Two years after her daughter was killed by Susan Lorincz, the mother of Ajike Owens won’t stop making sure people know about her story. The death of Ajike “AJ” Owens is currently being told once again, as people watch new Netflix film, The Perfect Neighbor.
But Netflix isn’t the only thing AJ’s mother, Pamela Dias, has done since her daughter’s death to make sure she is never forgotten. She continues to raise the four children who were left without a mother, and is still fundraising in her honour.
The mother and daughter lived in separate cities but maintained an “extremely close” bond. In 2023, Ajike Owens was shot and killed by a single bullet that Lorincz had fired, through her closed and bolted front door. Susan Lorincz was later found guilty of manslaughter, and is currently serving 25 years in prison.
“No sentence or verdict can ever bring full peace or accountability for what was taken from our family,” Ajike’s mother told CNN. “Our focus remains on honouring Ajike’s legacy through justice, healing and community care.”
Here’s a full update on Pamela Dias, the mother of Ajike Owens, and what her life is like now.
via Netflix
Pamela Dias played a huge part in The Perfect Neighbor
The Perfect Neighbor was only possible to make because of the mother of Ajike Owens, Pamela Dias. She supported the film from its earliest stages to honour her daughter’s life and turn grief into purpose. Pamela bravely consented to bodycam footage of what happened being used, which meant the film was able to be created. She was then present throughout much of production.
“I feel my call to duty, I’m carrying on her spirit,” she told Tudum. “Through the film and the Standing in the Gap Fund [a family-led effort that responds to race-based violence by easing financial burdens and supporting community-rooted healing], I believe we raised the awareness about the need for greater understanding, for empathy and community precision as a vehicle to ultimately and hopefully prevent similar incidents from happening. It’s advocating for more compassion in the world, something that we really need in these dark times.”
She spoke more about how important the film has been. In a further interview, Pamela said the Netflix film is “more than just our pain and our tragedy and our suffering, and it’s more than my daughter being murdered. It’s a message about racism, bias, how guns in the wrong hands can turn deadly, weaponising laws like Stand Your Ground. So I realised that I had a responsibility to share my daughter’s story if I ever expected true change.”
Ajike Owens’ mum then responded to the Netflix film
via Netflix
The creator of the show, who also had a personal connection to Ajike, shared just how Pamela responded when being shown the film for the first time.
Geeta Gandbhir told Tudum: “I showed Pam the film when it was completed and I said, ‘Is this what you want?’. She said, ‘Yes, the world needs to know what happened to my baby’.”
“This film is gut-wrenching, but as painful as it was to watch, Geeta was magical in her storytelling. She peeled back every single layer of our story with precision. It was a masterpiece,” Pamela told Tudum.
She’s been raising money in her daughter’s name
After her daughter’s death, Pamela Dias has not stopped fundraising. In 2024, the Standing in the Gap Fund was created, in honour of Ajike Owens. According to its website, the fund was founded “to support families like AJ’s who are suffering from loss and unsure of how to navigate the aftermath.”
It was set up by Ajike’s mother and Takema Robinson, a friend who helped create The Perfect Neighbor. The fundraising goal currently stands at $3.5million by 2030.
Pamela also set up a GoFundMe, that was initially set up to cover AJ’s funeral and memorial expenses. Since then, its purpose has changed to fund AJ’s kids’ education, living expenses, and rent. It has currently raised nearly $500k.
Pamela Dias has also filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Susan Lorincz, seeking damages for the children
As well as the criminal trial against Susan Lorincz, there is also a lawsuit. In July 2025, more than two years after Owens died, her family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Lorincz.
The lawsuit was filed by Pamela Dias, on behalf of Owens’ children. Any money the lawsuit may get, would go directly to Owens’ children.
At least $50k in damages are being sought due to “past and future mental pain and suffering” caused to Owens’ children, expenses of medical care and funeral costs arising from the death, and loss of inheritable estate.
Pamela has spoken out about her life today
via M Stan Reaves/Shutterstock
Pamela has since given further interviews about what her life is like today. Of course, her pain will never be over. “The pain has not subsided,” she told USA TODAY. “I miss my daughter tremendously.” She added: “I miss hearing her voice.”
After the sentencing of Susan Lorincz, Pamela told CNN: “Now, we truly can forge ahead on the journey of true healing that we so often speak about.” Lorincz was sentenced to 25 years, and is currently serving her time.
She continues to raise Ajike Owens’ children
via Netflix
The shooting left four young children without a mother, and they are now raised by their grandmother. “Seeing the pain in their eyes, it’s never ending,” Pamela Dias told USA TODAY. She added they are “still very much in pain, but they’re very resilient.”
The Perfect Neighbor is available on Netflix now. For all the latest Netflix news and drops, like The Holy Church of Netflix on Facebook.
