A 48-year-old American woman is facing serious murder charges after police accused her of fatally shooting both of her ex-husbands in separate incidents on the same day, in what authorities describe as a brazen and premeditated crime spree.
A Day of Violence Across Two Counties
According to Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells, Susan Avalon was arrested on Wednesday, December 17. The shocking events unfolded when Avalon allegedly traveled more than 50 miles, first to Tampa and then to Manatee County, to carry out the deadly attacks on her former spouses.
Investigators believe the killings were sparked by bitter custody battles Avalon was embroiled in with both men. Sheriff Wells did not mince words, stating at a press conference on Thursday, December 18, "It doesn't get anymore brazen than this. We believe this was premeditated. She knew what she was doing, it was planned and she came here to kill her ex-husband."
Chilling Details of the Attacks Emerge
The grim sequence began in Manatee County around 2:55 p.m. Police say Avalon targeted her first husband, a 54-year-old man she had divorced approximately 11 years prior. In a calculated move, she allegedly lured him to open his front door by using stolen food from a Panera Bread restaurant.
Surveillance footage reportedly shows Avalon entering the eatery and taking food from a delivery pickup shelf without paying before proceeding to her ex-husband's home. Once the door was opened, she shot him twice. The victim was rushed to a hospital but later died from his injuries.
Avalon's live-in boyfriend told police she had recently tracked down this ex-husband's address. The former couple reportedly had ongoing custody disputes and issues concerning about $4,000 in unpaid child support. Avalon herself was facing a deadline to pay $200 or risk losing her driver's license.
A Second Victim and a Chilling Response
After the first shooting, investigators tracked Avalon's silver Honda Odyssey back to her home in Citrus County. There, they found her scrubbing the minivan with bleach and rags. When questioned by police about her ex-husband, she gave a chilling reply: "Which one?"
This response led detectives to discover a second ex-husband living in Tampa, about whom they previously knew nothing. Sheriff Wells explained, "We start to dig into this second ex-husband... and we find she was married again after the marriage to our victim, and that this ex-husband lives in Tampa."
Authorities in Tampa were alerted and conducted a welfare check at the second husband's home on Frierson Avenue. Tragically, they found him dead inside from multiple gunshot wounds. Evidence suggested forced entry, as the back door was damaged. Officials believe Avalon killed the Tampa victim first, before driving to Manatee County. The second victim's name and age have not been publicly released.
Legal Repercussions and Past History
Susan Avalon, who reportedly has five children between the two slain men, was charged with second-degree homicide in Manatee County. Sheriff Wells stated he is working with prosecutors to upgrade the charge to first-degree murder and seek the death penalty.
Avalon has a prior arrest record, including child abuse charges in Virginia in 2004. She also faced two other child abuse cases in Tampa and Pasco County, which were later dropped. As of now, she has not been formally charged in the Tampa shooting as that investigation continues.
Susan Avalon is currently being held at the Citrus County Detention Facility in Lecanto, awaiting further legal proceedings.
