‘The Perfect Neighbor’: Is Susan Lorincz Actually a Doctor? What’s Been Said About Her Job
Susan Lorincz’s life is being thrust into the spotlight following the release of Netflix’s The Perfect Neighbor, which documents the two years leading up to the shooting death of Ajike Owens in June 2023. Lorincz is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence for killing Owens, her former neighbor, after calling 911 on her children, whom she’d gotten into an altercation with earlier that day.
In the two years before Owens’ death, Lorincz had called 911 on neighborhood children, including Owens’, at least half a dozen times, according to CBS News.
The Perfect Neighbor is told almost entirely through body cam footage, which included one early scene of Lorincz telling an officer, “I am a single woman. I work from home.” In footage from another night, she told another officer about an exchange she had with a child in the neighborhood and revealed that she told the kid, “Listen, my name is Dr. Lorincz. Don’t tell me to shut up.”
This subtle title mention begs the question: Is Lorincz actually a doctor? Her career was brought up several times during her 2024 trial. Scroll down for everything we know.
Is Susan Lorincz actually a doctor?
Despite Lorincz referring to herself as “Dr. Lorincz,” there is no confirmation that she is actually a doctor. This career path never came up during her trial. However, various other jobs were mentioned.
For one, a pastor at Lorincz’s church, Shannon Lynn Harris, revealed that “Susan worked in the insurance industry,” which is why she helped members of the church with insurance issues, per Entertainment Weekly.
A friend of the defendant’s named Crystal Maksou claimed that Lorincz “was always working at different places,” and noted that she’d recently “had some licensing [work],” which allowed her to work from home. It was confirmed during the trial that Lorincz previously worked as an EMT, per testimony from Lorincz’s younger sister, Ellyn, and a forensic psychologist, Dr. Yenys Castillo. Castillo said that Lorincz, who was in her late 50s at the time, had the EMT job “around age 20,” though.
Additionally, Castillo referenced other alleged past jobs of Lorincz’s, including one where she “worked near an airport,” and another where she was “working in the kitchen as a chef” of a rehabilitation center.
Where is Susan Lorincz now?
Lorincz is serving her prison sentence at Homestead Correctional Institution in South Florida, with a release date set for April 8, 2048, according to WCJB. She received her 25-year sentence for manslaughter, although she was initially charged with “manslaughter with a firearm, culpable negligence, battery, and two counts of assault.”
The shooting took place after Owens and her son knocked on Lorincz’s door following the altercation between Lorincz and Owens’ kids. Lorincz claimed she “feared for [her] life” when her neighbor approached her home, leading her to retrieve her gun and shoot Owens through the door.
However, according to ABC News, a judge deemed the shooting “completely unnecessary,” adding, “In this case, Ms. Lorincz was behind the door. The door was locked. She had already called law enforcement. They were en route. She knew they were en route. She was in a relatively safe position. For some reason, she went into her room and found a gun. She could have stayed in the room and put another locked door between her and Ms. Owens, but she came back out, put herself in front of the door, and at the time she fired the gun through the door, she was safe.”
The Perfect Neighbor, Streaming Now, Netflix
Where to Stream
Conversation16 Comments
Please read the TV Insider Community Guidelines.
Register or sign in to join the conversation.
-
G
The police should have arrested Lorincz for wasting their time.
-
N
Both sides could argue it was “so and so’s fault” due to a cyclical and antagonistic pattern, but ultimately, the kids were just being kids. As one police officer noted, it’s better for them to play outside together than to get involved in drugs, alcohol, or burglary. I personally believe it’s better for them to be outside playing than inside on their phones or playing video games.
Conversely, a woman shot at people through her locked door without knowing who was on the other side, resulting in the murder of a loving mother. While I support the Second Amendment, I don’t believe it’s ever acceptable to shoot at an unknown target through a locked door. Options like moving to another room, calling 911, or making a barricade are available to create more space between yourself and the perceived threat. Shooting should be a last resort, not a first.
I find it hard to understand why people believe the neighbor was justified in shooting the mother. I usually try to see things from all perspectives to understand the passion behind different stances. If the mother had broken down the door, I might be more understanding. However, the sturdy barrier blocking the view of the perceived threat is why I can’t support the claim of “self-defense.”
-
G
Both parties were wrong and had nasty attitudes. As a parent, I would have had my children far away from that kind of anger but it seemed the parents thought their rights were more important. Saying that, It wasnt necessary to fire the weapon. Be aware if you are irate and cause someone fear you may pay with your life.
-
R
I would at first talked to that girl and tried to work things out. If that didn't work, I would have gotten a restraining order.
-
P
Will the neighbours allow their kids to antagonise anyone ever again though?
No! Lesson learned the hard way.
-
G
sybau
-
C
wow, you ok?
-
P
Seriously??? She was the neighborhood bully who lied to cops repeatedly about kids playing outside. She lives in Florida, where over 55 neighborhoods with no kids are everywhere. And even if the kids were at fault, shooting their mother is excessive and my guess is all the kids in that neighborhood learned the sad lesson that you never know which crazy white ladies are willing to kill you!
-
R
The bully was AJ and Susan finally snapped. I can't understand why Susan didn't get a restraining order.
-
O
wow, get therapy
-
G
Because there was no proof that would justify a restraining order. This is a woman who took pictures and recorded kids, called the cops on them repeatedly...
It doesn't take a deep thinker to deduct that she'd have called cops on AJ, recorded AJ if she had one shred of evidence of your claim.
-
-
-
B
who hurt you as a child
-
G
I agree with Tea1000.. Like come on people its a horrible situation like for sure it had me in real tears like if it was my sister I lost. However you cant believe that those children didn't purposely do things to that woman. In return she purposely did things to them. The whole taking the tablet was because she knew the mother would come over the child left the table because they knew they would get reaction from lady but come on we as PARENTS have to take responsibility and make our children be respectful.
-
O
The kids were just playing in yards and an open field that didn't belong to the murderer. They are kids - they have fun, they shout, they ride bikes and play games. These are not crimes in the minds of healthy human beings.
-
O
Wow 😮
-
R
If the laughter of kids is antagonistic...your soul is already lost. Furthermore, the antagonist was the loud, lying, manipulative, visually unpleasant yt woman. And she will spend the next 2 decades learning the hard way as well.
-
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services