Familicide

Familicide is a type of murder in which a perpetrator kills multiple close family members in quick succession, most commonly children relative to the perpetrator. Other family members, for example, the spouse or partner, may also be killed. Familicide is most often used to refer to multiple victims of a murderer who are family members, and is sometimes used synonymously with domestic homicide. The term "familicide" is derived from the Latin words familia meaning family, and -cide meaning to cut down or kill.

Characteristics

Familicides are often premeditated and involve planning. They are often committed in the home of the victims. The majority of familicides occur in the context of a marital breakdown or a financial crisis. The typical familicide case involves a depressed, neurotic, middle-aged man from a middle-income background who kills his wife and children following a protracted period of domestic tension.

Types

There are two main types of familicide: annihilators and self-righteous killers. Annihilators attempt to destroy their family and take their own life. Self-righteous killers place blame on the mother while still viewing themselves as a protector of the family.

Incidence

Familicide is a relatively rare event. It is estimated that familicides occur at a rate of 1 per 100,000 population per year. The majority of familicides occur in the United States, but they also occur in many other countries.

See also

• List of familicides
• Mass murder
• Spree killer
• Murder–suicide

References

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