A Florida woman is facing serious criminal allegations after authorities say she fatally shot two of her former husbands within hours of each other in separate counties.
According to NBC News, 51-year-old Susan Erica Avalon was arrested and charged with second-degree homicide in Manatee County. Investigators believe the same woman may also be responsible for a second killing in Tampa involving another ex-husband earlier that day.
The case first came to light when deputies with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a home in the Heritage Harbor neighborhood. Sheriff Rick Wells said officers found a 54-year-old man suffering from two gunshot wounds, including one to the abdomen.
“The victim at the time is still alert and is speaking to us,” Wells said during a press conference. When deputies asked who may have shot him, the man reportedly answered, “Possibly my ex-wife.”
The man’s 15-year-old daughter, who is also Avalon's child, was inside the home at the time. Authorities said she heard gunfire and later saw a masked person in a gray sweatshirt leaving the scene in a silver Honda Odyssey.
Wells emphasized the emotional impact on the teen, telling reporters, “I want you to understand how traumatized she is.”
The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital but later died from his injuries. Investigators believe Avalon may have gained access to the home by posing as a food delivery worker.
Court records show the former couple had been divorced for nearly ten years and had ongoing disputes related to custody and child support.
Later that day, deputies tracked Avalon to her Citrus County residence, where Wells said she was seen cleaning the same silver minivan with bleach. When investigators told her they were there to discuss her ex-husband, Avalon allegedly responded, “Which one?”
That comment prompted investigators to request a welfare check on her other former spouse, who lived in Tampa. Tampa police later confirmed the man was found shot to death inside his home.
In a statement, the department said the killing appears connected to the Manatee County investigation and that “it’s believed the shooter and victim are known to one another.”
Authorities now believe the Tampa shooting occurred first, followed by the Manatee County killing. Avalon was taken into custody on an out-of-county warrant and remains jailed as investigators continue searching for the weapon and additional evidence tied to the case.