Susan Erica Avalon Arrested; – A woman from Florida is charged with the fatal shootings of two of her former husbands on the same day last week, according to officials.
Susan Erica Avalon was taken into custody on December 18, facing a second-degree homicide charge in connection with one of the deaths, as reported by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities indicated that additional charges are anticipated in this case as well as in another homicide investigation.
It remains uncertain whether she has secured legal counsel.
Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells stated that deputies were alerted to a shooting incident at a residence around 3 p.m. on Wednesday, December 17. Upon arrival, they found a 54-year-old man who had sustained two gunshot wounds. He was immediately transported to a nearby hospital, where he subsequently succumbed to his injuries.
Before his death, the man informed investigators that the shooter was “possibly my ex-wife.” He also mentioned that he was shot as he opened his front door.
Sheriff Wells noted that the man’s 15-year-old daughter was present during the shooting and heard the gunfire. The daughter, identified by officials as Avalon’s child, looked out the window and observed an individual wearing a gray sweatshirt and a mask entering a silver vehicle and departing.
Investigators managed to trace the vehicle and arrived at Avalon’s residence the following day. Outside her home, deputies witnessed Avalon cleaning the interior of her car with bleach and other cleaning supplies, according to Wells.
Wells reported that investigators approached Avalon and expressed their desire to discuss her ex-husband with her.
“Which one?” she responded, as per Wells.
Shortly thereafter, investigators discovered that Avalon had a second ex-husband residing in the Tampa area. Sheriff’s deputies reached out to the Tampa Police Department, which quickly dispatched officers to the man’s residence in Hillsborough County. Upon entering, they found him shot dead.
Wells stated that investigators suspect she left her residence in Citrus County, traveled to Hillsborough County, murdered her second ex-husband, and then proceeded to Manatee County where her first ex-husband was shot.
Officials did not reveal a motive but said Avalon owed thousands of dollars in child support to her 54-year-old ex-husband. The two divorced over a decade ago, Well added.
Manatee County and the Tampa Police Department are working together on the two separate homicide investigations, Wells said. While second-degree homicide charges were filed, Wells said he expects prosecutors to convene a grand jury and seek a first-degree murder charge, which would carry a possible death penalty.
“We believe this was premeditated,” he said. “She knew what she was doing. She came here to kill her ex-husband.”
