BRADENTON, FL - A woman has been charged with second-degree murder after allegedly going to both of her ex-husbands' homes and shooting them dead, according to authorities.
The alleged suspect, 51-year-old Susan Avalon, was arrested after deputies with the Manatee County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) tracked her down at her home in Citrus County, Law & Crime reported.
During a press conference that was held on Thursday, December 18, MCSO Sheriff Rick Wells said that when deputies approached Avalon at her house, they saw her come out of her home with "bleach and cleaning rags," then got inside the silver Honda Odyssey parked in her driveway and began to "wipe down the car."
Wells said that when detectives told the woman they were there to talk about her ex-husband, she responded, "Which one?" MCSO said the investigation began when deputies responded to calls of a shooting at a home in Bradenton on Wednesday afternoon, December 17.
Upon arriving on scene, deputies found a 54-year-old man who had been shot twice, but was still alert and able to talk. Deputies asked him, "Who could have done this to you?" The man reportedly responded, "Possibly my ex-wife."
Wells said that the man's 15-year-old daughter, whom he shared with Avalon, was home at the time of the shooting. While she did not see the alleged shooting, she said she heard three shots fired. After hearing the gunshots, she looked out the window and saw a silver Honda Odyssey driving away.
The 15-year-old, who was "traumatized" from the incident, said she saw the alleged shooter wearing a gray sweatshirt and a surgical mask. The man was taken to the hospital, where he died later that evening from the gunshot wounds.
Once detectives began investigating the scene at the home in Bradenton, they discovered that the suspect had brought a bag of food from Panera Bread to the house. When the man opened his front door, Wells said that the suspect "started to fire immediately."
Investigators visited a Panera Bread location approximately 1.5 miles away and obtained surveillance footage that reportedly shows the alleged suspect entering the restaurant, walking over to the food delivery station where DoorDash and Uber Eats drivers pick up their orders, and taking a bag of food before walking out.
"Doesn't pay for it, it's not hers," Wells said. "She just decides this is gonna be her way to the front door." During their investigation, police found out that the alleged victim was once married to Avalon and that the couple got divorced 11 years ago.
Avalon allegedly owed him "about $4,000" in child support. Police also found out that Avalon drove a silver Honda Odyssey. After Avalon told deputies that she had more than one ex-husband, Wells said she started making comments about her ex-husband being a "molester" and a "child abuser."
It also became evident to deputies that Avalon believed the officers on scene were from Hillsborough County and that she was actually talking about a different ex-husband.
When deputies talked with Avalon's boyfriend, who lived with her, he told them that she said to him on Tuesday, "in case something happens to her, that she loves him, and she just wanted him to know that." He described the interaction as "out of character" for her.
Investigators then looked into Avalon's second ex-husband, who lived in Tampa, in Hillsborough County. Officers from the Tampa Police Department (TPD) responded to the second ex-husband's home and got no response when they tried to make contact. MCSO deputies advised them that Avalon had "beef with both these ex-husbands" and to "search hard."
Tampa police walked around the home and found damage to the back door. After entering the home, they found the second ex-husband dead of gunshot wounds.
Wells said that when detectives spoke to Avalon's boyfriend again, he told them that he saw her come home wearing the same gray sweatshirt seen in the surveillance footage from Panera and that she then went "into the shower with her clothes on."
Avalon was arrested by MCSO and has been charged with second-degree murder. Wells said that they would work with the state attorney to obtain an upgrade to first-degree murder and pursue the death penalty, telling reporters, "She knew what she was doing. It was planned."
Avalon may also face charges in Hillsborough County. She is currently being held in Citrus County.
The alleged suspect, 51-year-old Susan Avalon, was arrested after deputies with the Manatee County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) tracked her down at her home in Citrus County, Law & Crime reported.
During a press conference that was held on Thursday, December 18, MCSO Sheriff Rick Wells said that when deputies approached Avalon at her house, they saw her come out of her home with "bleach and cleaning rags," then got inside the silver Honda Odyssey parked in her driveway and began to "wipe down the car."
Wells said that when detectives told the woman they were there to talk about her ex-husband, she responded, "Which one?" MCSO said the investigation began when deputies responded to calls of a shooting at a home in Bradenton on Wednesday afternoon, December 17.
Upon arriving on scene, deputies found a 54-year-old man who had been shot twice, but was still alert and able to talk. Deputies asked him, "Who could have done this to you?" The man reportedly responded, "Possibly my ex-wife."
Wells said that the man's 15-year-old daughter, whom he shared with Avalon, was home at the time of the shooting. While she did not see the alleged shooting, she said she heard three shots fired. After hearing the gunshots, she looked out the window and saw a silver Honda Odyssey driving away.
The 15-year-old, who was "traumatized" from the incident, said she saw the alleged shooter wearing a gray sweatshirt and a surgical mask. The man was taken to the hospital, where he died later that evening from the gunshot wounds.
Once detectives began investigating the scene at the home in Bradenton, they discovered that the suspect had brought a bag of food from Panera Bread to the house. When the man opened his front door, Wells said that the suspect "started to fire immediately."
Investigators visited a Panera Bread location approximately 1.5 miles away and obtained surveillance footage that reportedly shows the alleged suspect entering the restaurant, walking over to the food delivery station where DoorDash and Uber Eats drivers pick up their orders, and taking a bag of food before walking out.
"Doesn't pay for it, it's not hers," Wells said. "She just decides this is gonna be her way to the front door." During their investigation, police found out that the alleged victim was once married to Avalon and that the couple got divorced 11 years ago.
Avalon allegedly owed him "about $4,000" in child support. Police also found out that Avalon drove a silver Honda Odyssey. After Avalon told deputies that she had more than one ex-husband, Wells said she started making comments about her ex-husband being a "molester" and a "child abuser."
It also became evident to deputies that Avalon believed the officers on scene were from Hillsborough County and that she was actually talking about a different ex-husband.
When deputies talked with Avalon's boyfriend, who lived with her, he told them that she said to him on Tuesday, "in case something happens to her, that she loves him, and she just wanted him to know that." He described the interaction as "out of character" for her.
Investigators then looked into Avalon's second ex-husband, who lived in Tampa, in Hillsborough County. Officers from the Tampa Police Department (TPD) responded to the second ex-husband's home and got no response when they tried to make contact. MCSO deputies advised them that Avalon had "beef with both these ex-husbands" and to "search hard."
Tampa police walked around the home and found damage to the back door. After entering the home, they found the second ex-husband dead of gunshot wounds.
Wells said that when detectives spoke to Avalon's boyfriend again, he told them that he saw her come home wearing the same gray sweatshirt seen in the surveillance footage from Panera and that she then went "into the shower with her clothes on."
Avalon was arrested by MCSO and has been charged with second-degree murder. Wells said that they would work with the state attorney to obtain an upgrade to first-degree murder and pursue the death penalty, telling reporters, "She knew what she was doing. It was planned."
Avalon may also face charges in Hillsborough County. She is currently being held in Citrus County.
For corrections or revisions, click here.
The opinions reflected in this article are not necessarily the opinions of LET
Comments