Parricide: An Analysis of Offender Characteristics and Crime Scene Behaviorsof Adult and Juvenile Offenders

Abstract

Researchers of parricide have often concentrated on the characteristics of the offenders. However, research which has empirically documented the link between offender's characteristics and crime scene evidence is scant. Therefore, the aim of this study is to attempt not only to explore the crime scene behaviors evident in parricide offenses, but also to determine whether there are any differences between juvenile and adult offenders in both personal and crime scene characteristics. Twenty-four cases of parricide offenses, obtained from the FBI Behavioral Science Unit case files, were analyzed using frequency and chi-square. The results revealed, contrary to literature, that mental illness and abuse were not significantly different for both groups. Regarding crime scene variables, differences between the two groups were found on a number of victims and movement of the victim's body after death. Other interesting findings include initial approach to victim and overkill. These findings provide investigative and research implications, and provides a new direction in parricide research.