Intimate Partner Homicide-suicide Research Articles

Jealousy as a correlate of intimate partner homicide-suicide versus homicide-only cases: National Violent Death Reporting System, 2016-2020.

The objective of this study was to compare jealousy as a correlate of intimate partner homicide-suicide cases to homicide-only cases using data from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS), a state-based surveillance system maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Jealousy is categorized as jealous feelings or distress over a current or former intimate partner's relationship or suspected relationship with another person. NVDRS data from a 5-year period (2016-2020) was used to estimate frequencies and identify significant differences in jealousy and other sociodemographic, mental health, relationship, and incident-related correlates of intimate partner homicide-suicide compared to homicide-only cases. Cases were included if they involved an intimate partner single homicide or a single homicide followed by suicide. The study sample included 5335 cases (intimate partner homicide-suicide n = 1402; homicide-only n = 3933). A significantly higher percentage of intimate partner homicide-suicide cases reported jealousy preceding the event (9%) compared to homicide-only cases (6%). Compared with homicide-only cases, homicide-suicide cases had 3.5 greater odds of recording jealousy as a precipitating event. Findings suggest that intimate partner homicide-suicide cases are distinct from homicide-only cases both in terms of individual- and incident-level and situational factors, including the presence of jealousy.

Intimate Partner Homicide: Comparison Between Homicide and Homicide-Suicide in Portugal.

Intimate partner homicide (IPH) is a tragic event. Studies involving the comparison between IPH and intimate partner homicide-suicide (IPH-S) are scarce, with few studies in Portugal about this issue. The current study aims to compare IPH and IPH-S perpetrators, the victim-perpetrator relationships dynamics, and homicide circumstances. The data was collected through the analysis of 78 judicial processes of IPH that occurred in Portugal, between 2010 and 2015. Of the cases, 51 were IPH, 20 were IPH-S cases, and seven were attempted suicide cases, being perpetrated in 84.6% (n = 66) for male perpetrators. Suicide after intimate homicide were all committed by men. All judicial processes analyzed refer to heterosexual relationships. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to compare the groups concerning perpetrator and victim sociodemographic characteristics, victim-perpetrator dyadic dynamics, and crime circumstances. The results show mostly common trends between the two groups with some differentiating factors when compared individually (e.g., perpetrator professional status, criminal records). Regression logistic analysis showed no differences between IPH and IPH-S.

Mixed Methods Secondary Analysis of Older Adult Homicide-Suicides from National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) Data

Although homicide followed by suicide incidents comprise a small proportion of all violent deaths in the U.S., the number of cases involving older adults has increased steadily during the current century. There is no central tracking system for these cases, but restricted access data from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) may present a potential source for gaining additional insights into older adult homicide-suicide incidents. The aims of this mixed methods secondary analysis research study included: to qualitatively identify salient themes which characterize intimate partner homicide followed by suicide incidents among older adults and use those themes to describe a prototypical case; to quantitatively identify prevalence and co-occurrence of qualitatively developed themes; to quantitatively compare attributes of NVDRS case data with a previously developed typology of case scenarios based on assessment of media reports. Data for this project included all identified homicide-suicide incidents among older adults which occurred during 2014-2016, the most recent years available. We identified 121 intimate partner homicide-suicide incidents captured in NVDRS records, reflecting results from 32 US states. Results of mixed methods analyses suggested the typical case in these data was characterized by male partner’s interpretation of a traditional male role and associated responsibilities, and included prior expressions of intent. These factors, alone and in combination with other developed themes, identify and exemplify risk factors for homicide-suicide in aging couples. Results of this study illustrate the value of secondary mixed methods analysis of unstructured data to explore the of an enduring public health concern.

Examining the Factors that Impact Suicide Following Heterosexual Intimate Partner Homicide: Social Context, Gender Dynamics, and Firearms.

Despite a wealth of research on intimate partner homicide, research on intimate partner homicide followed by suicide of the perpetrator is sparse. Existing studies on intimate partner homicide-suicide: tend to be descriptive, not keeping pace with quantitative advances in the epidemiological and social sciences; have yet to examine how context impacts intimate partner homicide-suicide; and are typically limited to male perpetrators, given small localized samples of female-perpetrated intimate partner (homicide and) homicide-suicide. This study uses data on 7584 heterosexual intimate partner homicide and homicide-suicide cases distributed across 2465 places and 42 U.S. states from the National Violent Death Reporting System (2003-2018) to examine the victim and perpetrator characteristics, relationship dynamics, situational factors, and contextual features that influence the likelihood of committing suicide following intimate partner homicide. Hierarchical logistic regression models indicate that victim characteristics that increase the vulnerability to victimization (alcohol and drug use, mental health problems, less than some college education) decrease the odds of committing suicide following intimate partner homicide. Similarly, situational (victim weapon usage, additional perpetrators) and contextual (concentrated disadvantage, residential instability) risk factors decrease the odds of committing suicide following intimate partner homicide. Conversely, impairment of the perpetrator (alcohol use, mental health problems) and a more intimate victim-perpetrator relationship (spousal relationship, caregiver) increases the odds of homicide-suicide. Additionally, results indicate that firearms play an integral part in homicide-suicide as well as in decreasing the gender gap in homicide-suicide. The findings suggest that the internalization of guilt by perpetrators of intimate partner homicide may play a key role in subsequent suicide. Practically, limiting firearm exposure will not only reduce the lethality of intimate partner violence, but will decrease the odds of perpetrator suicide following intimate partner homicide. This is particularly true for female-perpetrated homicide-suicide, which is unlikely to occur without a firearm.

POLICIES AND PREVENTION OF U.S. WOMEN’S VIOLENT DEATH ACROSS AGES

U.S. violent death rates (homicide and suicide) are the highest in the developed world. Of all female murders (femicide), the majority are male perpetrated, intimate partner violence (IPV- 55-63%). Men are more often killed and by other male acquaintances, with only 2.8% IPV. Proportionally, older women (50+) have the top homicide victim rate (26%) among women. The baby boom cohort has been suicidal and aging has exacerbated the problem. Women are less likely to kill themselves, and the methods differ. We ask are mid and later life women’s lethal victimization similar to younger women? What are policy implications for prevention? Our research uses national level data from news surveillance of 728 intimate partner homicide suicide (IPHS) events and the State Firearm Law Database (SFLD) to improve our understanding of violent cause mortality by sex, age, method and location. IPHS patterns show 90% of events used firearm and 90% were male perpetrated. Results of multivariate analyses show young women had greater awareness and fear before IPHS. Evidence finds older men sometimes decided to kill their IP as part of their own suicide, without a history of known domestic violence. Older women have disproportionately low use of shelters, police and protective orders. SFLD shows population adjusted states with more DV firearms laws have significantly fewer IPHS events. Firearm culture has restricted research, blocked law enforcement and has done little to reduce gun access in households with vulnerable populations (e.g., suicidal husbands). Lethality Assessment Protocols could be modified for elder women’s unique situation.

Correlates of Intimate Partner Homicide among Male Suicide Decedents with Known Intimate Partner Problems.

Intimate partner (IP) problems are risk factors for suicide among men. However, there is little understanding of why some male suicide decedents who had such problems killed their partners before death (i.e., "IP homicide-suicide"), while most of these decedents did not. To inform prevention efforts, this study identified correlates of IP homicide among male suicide decedents with known IP problems. We examined IP homicide correlates among male suicide decedents aged 18+ years who had known IP problems using 2003-2015 National Violent Death Reporting System data. Prevalence odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated for demographic, incident, and circumstance variables. IP homicide-suicide narratives were examined to identify additional prevention opportunities. An estimated 1,504 (5.0%) of 30,259 male suicide decedents who had IP problems killed their partner. IP homicide-suicide perpetration was positively correlated with suicide by firearm and precipitating civil legal problems but negatively correlated with mental health/substance abuse treatment. An estimated 33.7% of IP homicide-suicides occurred during a breakup; 21.9% of IP homicide-suicide perpetrators had domestic violence histories. Connections between the criminal justice and mental health systems as well as stronger enforcement of laws prohibiting firearm possession among domestic violence offenders may prevent IP homicide-suicides.

A Comparison of Intimate Partner Homicide With Intimate Partner Homicide-Suicide: Evidence From a Norwegian National 22-Year Cohort.

Homicide-suicide incidents make up a relatively small proportion of homicides overall, but occur more frequently in certain subtypes of homicide, such as men who kill their female partners. This study investigates aspects of intimate partner homicide-suicide (IPHS) by comparing it with intimate partner homicide (IPH). All IPHs in Norway from 1990 to 2012 (N = 177) were included. Quantitative data were extracted from court documents. Qualitative data were collected by interviews with bereaved. Multivariate logistic regression analyses and systematic text condensation were conducted. Nearly one fourth of IPHs were identified as IPHS. Perpetrators of IPHS were less likely to have a previous criminal record, even having a history of disregard and violations of the law. Perpetrators of IPHS were mainly native-born citizens and were more educated than IPH perpetrators. The motive of IPHS was more often jealousy than a dispute, but the motive was most often recorded as "other" or "unknown." IPHS was perceived as intentional, and the bereaved did not unambiguously support the interpretation that the IPHS had been triggered by stressful situations. The bereaved pointed to the loss of hope or loss of a future combined with an inability to cope with severe disappointments as an important risk factor. Within the framework of an interactional perspective, our findings indicate that IPHS shares more characteristics with IPH than it does with other categories of homicide and other violent deaths in general.

Intimate Partner Homicide Suicide: a Mini-Review of the Literature (2012-2018).

In homicide-suicide (HS), a perpetrator kills at least one victim and then commits suicide within a time frame, which is not consistently described in the literature. Most HS happen in an intimate partner relationship (HS-IP), but data about this phenomenon are still scant and poorly systematized. To assess the research papers published about HS-IP from 2012 to 2018 in Pubmed and Scopus. Article selection followed the PRISMA flow diagram. Information was extracted from the selected articles and tabulated. The 22 eligible articles focusing on different types of HS, including HS-IP, suggest that HS-IPs are predominantly committed by men, usually married, cohabiting, or recently separated from their partner, with a medium-low employment status; the victim is usually the current or former female partner. Heterogenity of HS makes it difficult to generalize the results. Implications emerge for the need to target domestic violence and firearm regulation.

Archival data review of intimate partner homicide-suicide in Jamaica, 2007 - 2017: focus on mental health and community response.

ABSTRACTObjective.To identify social and behavioral patterns and mental health concerns associated with intimate partner homicide-suicide (IPHS) in Jamaica through an analysis of media and police reports.Methods.This was an archival data review of police records and print, radio, and television reports of IPHS incidents from January 2007 – June 2017 in Jamaica. The 27 cases found were qualitatively analyzed using pre-identified codes and open coding to generate themes and patterns.Results.A prevalence rate of 0.1 per 100 000 was determined. In all cases, males were the homicide-offender. Sociodemographic patterns associated with IPHS incidents—age, personality traits, choice of weapon, and time of occurrence—were consistent with previous findings. Common triggers were offender obsession, sexual jealousy, and fear of separation. Despite reports of mental health concerns in both male and female partners, neither the couples nor community members sought help prior to the homicide-suicide.Conclusion.These findings demand a change in cultural attitudes toward domestic disputes and mental health concerns, and a redefining of the community’s responsibility in IPHS. The warning signs associated with IPHS should be part of existing violence and suicide prevention programs.

Lethal intimate partner violence in later life: Understanding measurements, strengths, and limitations of research

ABSTRACTThe aim of this article is to conduct a critical analysis of existing family violence literature related to elder abuse homicide, also known as “eldercide.” The focus relates to fatal violence perpetrated by current or former intimates. Men are the most likely victims of homicide but are rarely murdered by partners. Older women are most often killed in the home by a spouse or other family, consistent with the notion of “femicide.” The Federal Bureau of Investigation Supplemental Homicide Reports and the Bureau of Justice Statistics National Crime Victimization Survey are utilized to illustrate trends by sex over time. Intimate partner homicide-suicide is examined via news surveillance. Strengths and limitations of data and methods are addressed. Homicide trends among the members of the baby boom cohort are predicted based on current and future patterns as they age. To facilitate prevention, researchers are encouraged to move beyond simple prevalence estimates toward greater understanding of complex trends, distinctions, and motivations of these violent deaths.

Intimate partner homicide–suicide: Perpetrator primary intent across young, middle, and elder adult age categories

Intimate partner homicide-suicide (IPHS) is the most violent domestic abuse outcome, devastating families and communities. Nationwide murder-suicide data were collected from news surveillance of 728 events (representing 1611 deaths) reported 1999-2005. Content analysis compared perpetrator's primary intent (homicide or suicide) across 3 age categories: young (18-44), middle aged (45-59) and elder adult (60 +) couples. Based on information obtained, a known history of intimate partner violence (IPV) was most common in young dyads, compared to other age categories. Suicide pacts and mercy killings appear to be very rare. The majority of perpetrators were men who utilized firearms. Female victims varied in their awareness of danger. Evidence suggests there were differences in the primary intentions with young adults reflecting homicidal motive and elders were more often suicidal. Those in middle age indicated a mix, with most similarities to young adults. If substance abuse and mental illness played a significant role in the IPHS events, it was not evident from these data. Triangulation of data analysis methods contributed rich details about themes associated with danger clarity, perceptions of lethality, and evidence of the perpetrator's view of the self and others. Understanding existing distinctions in primary intent is crucial to the development of appropriate lethality assessments and prevention efforts. Language: en

Child Outcomes and Risk Factors in U.S. Homicide-Suicide Cases 1999–2004

Intimate partner homicide-suicide (IPHS) represents the most severe form of domestic violence, and often results in multiple fatalities. This paper examines outcomes of children in households that experience IPHS. Reports of 325 IPHS cases among adults age 18–44 in the U.S. between 1999 and 2004 were collected and examined. Results indicate children were often fatally wounded, but were most likely to witness the eventthen be absent or killed. Difficult financial conditions during times of economic downturn may increase the possibility of stress-related suicide, and subsequent familicide. Children with a suicidal parent are at increased risk of harm, so identification is of vital importance. Children are most likely harmed or killed by a primarily suicidal male perpetrator, who is usually their biological father. Firearms were used more than other methods in IPHS events. Even those perpetrators with protective orders more often utilized a firearm, which reflected a weakness in Violence Against Women Act gun ban enforcement. In this research, regions of the U.S. with less stringent firearm regulations were disproportionately likely to contain IPHS events. Findings illustrate the importance of making distinctions among perpetrators of IPHS, and assessing firearms policies, in order to improve child death prevention efforts.

Epidemiology of Intimate Partner Homicide-Suicide Events Among Women of Childbearing Age in Maryland, 1994–2003

Intimate partner homicide-suicide (IPH-IPS) among women during the childbearing years leaves irreversible outcomes that are devastating and have lasting repercussions for surviving children, families, and communities. An estimated one-third of all intimate partner homicides of women aged 15 to 50 end in suicide. The purpose of this study was to describe the temporal trends and characteristics of both victims of IPH-IPS. Data were collected using a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of medical examiner records for women aged 10 to 50 in Maryland, during 1994-2003. Seventy-five IPH-IPS incidents were identified over the 10-year period. Of those, 94.7% were a female homicide followed by a male suicide. The average rate of IPH-IPS was 0.52 per 100,000 women aged 10 to 50. About half of the couples were within 5 years of the age of each other, married or separated and the same race. Eleven percent of the women were pregnant/1-year postpartum when they died. The findings presented represent a significant public health problem that has a unique pattern compared with other populations studied. Understanding this problem involves a more comprehensive assessment of both victims. There is a need for a national surveillance system that identifies IPH-IPS events and provides information on both victims that includes individual and relationship characteristics.

Intimate Partner Homicide

Current rates of intimate partner homicide of females are approximately 4 to 5 times the rate for male victims, although the rates for both have decreased during the past 25 years. The major risk factor for intimate partner homicide, no matter if a female or male partner is killed, is prior domestic violence. This review presents and critiques the evidence supporting the other major risk factors for intimate partner homicide in general, and for intimate partner homicide of women (femicide) in particular, namely guns, estrangement, stepchild in the home, forced sex, threats to kill, and nonfatal strangulation (choking). The demographic risk factors are also examined and the related phenomena of pregnancy-related homicide, attempted femicide, and intimate partner homicide-suicide