Focus on children murdered by parents in Italy: A sad reality

Pietro Ferrara ,Massimo Pettoello-Mantovani ,Francesco Cavaleri ,Maria Pia Amato ,Roberta Au-Tuori ,Va Leria Sannicandro ,Annamaria Sbordone ,Ida Giardino ,Francesca Ianniello ,Antonio Chiaretti ,Antonio Ruggiero ,Alberto Verrotti

doi:10.22514/sv141.052018.8

Abstract

With a documented history of over a cen-tury, it is noted that child murders, perpe-trated by their own parents, are an inter-esting and dramatic phenomenon in the Italian territory. There are three forms of child homicides: neonaticide, infanticide and filicide.Thanks to several legal reports and studies, it is possible to draw the profile of the typi-cal murderer: usually a young, Northern Italian woman, unemployed, in a conflict-ing relationship and suffering from psy-chiatric disorders. In most cases, the crime takes place at home. No particular method for committing the murder is preferred, but the death of the child can be due to dif-ferent causes.Precautionary measures should be taken: parents should never be left alone facing health or psychiat-ric problems, families should be helped and supported during difficult times, women should be well-in-formed and aware of their rights.

Highlights

The murder of children by their parents can be divided into three forms: neonaticide, infanticide and filicide
When the filicide is caused by women capable of understanding and taking action, the motives are: life stressor events, pietas, the mother's immaturity, the fact that the child is hyperac-tive, the fact that the child is perceived as the result of a sinful act, Medea syndrome, personality dis-orders, the fact that the child is unwanted, depression in a narcis-sistic subject, and behavioral disorders due to alcohol and drug abuse. [30,31,32,33,34] If pathological causes with partial or total impairment to understand and take action are present, the motives are: postpartum psychosis, hysteric fundus, major depression, schizophrenia, twilight state, psychotic disorder due to a general medical condition, epilepsy, oligophfrenia, plaque sclerosis, and multiple personality. [30]
Even though filicide occurs in different scenarios, for different reasons, both by the mother and by the father, a profile of the perpetrator of the infanticide can be traced

Summary

Introduction

INTRODUCTION The murder of children by their parents can be divided into three forms: neonaticide, infanticide and filicide. Filicide occurs when the victim is over one year of age. THE SITUATION IN ITALY OVER THE LAST CENTURIES From 1880 to 1883, 30 cases of child murder occurred annually, in Italy.

Results

Conclusion