Naman Shrestha
In Netflix’s ‘The Perfect Neighbor’ and ABC’s ’20/20: The Neighbor from Hell,’ the primary focus is on the sudden and gruesome murder of a single mother named Ajike “AJ” Owens in Ocala, Florida. As her seemingly minor dispute with Susan Lorincz turned violent, it resulted in Ajike’s untimely demise as Susan shot her to death. The tragedy left her mother, Pamela Dias, and her four children, Isaac, Israel, Titus, and Africa, completely devastated and distraught. They were relieved when Susan was ultimately found guilty and sentenced for the shooting.
Ajike “AJ” Owens’ Son Israel Was With Her When She Was Shot
Ajike “AJ” Owens was the beloved daughter of Pamela Dias and had four children of her own — sons Isaac, Israel, and Titus, and a daughter named Afrika. On the fateful night, when Susan Louise Lorincz shot Ajike to death through her front door, 9-year-old Israel was by his mother’s side and witnessed the tragedy. Following their mother’s killing, her oldest children, Israel and Isaac, blamed themselves for it. The former felt that if he hadn’t left his tablet near Susan’s property, Ajike would not be dead. On the other hand, Isaac blamed himself because he couldn’t perform CPR and save her. Moreover, during Susan’s murder trial in August 2024, both Israel and Isaac were also listed as potential witnesses, as both of them had witnessed the tragedy unfold.
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Pamela Dias is Operating a Nonprofit Organization While Raising Ajike’s Kids
After Susan Lorincz’s conviction and sentencing, Pamela Dias launched a nonprofit, Standing in the Gap, in honor of her late daughter, Ajike “AJ” Owens. It is aimed at providing financial support to families in need of counseling resources and a direction to deal with the aftermath of racially motivated violence. In addition, Pamela established a GoFundMe page to cover Ajike’s funeral and memorial expenses, but it is now collecting funds for her children’s future, education, and living expenses. In June 2025, Ajike’s mother also filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Susan Lorincz, seeking at least $50,000 in damages on behalf of Ajike’s children. In response, Susan released a letter, indicating her intention to countersue her for defamation of character.
Since Ajike’s death, Pamela has been raising her four children in Ocala, Florida. During a conversation with USA Today more than two years after the tragedy, Pamela stated that her grandchildren were “still very much in pain, but they’re very resilient.” She added, “Seeing the pain in their eyes, it’s never-ending.” After the shooting, Isaac was in trauma therapy, while Pamela looked for counseling for Israel. As for Ajike’s youngest child, Titus, he was confused and inconsolable for several weeks. Despite the huge loss, all four children showed strength and resilience. In an interview with Metro, Pamela opened up about how the children were doing their best to move forward.
She stated, “They’re the bravest people I know. They get up every day and go forward, but they still mourn and weep for their mother. This is trauma they’ll carry for the rest of their lives.” In February 2026, Pamela acknowledged that the death of their mother took a toll on them and that the tragedy has changed them forever. She told Deadline, “They’re no longer these innocent children that their [biggest] worry is their friends. Now they’re navigating life without the sole provider, the sole source of comfort, their first love. And it’s incredibly tough on them. We often throw around that kids are resilient, but they shouldn’t have to be resilient in a case like this. But I would say they’re doing as best as they can be under the circumstances. And I admire them for persevering and getting up every day, facing the world, and they do it so graciously.”
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