Mum, 48, ‘shot dead both of her ex-husbands on same day’ in wild custody dispute

Susan Avalon is currently being held in a detention facility in Lecanto, Florida (Image: Manatee County Sheriff's Office)

A mother has been accused of killing her two ex-husbands just hours apart. Susan Avalon, 48, from Florida, allegedly killed her former partners on Wednesday in two shootings in broad daylight.

Investigators believe one of the attacks could be linked to ongoing disputes, including issues concerning custody and child support. Authorities believe Avalon shot her second ex-husband in Tampa on Wednesday and then travelled more than 50 miles to Manatee County to gun down her first ex-husband later that day. Detectives said Avalon used a stolen food delivery to get her first ex-husband to open the door of his home, before firing three shots and hitting the man once in the abdomen. 

Manatee County police car (Image: FOX 13 Tampa Bay)

The 54-year-old was taken to hospital but later died of his injuries in hospital following the attack described by Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells as “brazen” and “premeditated”.

Sheriff Wells said investigators were able to speak to the man before he died. 

He said: "Deputies asked him this, 'Who could have done this to you?' And he says, 'Possibly my ex-wife.”

Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells said the attack on the 54-year-old was ‘brazen’ and ‘premeditated’ (Image: -)

Court records show Avalon and the 54-year-old man had been divorced for almost 10 years and had been dealing with issues of child custody and child support disputes, per NBC News.

The victim’s 15-year-old daughter was inside the home when he was shot at around 2.55pm local time. 

Sheriff Wells said while she did not see the shooting, she heard gunfire and told detectives she saw a silver Honda Odyssey "driven by a masked person wearing a gray sweatshirt" leaving the area. 

According to the Bradenton Herald, detectives learned Avalon owned a silver Odyssey and tracked her vehicle travelling back towards her home in Citrus County.

Sheriff Wells said that when officers arrived at Avalon’s address, they saw her attempting to destroy evidence. 

“She comes out of the house for bleach and cleaning rags,” he said. 

“Gets into the silver Odyssey and begins to wipe down the car.”

Sheriff Wells said police told Avalon they were there to speak to her about her ex-husband, to which she responded: “Which one?”

Tampa Police Department were then sent to the address of the other ex-husband where he was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds. 

The force said on Thursday said it believed the incident was related to "an ongoing homicide investigation being conducted by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office".

"Investigators are working to determine a motive, but it’s believed the shooter and victim are known to one another.” 

Avalon has not yet been charged over the shooting but Tampa Police said detectives are working with the State Attorney’s Office to determine "what charges, if any, are applicable in the case”.

The alleged killer is reportedly currently being held at Citrus County Detention Facility in Lecanto.

She has been charged with second-degree murder of the 54-year-old man in Bradenton, who has not been named.

Sheriff Wells said he is working with prosecutors to have the charge upgraded to first-degree murder and the death penalty, according to reports.