Innocence Lost: A Gender-Based Study of Parricide Offender, Victim, and Incident Characteristics in a National Sample, 1976-2003

• NCJ Number: 224026
• Journal: Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma Volume: 16 Issue: 2 Dated: 2008 Pages: 202-227
• Author(s): Jeffrey A. Walsh; Jessie L. Krienert; Danielle Crowder
• Date Published: 2008
• Length: 26 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Drawing on Supplementary Homicide Reports (SHR) from 1976 to 2003, this study examined a large national sample of 2,599 reported parricide incidents (the murder of a parent) that involved an offender 21 years old or younger.

Abstract

Contrary to public perceptions, parricide incidents significantly decreased over the 27 years of the study period, peaking in 1978 with 150 solo victim-offender parricides and decreasing to a low of approximately 50 offenses in 2002. The findings of this study confirm virtually all of the existing literature in showing that an overwhelming majority (nearly 90 percent) of parricide offenders are boys; however, there has been a significant decreasing trend in male involvement in parricide. In contrast, female involvement has remained relatively stable over time. Male offenders tended to be older, with slightly greater representation in the 18-21 age category. Boys and girls both peaked in the mid-adolescent age category when committing patricide. The majority of offenders and victims were White. Regarding victim characteristics, biological parents were significantly more likely to be victims than stepparents. Girls killed their biological mothers and stepfathers more often than boys. The mean age of both biological mothers and fathers who were victims was 46 years old, and the mean age of stepfathers and stepmothers was 42 years old. Firearms were the most frequently used weapon in parricide regardless of the gender of the victim or offender; however, girls, especially in the killing of their fathers, were more likely to use knives. SHR data, which were used in this study, consist of homicides reported to the FBI on a monthly basis, along with associated incident-level data, including date of the offense; agency reporting; population; county and metropolitan statistical area; age, race, and gender of the victims and offenders; victim-offender relationship; weapons used; and several event circumstances. 6 tables, 3 figures, and 45 references