Murder–Suicides Perpetrated by Adolescents: Findings from the National Violent Death Reporting System

Abstract

Objective Murder‐suicide is a rare and especially tragic form of violence. Nascent literature has characterized murder‐suicide perpetrated by adults, but no study has focused on adolescents who perpetrated murder‐suicide. Method This study evaluated all cases of murder‐suicide perpetrated by persons under age 21 who were included in the National Violent Death Reporting System, and categorized each incident using Joiner’s perversion of virtue framework of murder‐suicide. Results Forty‐seven incidents of murder‐suicide perpetrated by adolescents were identified, representing 56 victims. Most cases did not have sufficient information to be categorized within a particular perversion of virtue. Among the 20 cases who did have sufficient detail to be categorized, incidents were identified as perversions of self‐control (n = 11), justice (n = 8), and mercy (n = 1). Most perpetrators were male, and the majority of victims were female. Additional victim, perpetrator, and incident characteristics are described. Conclusions Our findings extend previous work by employing a coding system based on a theoretically derived framework for categorizing “genuine” murder‐suicide and related behavior among adolescents. This study also characterized the nature of this complex and tragic sequence of behavior among adolescents, who are at elevated risk of suicide, and who may benefit from prevention efforts that effectively address means safety, suicidality, and intimate partner violence.

Incomplete homicide-suicide in Hunan China from 2010 to 2019: characteristics of surviving perpetrators

“…Furthermore, situational factors, including recent relationship problems, job or financial problems and physical health problems, were also associated with the incomplete H-S. This is consistent with previous studies which tried to elucidate the circumstances under which the events occurs [ 6 , 45 ]. A study showed that H-S typically occurs when noxious stimuli were present, such as financial or family problems [ 34 ].…”

“…Studies on this topic have been carried out in many regions of the world, such as Australia [ 2 ], Oklahoma [ 3 ] and England and Wales [ 4 , 5 ]. But most studies were performed in the United States [ 1 , 6 ], where the incidence rate was reported to be ranged from 0.05 [ 5 , 7 ] to 0.3 per 100,000 persons annually [ 8 , 9 ]. Although a slightly higher rates (0.89 per 100,000) was fond in the South African [ 10 ], its incidence is still quite low.…”

“…Data of H-S, especially about mental disorder, are often retrieved unsystematically due to problems in information acquisition. Most information in the existing literature come from the homicide or suicide death system, such as National Violent Death Reporting System in United States [ 1 , 6 ], Office for National Statistics in England and Wales [ 4 ], and Hong Kong Police Criminal Records Bureau [ 22 ]; part of the data even came from the news [ 27 ]. Descriptive characteristics of the perpetrators have been well established by existing literature, but little is known about the mental health factors related to these incidents.…”

Typology of murder-suicides in Berlin according to a longitudinal study based on autopsy files

“…Another categorization of motives was discussed by Joiner [ 2 ] and Adhia et al [ 9 ]. The theory of a “perversion of virtue” involves the misapplication of virtues such as mercy, justice, duty and glory.…”

Addressing Adolescent Relationship Abuse in the Context of Reproductive Health Care

“…56 Finally, ARA also contributes to adolescent homicide rates, particularly for females. 16 57 58 59 Among 2,188 U.S. adolescent homicides, 7% of homicides among those age 11–18 years and 15% among those 19–24 years were committed by an intimate partner. 57…”