Homicide Illustrated Across the Ages: Graphic Depictions of Victim and Offender Age, Sex, and Relationship

Abstract

Objective: A total of 34 years of FBI Supplementary Homicide Reports were examined using statistical graphics to illustrate patterns across ages, by sex, and victim/offender relationships (intimate partner [IP], other family, acquaintance, or stranger). Method: An innovative fourfold display and victim/sex-specific scatterplots with overlaid deviation ellipses determine the age/sex patterns for each relationship. Results: We illustrate numerous acquaintance killings among young men and improve our understanding of predictors by sex, relationship, and circumstances in mid/later life. Male victims of strangers are either older with young male offenders or vice versa. Female acquaintance and stranger homicides are rare. Within families, older male parents are killed by adult offspring, but rarely by IP. The majority of elder femicide is perpetrated by IP or other family. Discussion: U.S. murder rates are rising, and we found children from 6 to 12 years were least likely to die by homicide. Elder femicide risk from IP and other kin indicated danger from within the home.

Correlates of Intimate Partner Homicide in the Rural United States: Findings From a National Sample of Rural Counties, 2009–2016

“…In both female subsamples, women aged 50 years and older were more likely to be victims of non-IPH. Allen and colleagues (2018), when examining age patterns among homicide offenders and victims, found that among women killed by family members, victims were more often older women killed by younger family members, mostly by their children, than of other age cohorts. Older women were additionally more likely to be killed by a stranger than younger women (Allen et al, 2018).…”

“…Allen and colleagues (2018), when examining age patterns among homicide offenders and victims, found that among women killed by family members, victims were more often older women killed by younger family members, mostly by their children, than of other age cohorts. Older women were additionally more likely to be killed by a stranger than younger women (Allen et al, 2018). A study of homicides in Kentucky between 2002 and 2004 similarly found that women above 65 years were more likely to be killed by someone other than an intimate partner, primarily familial members and strangers, than younger women.…”

“…Female victims of IPH are more likely to be killed by a male perpetrator than female victims of non-IPH (Petrosky et al, 2017). Although male perpetrators more often murder acquaintances or family members, they also commit the majority of IPH (Allen et al, 2018; Fox & Fridel, 2017). However, when a female perpetrates a homicide, they are more likely to kill a family member or male intimate partner, whereas the majority of male perpetrators kill an acquaintance or stranger (Fridel & Fox, 2019; Liles & Moak, 2018).…”

“…In childhood and adolescence, boys and girls are victims of homicide committed by a family member or intimate partner at roughly the same rate, but in adulthood, women are more likely to be victims of IPH or familial homicide than men (Fridel & Fox, 2019). The majority of IPH perpetrators kill partners of the same age cohort (Allen et al, 2018; Fridel & Fox, 2019), and middle-aged and older adults (30s and older) are more likely to be victims of IPH than victims in early adulthood (20s) (Allen et al, 2018; Garcia et al, 2007). Women compose the majority of homicide victims in older age, a trend that is driven by IPH (Allen et al, 2018), and older men are more likely to perpetrate IPH than older women (Szalewski et al, 2019).…”

“…The majority of IPH perpetrators kill partners of the same age cohort (Allen et al, 2018; Fridel & Fox, 2019), and middle-aged and older adults (30s and older) are more likely to be victims of IPH than victims in early adulthood (20s) (Allen et al, 2018; Garcia et al, 2007). Women compose the majority of homicide victims in older age, a trend that is driven by IPH (Allen et al, 2018), and older men are more likely to perpetrate IPH than older women (Szalewski et al, 2019). In summation, based on our current knowledge of sociodemographic correlates of IPH, victims of IPH are more likely female, of the same race as their perpetrator, and older than victims of non-IPH.…”