Owens had threatened to kill her. However, no witnesses corroborated this claim. Despite initially attempting to use Florida’s controversial stand-your-ground law as her defense, Lorincz was arrested five days later and charged with manslaughter, culpable negligence, battery, and assault. This case echoes the 2012 Trayvon Martin tragedy, where George Zimmerman successfully used the same law to avoid conviction. But here’s the part most people miss: Lorincz’s case highlights the complexities of self-defense laws and the racial undertones that often accompany them.
Directed by Geeta Gandbhir, the documentary relies heavily on police body camera footage, surveillance video, and detective interviews to paint a stark picture of the events. The film concludes with Lorincz’s trial, where an all-white jury found her guilty of manslaughter in August 2024. Now, nearly a year into her 25-year sentence at Homestead Correctional Institution in South Florida, Lorincz remains a polarizing figure. In a recent prison interview with a local ABC affiliate, she apologized for her actions but reiterated her claim of fear, stating, ‘I was just so terrified. I remember shaking, crying. It was horrible.’ When asked if she believed herself capable of manslaughter, she replied, ‘No. It makes me sick. I never thought this would happen. I can’t take it back.’
Gandbhir, in an interview with Decider, revealed that the documentary team did not contact Lorincz, believing her perspective was already clear from existing material. But this raises a thought-provoking question: Should Lorincz’s voice have been included? And does her apology hold weight given the irreversible harm caused? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this is a conversation that demands to be had.
