Twenty Years of Silence: Susan Perkins

August 31, 2024

It has been twenty years since a masked man barged into the salon in Altamonte Springs, FL where Susan Perkins was helping a friend tint windows. The unknown man, armed with a gun, forced Perkins and her friend into Perkins’ vehicle, a red Ford Focus. They were then forced to drive to a bank ATM (Washington Mutual at the time) at 500 E Altamonte Drive.

Perkins withdrew money from a drive through ATM. After handing over the cash, Perkins and her friend were ordered out of the vehicle and into the trunk. In a desperate bid for survival, the women managed to open the trunk using the emergency release handle (a feature likely inspired by another tragic Florida case, Philip Chandler). They attempted a daring escape, but in the process, Susan tragically struck her head on the asphalt. The injuries she sustained proved fatal.

According to the Altamonte Springs Police Department, “the suspect is described as a Black male of medium build. He wore a mask and a long-sleeved military-style jacket, and was noted to possibly have smelled of motor oil”.

On the 17th anniversary, Fox 35 highlighted the case on Central Florida’s True Crime Files.  In the interview, the pain and unresolved grief of Susan’s family is heartbreakingly clear. They deserve resolution and justice. If you have any information, please call (407) 571-8270 or contact Central Florida Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS (8477).

Sip and Sleuth!