A Florida woman has been arrested after she allegedly shot her two ex-husbands to death on Wednesday.
Manatee County deputies arrested Susan Avalon after they were called to a home in Bradenton and found a 54-year-old man suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to a hospital, where he later died, but told investigators before he died that someone knocked on his door and shot him when he answered — and it may have been his ex-wife.
The victim’s 15-year-old daughter — and Avalon’s biological child — was at home at the time. She didn’t see the shooting, athough she heard the gunshots and saw a silver Honda Odyssey driving away.
Detectives learned that the shooter had stolen food from Panera Bread and took it to the Bradenton home, opening fire immediately when the victim opened the door.
“It doesn’t get any more brazen than this,” Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells said. “This is a very active neighborhood. It’s 3 o’clock in the afternoon on Wednesday. Kids are coming home from school. A lot of activity as you can imagine. She didn’t seem to care.”
Wells said that Avalon and the victim had been divorced for 11 years and she owed him several thousand dollars in child support. She also drives a silver Honda Odyssey. Wells said deputies went to the Panera Bread nearby and saw Avalon take food and leave.
Investigators got her license tag and tracked her traveling over the Sunshine Skyway and into Citrus County. When they arrived at her home, Wells said, they saw her come out with bleach and rags and begin to wipe down her van. They approached and told her they were there to speak to her about her ex-husband — and she asked “which one?”
“We only know of one,” Wells said. “She starts to make comments that he’s a child abuser. He’s a molester. Just talking about all these problems she’s had with this ex-husband. She thinks we’re there from Hillsborough County. She thinks my detectives are Hillsborough County detectives. Detectives are trying to figure out exactly what she’s talking about.”
Wells said they contacted the Tampa Police Department and sent them to the other ex-husband’s home. He didn’t answer the door, but deputies there entered when they found damage to the rear door. They found the man, who Avalon married after the Manatee County victim, shot to death inside.
“She’s got beef with both these ex-husbands,” Wells said. ” … We don’t know why yesterday was the day she decided to take this action.”
Wells said investigators believe Avalon killed the man in Tampa first and then went to Panera, took the food, and went to the other man’s home.
Manatee County officials have charged her with murder, and Wells said she will also face charges in Tampa.
“We believe she knew what she was doing,” Wells said. “It was planned.”
Wells said Avalon was not speaking with detectives. Tampa Police have not yet announced charges against Avalon.
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[Featured image: Susan Avalon/Citrus County Sheriff’s Office]