Infant Homicide Research Articles

Perpetrator characteristics and firearm use in pediatric homicides: Supplementary Homicide Reports - United States, 1976 to 2020

BackgroundDescribe trends in perpetrator characteristics and firearm use in pediatric homicides across the United States.MethodsMultiply-imputed data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s 1976–2020 Supplementary Homicide Reports were used to estimate perpetrator characteristics (sex, age, and relationship to victim) and firearm use in pediatric homicides. Descriptive analyses were stratified by victim age group, sex, race, and five-year time periods.ResultsFamily members were the most common perpetrator of infant and toddler (ages 0–4) and child (ages 5–12) homicides, whereas acquaintances accounted for the majority of adolescent (ages 13–19) homicides. Perpetrator characteristics vary across victim sex and race, particularly among adolescents. Despite overall stability, there were changes in perpetrator characteristics from 1976 to 2020. There was a sustained increase in the proportion of homicides committed with a firearm. In 2016–2020, the proportion of firearm-involved homicides was an all-time high for infant and toddler (14.8%), child (53.1%), and adolescent victims (88.5%).ConclusionsPolicy interventions that improve family stability and well-being may be most effective at preventing infant, toddler, and child homicides, whereas programs that target peer and community relationships, as well as policies that focus on firearm access, may be more crucial for preventing adolescent homicides.

Bad parents? evaluating judgements of infant homicides

While the killing of one’s own infant is an undoubtedly harrowing crime, there exists little research exploring attitudes toward these individuals. Such work has focused primarily on depictions of mothers, yet U.K. government data indicate that the majority of infant homicide cases involve paternal suspects. A sample of U.K. residents (n = 245) participated in a mixed-methods design to explore attitudes toward mothers and fathers who have been accused of murdering their infant child and whether parental mental health issues impacted these judgements. Results aligned with the chivalry hypothesis wherein maternal suspects were evaluated more leniently. Qualitative analyses uncovered hidden gender expectations: mothers were ascribed blame when the father was accused of infant homicide, a finding that was not present in the reverse scenario. This suggests that traditional views of motherhood conflict with a shifting social landscape that is seeing an increase in stay-at-home fathers and working mothers.

Racial and incident discrepancies in news media reporting of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID)

BackgroundRegardless of injury prevention and outreach efforts, there continue to be low rates of adherence with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) safe sleep recommendations. Media is an important tool for parental education and may influence risk perception and caregiver choices. Due to media reports potentially serving as an opportunity for shaping social norms, caregiver education and injury prevention, an evaluation was undertaken to evaluate Georgia local news reporting of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) as compared to drownings, homicides, and firearm injuries. Our objective was to evaluate incident and racial discrepancies in Georgia news media reporting of SUID as compared to other pediatric injury deaths.ResultsDespite its high incidence, SUID was far less commonly mentioned in the news media, with only 1.9% (10/525) mentioned as compared to 8.1% of drownings (17/211), 11.4% (74/649) of MVC’s, 14.7% (59/402) of homicides between ages 1–18, 20% (11/55) of fire-related deaths and 25% (15/59) of homicides under age one (infant homicides). Across SUID and homicide, deaths of White infants were reported in the news media at 2.5 times the rate of Black infants.ConclusionDespite SUID being a leading cause of infant death, it is infrequently mentioned in the news media. When mentioned, the news media are more likely to highlight the deaths of White infants as compared to Black infants, though the incidence rate of SUID is higher in Black infants as compared to White.

A 5-Year Retrospective Study on Infant Homicide Presenting as Cot Death: Are We Missing Infant Homicides?

Being found dead in cot or bed is the most common presentation encountered with infant deaths. These deaths are often associated with unsafe sleep environment. The postmortem examination in such cases is often negative, and along with family objections, cultural, and other factors, may lead to a coroner considering not authorizing a postmortem examination. However, not identifying a homicide is a potential risk if a postmortem examination is not performed. This 5-year retrospective study investigated the proportion of infant homicide death initially presenting as cot death. Of a total of 103 cases of infants initially presenting as being found dead in cot or bed, 3 (approximately 3%) were classified as homicides after postmortem examination. During the study period, a total of 9 infant homicides were reported, translating to 33% (3 of 9) of infant homicides presented as cot deaths. Postmortem radiology was a valuable adjunct, but was unable to recognize 2 of the homicide cases with traumatic head injuries (with subdural hemorrhage and brain injury only). We strongly advocate that all infant deaths presenting as cot death require a full postmortem examination.

A Review of the Old Neonaticide Narrative for Georgian Criminal Law Reform

The article critically discusses the special definition of infant homicide by the mother. Unlike traditional Georgian books, this essay analyzes the causes of neonaticide and its historical, cultural and socio-economic contexts, under the influence of which it has taken the form it has today. The traditional argument for the lenient punishment of neonaticide is the direct link between a woman's psychosis and childbirth trauma, which is criti- cized in this article and supports a new understanding of neonaticide and ways to solve it, which is based on the findings of old and new research on neonaticide conducted in various countries (including Georgia). Therefore, the article supports the position that neonaticide (art. 112) should be abolished because it is sexist and consti- tutes an echo of patriarchal consciousness in law. The position is supported in the article, according to which the medicalization of neonaticide is assessed as a "legal concoction". The article focuses on the causes and contexts of neonaticide, which is important for a critical understand- ing of neonaticide and the development of Georgian criminal law in this regard. Thus, the article supports the view that neonaticide is discriminatory based on the gender and age of the child. The mitigation or complete exculpation should be based on an individual analysis of each case. This re- quires the application of the general provisions of diminished responsibility and insanity and the increase in the practice of examining them concerning neonaticide. Taking into account the analysis of the modern Georgian context, the article supports the change of the mentioned norm in parallel with the promotion and strengthening of the practical realization of women's rights by the state.

Infant Homicides Within the Context of Safe Haven Laws - United States, 2008-2017.

Homicide is the 13th leading cause of death among infants (i.e., children aged <1 year) in the United States (1). Infant homicides occurring within the first 24 hours of life (i.e., neonaticide) are primarily perpetrated by the mother, who might be of young age, unmarried, have lower educational attainment, and is most likely associated with concealment of an unintended pregnancy and nonhospital birthing (2). After the first day of life, infant homicides might be associated with other factors (e.g., child abuse and neglect or caregiver frustration) (2). A 2002 study of the age variation in homicide risk in U.S. infants during 1989-1998 found that the overall infant homicide rate was 8.3 per 100,000 person-years, and on the first day of life was 222.2 per 100,000 person-years, a homicide rate at least 10 times greater than that for any other time of life (3). Because of this period of heightened risk, by 2008 all 50 states* and Puerto Rico had enacted Safe Haven Laws. These laws allow a parent† to legally surrender an infant who might otherwise be abandoned or endangered (4). CDC analyzed infant homicides in the United States during 2008-2017 to determine whether rates changed after nationwide implementation of Safe Haven Laws, and to examine the association between infant homicide rates and state-specific Safe Haven age limits. During 2008-2017, the overall infant homicide rate was 7.2 per 100,000 person-years, and on the first day of life was 74.0 per 100,000 person-years, representing a 66.7% decrease from 1989-1998. However, the homicide rate on first day of life was still 5.4 times higher than that for any other time in life. No obvious association was found between infant homicide rates and Safe Haven age limits. States are encouraged to evaluate the effectiveness of their Safe Haven Laws and other prevention strategies to ensure they are achieving the intended benefits of preventing infant homicides. Programs and policies that strengthen economic supports, provide affordable childcare, and enhance and improve skills for young parents might contribute to the prevention of infant homicides.

The Political Economy of Death: Do Coroners Perform as well as Medical Examiners in Determining Suicide?

The determination of death in the United States can have strong financial implications. For example, a declaration of suicide can nullify life insurance benefits. However, the intent of death may be made by an elected official who is not required to have any medical training. Medical examiners and coroners determine cause of death when the death is sudden, violent, or untimely. Consequently, these officials can affect counts of sudden infant death syndrome, homicide, and suicide in a state. This paper uses a difference-in-differences model to estimate the effect of elected coroners versus appointed medical examiners on a state’s suicide rate. Elected coroners need not receive training in 13 states, must receive initial and continuous training in 16 states, and are required to be physicians in 4 states. We exploit state policy changes to the minimum required training elected coroners must complete. Data on the underlying intent of death is collected from the CDC Wonder mortality files from 1968 - 2016. We find strong evidence that states with a centralized medical examiner reports between 11 - 16 percent higher rate of suicides than coroner controlled states. Likewise, coroner states with a state medical examiner report a similar increase in suicide rates of 11 percent.

Policy Brief.

Policy Brief.

On the Weak Mortality Returns of the Prison Boom: Comparing Infant Mortality and Homicide in the Incarceration Ledger.

The justifications for the dramatic expansion of the prison population in recent decades have focused on public safety. Prior research on the efficacy of incarceration offers support for such claims, suggesting that increased incarceration saves lives by reducing the prevalence of homicide. We challenge this view by arguing that the effects of mass incarceration include collateral infant mortality consequences that call into question the number of lives saved through increased imprisonment. Using an instrumental variable estimation on state-level data from 1978 to 2010, this article simultaneously considers the effects of imprisonment on homicide and infant mortality to examine two of the countervailing mortality consequences of mass incarceration. Results suggest that while incarceration saves lives by lowering homicide rates, these gains are largely offset by the increases in infant mortality. Adjusted figures that count the number of increased infant deaths attributable to incarceration suggest that the mortality benefits of imprisonment over the past three decades are 82% lower than previously thought.

Gender Differences in Homicide of Neonates, Infants, and Children under 5 y in South Africa: Results from the Cross-Sectional 2009 National Child Homicide Study.

BackgroundHomicide of children is a global problem. The under-5-y age group is the second largest homicide age group after 15–19 y olds, but has received little research attention. Understanding age and gender patterns is important for assisting with developing prevention interventions. Here we present an age and gender analysis of homicides among children under 5 y in South Africa from a national study that included a focus on neonaticide and infanticide.Methods and FindingsA retrospective national cross-sectional study was conducted using a random sample of 38 medico-legal laboratories operating in 2009 to identify homicides of children under 5 y. Child data were abstracted from the mortuary files and autopsy reports, and both child and perpetrator data data were collected from police interviews. We erred towards applying a conservative definition of homicide and excluded sudden infant death syndrome cases. We estimated that 454 (95% CI 366, 541) children under the age of 5 y were killed in South Africa in 2009. More than half (53.2%; 95% CI 46.7%, 59.5%) were neonates (0–28 d), and 74.4% (95% CI 69.3%, 78.9%) were infants (under 1 y), giving a neonaticide rate of 19.6 per 100,000 live births and an infanticide rate of 28.4 per 100,000 live births. The majority of the neonates died in the early neonatal period (0–6 d), and abandonment accounted for 84.9% (95% CI 81.5%, 87.8%) of all the neonates killed. Distinct age and gender patterns were found, with significantly fewer boy children killed in rural settings compared to urban settings (odds ratio 0.6; 95% CI 0.4, 0.9; p = 0.015). Abuse-related killings and evidence of sexual assault were more common among older girls than in all other age and gender groups. Mothers were identified as the perpetrators in all of the neonaticides and were the most common perpetrators overall (71.0%; 95% CI 63.9%, 77.2%). Abandoned neonates were mainly term babies, with a mean gestational age of 38 wk. We did not have information on abandonment motives for all newborns and did not know if babies were abandoned with the intention that they would die or with the hope that they would be found alive. We therefore considered all abandoned babies as homicides.ConclusionsHomicide of children is an extreme form or consequence of violence against children. This national study provides one of the first analyses of neonaticide and infanticide by age and gender and shows the failure of reproductive and mental health and social services to identify and help vulnerable mothers. Multi-sectoral prevention strategies are needed.

The Reasons for Issuing a Writ at Forensic Document Investigation

To discuss and summarize the major characteristics, autopsy examination, and scene investigation in infant homicide cases. From 2008 to 2013 in Suzhou, the information of seven detected infant homicide cases were collected and analyzed. The criminal suspects were victims' mothers with young ages and pregnancies were premarital. Infant homicide cases occurred at the same location of the delivery. The infants died of mechanical asphyxia in the majority of the cases. Most bodies were naked and their umbilical cords were not cut by iatrogenic method and didn't connect with the bodies. The standardization of forensic investigation can improve the analysis and detection of infant homicide cases.

Absence of rickets in infants with fatal abusive head trauma and classic metaphyseal lesions.

To determine if rickets is present in cases of infant homicide with classic metaphyseal lesions (CMLs) and other skeletal injuries. This study was exempt from the institutional human subjects board review because all infants were deceased. An archival review (1984-2012) was performed of the radiologic and histopathologic findings of 46 consecutive infant fatalities referred from the state medical examiner's office for the evaluation of possible child abuse. Thirty infants with distal femoral histologic material were identified. Additional inclusion criteria were as follows: (a) The medical examiner determined that the infant had sustained a head injury and that the manner of death was a homicide, (b) at least one CML was evident at skeletal survey, (c) CMLs were confirmed at autopsy, and (d) non-CML fractures were also present. Nine infants (mean age, 3.9 months; age range, 1-9 months) were identified. Two pediatric radiologists independently reviewed the skeletal surveys for rachitic changes at the wrists and knees. A bone and soft tissue pathologist reviewed the distal femoral histologic slices for rickets. There were no radiographic or pathologic features of rickets in the cohort. The findings provide no support for the view that the CML is due to rickets. Rather, they strengthen a robust literature that states that the CML is a traumatic injury commonly encountered in physically abused infants.

Effect of home visiting by nurses on maternal and child mortality: results of a 2-decade follow-up of a randomized clinical trial.

Mothers and children living in adverse contexts are at risk of premature death. To determine the effect of prenatal and infant/toddler nurse home visiting on maternal and child mortality during a 2-decade period (1990-2011). A randomized clinical trial was designed originally to assess the home visiting program's effect on pregnancy outcomes and maternal and child health through child age 2 years. The study was conducted in a public system of obstetric and pediatric care in Memphis, Tennessee. Participants included primarily African American women and their first live-born children living in highly disadvantaged urban neighborhoods, who were assigned to 1 of 4 treatment groups: treatment 1 (transportation for prenatal care [n = 166]), treatment 2 (transportation plus developmental screening for infants and toddlers [n = 514]), treatment 3 (transportation plus prenatal/postpartum home visiting [n = 230]), and treatment 4 (transportation, screening, and prenatal, postpartum, and infant/toddler home visiting [n = 228]). Treatments 1 and 3 were included originally to increase statistical power for testing pregnancy outcomes. For determining mortality, background information was available for all 1138 mothers assigned to all 4 treatments and all but 2 live-born children in treatments 2 and 4 (n = 704). Inclusion of children in treatments 1 and 3 was not possible because background information was missing on too many children. Nurses sought to improve the outcomes of pregnancy, children's health and development, and mothers' health and life-course with home visits beginning during pregnancy and continuing through child age 2 years. All-cause mortality in mothers and preventable-cause mortality in children (sudden infant death syndrome, unintentional injury, and homicide) derived from the National Death Index. The mean (SE) 21-year maternal all-cause mortality rate was 3.7% (0.74%) in the combined control group (treatments 1 and 2), 0.4% (0.43%) in treatment 3, and 2.2% (0.97%) in treatment 4. The survival contrast of treatments 1 and 2 combined with treatment 3 was significant (P = .007); the contrast of treatments 1 and 2 combined with treatment 4 was not significant (P = .19), and the contrast of treatments 1 and 2 combined with treatments 3 and 4 combined was significant (post hoc P = .008). At child age 20 years, the preventable-cause child mortality rate was 1.6% (0.57%) in treatment 2 and 0.0% (SE not calculable) in treatment 4; the survival contrast was significant (P = .04). Prenatal and infant/toddler home visitation by nurses is a promising means of reducing all-cause mortality among mothers and preventable-cause mortality in their first-born children living in highly disadvantaged settings. clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00708695.

An unusual case of infanticide by internal compression of airways - a case report -

In Sri Lanka, as in many other jurisdictions, infanticide refers to killing of a newborn below 12 months in age, by his biological mother. Methods used in infant homicides range in a vast spectrum, including acts of omissions, asphyxia, poisoning, drowning, suffocation, and sharp and blunt force injuries etc. Internal examination revealed a “Suraya” [a cylindrical metallic object around 1cm in diameter and 5cm in length, which is used as a protective agent from evil omens] passed into the mid third of the oesophagus. The cause of death is attributed to compression of respiratory tracts due to foreign body in the oesophagus. The mother of the infant is a known psychiatric patient since six months prior to the incident. Sri Lanka Journal of Forensic Medicine, Science & Law- December 2013;4(2):36-39 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/sljfmsl.v4i2.6930

Social Determinants of Childhood Asthma Symptoms: An Ecological Study in Urban Latin America

Asthma is an important public health problem in urban Latin America. This study aimed to analyze the role of socioeconomic and environmental factors as potential determinants of asthma symptoms prevalence in children from Latin American (LA) urban centers. We selected 31 LA urban centers with complete data, and an ecological analysis was performed. According to our theoretical framework, the explanatory variables were classified in three levels: distal, intermediate, and proximate. The association between variables in the three levels and prevalence of asthma symptoms was examined by bivariate and multivariate linear regression analysis weighed by sample size. In a second stage, we fitted several linear regression models introducing sequentially the variables according to the predefined hierarchy. In the final hierarchical model Gini Index, crowding, sanitation, variation in infant mortality rates and homicide rates, explained great part of the variance in asthma prevalence between centers (R(2) = 75.0 %). We found a strong association between socioeconomic and environmental variables and prevalence of asthma symptoms in LA urban children, and according to our hierarchical framework and the results found we suggest that social inequalities (measured by the Gini Index) is a central determinant to explain high prevalence of asthma in LA.

The Dependence of Reported Homicide Rates on Reported Non-Motor Vehicle Accident Death Rates in US Young Children and Infants, 1940-2007

An analysis of the relationship between reported homicides and reported non-motor vehicle accident deaths in young children and infants was performed. Reported young child (aged 1 to less than 5 years) and infant (aged less than 1 year) homicide and non-motor vehicle accident mortality rates in boys and girls in the United States from 1940 to 2007 were analyzed using the 4-parameter logistic model. Homicide rate growth over time displayed sigmoid curves with inflection points near 1968 in young children and near 1984 in infants. Using the maximum and minimum homicide rate asymptotes from those analyses over time, 4-parameter logistic model between homicide rates and non-motor vehicle mortality rates suggests that 84.2% and 94.2% of the variation in young child homicide rates, in boys and girls respectively, can be explained by variation in the corresponding non-motor vehicle accident mortality rates and that 69.4% and 66.3% of the variation in infant homicide rates, in boys and girls respectively, was explained by variation in the corresponding non-motor vehicle accident mortality rates. These findings are consistent with the thesis that changing propensities in the classification of young child and infant deaths as either homicides or non-motor vehicle accident deaths, rather than actual changes in societal violence, may explain a substantial proportion of the reported increases in homicide rates in young children and infants. Moreover, the observation that increases in homicide rates in young children and infants were separated in time by nearly 16 years further supports this thesis.

Infant homicides: An examination using multiple correspondence analysis

Multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) is a highly useful descriptive statistical technique that creates dimensional coordinates used to graphically display relationships among the attributes of multiple variables. It calculates row and column coordinates that are analogous to factors in a principal component analysis (PCA), differing from the latter in that it partitions the chi-square value instead of the total variance among variables. Although MCA is an excellent technique for examining large numbers of categorical variables, it has received little attention in social science research. Many social research variables are naturally discrete, as they are measured at the nominal level. Such variables are naturally displayed in contingency tables and well suited for analyses using the Pearson chi-square or the likelihood ratio chi-square, methods frequently used by social researchers. Both techniques work well for small tables, but they have limitations when tables contain many categorical variables that aggregate into a large number of combinations. Trying to interpret the resulting combinations can be a complex challenge. Correspondence analysis overcomes this diffi culty by calculating row and column coordinates—the “correspondence” between rows and columns— and partitioning the chi-square value into dimensions. A correspondence plot can then be produced to show the relationships between the row and column categories in a single visual.

Underascertainment of child abuse fatalities in France: Retrospective analysis of judicial data to assess underreporting of infant homicides in mortality statistics

Objectives Test the hypothesis of an underestimation of infant homicides in mortality statistics in France; identify its causes; examine data from the judicial system and their contribution in correcting this underestimation. Methods A retrospective, cross-sectional study was carried out in 26 courts in three regions of France of cases of infant deaths submitted to the courts, 1996–2000, with follow-up of their files until case closing (1996–2008). For each case, cause of death established by the courts was compared with ICD cause of death as coded in official mortality statistics. Results We examined 247 cases. Shortcomings in investigations were noted (autopsies: 75% of cases; fundus examination: 11%; diagnosis of sudden infant death syndrome [SIDS] without autopsy: 41%). Eighty deaths were considered homicides by the courts. Homicide rates in the court study are 2–3.6 times higher than those in mortality statistics. Nearly 1/3 of “accidental” deaths and 1/4 of deaths from unknown cause in mortality statistics are homicides. Mechanisms of underascertainment are: physicians’ inappropriate death certification and underreporting of suspicious cases; inadequate investigation of cases; incomplete communication of final medical and forensic results to the mortality statistics department. Conclusions In a country where neither transportation of the body to a hospital nor autopsy is obligatory, judicial data can make an important contribution to correcting mortality statistics. Practice implications This study led to the first French protocol for investigating sudden unexpected deaths in infancy (SUDI). The protocol includes a physician “training” section focused on understanding the symptomatology and risk factors of violence, as well as the quality of death certification.

POVERTY, INFANT MORTALITY, AND HOMICIDE RATES IN CROSS‐NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE: ASSESSMENTS OF CRITERION AND CONSTRUCT VALIDITY*

This paper assesses the extent to which the infant mortality rate might be treated as a "proxy" for poverty in research on cross-national variation in homicide rates. We have assembled a pooled, cross-sectional time-series dataset for 16 advanced nations over the 1993-2000 period that includes standard measures of infant mortality and homicide and also contains information on two commonly used "income-based" poverty measures: a measure intended to reflect "absolute" deprivation and a measure intended to reflect "relative" deprivation. With these data, we are able to assess the criterion validity of the infant mortality rate with reference to the two income-based poverty measures. We are also able to estimate the effects of the various indicators of disadvantage on homicide rates in regression models, thereby assessing construct validity. The results reveal that the infant mortality rate is more strongly correlated with "relative poverty" than with "absolute poverty," although much unexplained variance remains. In the regression models, the measure of infant mortality and the relative poverty measure yield significant positive effects on homicide rates, while the absolute poverty measure does not exhibit any significant effects. Our analyses suggest that it would be premature to dismiss relative deprivation in cross-national research on homicide, and that disadvantage is best conceptualized and measured as a multidimensional construct.

The Associations Between Infant Homicide, Homicide, and Suicide Rates: An Analysis of World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control Statistics

Previous studies have found that rates of homicide of children aged under one (infant homicide) are associated with rates of suicide, but not with rates of homicide. Linear regression was used to examine associations among infant homicide, homicide, and suicide in samples of regions in the United States and other countries. Infant homicide rates were significantly and independently associated in all analyses with both total homicide and total suicide rates. The epidemiological evidence supports the clinical observation that infant homicides are due to a range of causes, including maternal mental illness, but are also related to the level of serious violence within a community.