Homicide–Suicide in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, 1991–2016

Abstract

Research on homicides followed by suicides has relied heavily on small samples and relatively short time spans of data. This study helps to fill this gap by examining 26 years of homicide-suicide data from Cuyahoga County, Ohio, between 1991 and 2016. The main data source for the study is medical examiner files. Analyses of the data indicate the rate of homicide-suicide in Cuyahoga County is consistent with other studies but fluctuates considerably across years studied. The majority of victims are female while perpetrators are overwhelmingly male. Black people are overrepresented as victims and offenders. Use of drugs and/or alcohol leading up to the incident is common among perpetrators. Both the homicides and suicides were overwhelming committed with firearms. When comparing our results to the typology of murder-suicides developed by Marzuk, Tardiff, and Hirsch (JAMA 1992;267:3179), we find amorous jealousy is a significant motivating factor in a many cases, including those involving nonintimate partners. Our findings underscore the importance of widespread use of lethality assessment instruments.

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

“…This study was another among many showing the high prevalence of firearm use in homicide‐suicides (Logan, Walsh, Patel, & Hall, ; Lyons et al., ; Regoeczi & Gilson, ; Violence Policy Center, ). The Lautenberg Amendment, an amendment to the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997 and enacted by the 104th United States Congress, made it unlawful for those convicted of “misdemeanor crime of domestic violence” to possess firearms; an extension of law prohibiting anyone convicted of a felony and anyone subject to a domestic violence protective order from possessing a firearm (U.S.…”

“…These incidents are projected to account for roughly 1,000–1,500 violent deaths annually in the United States (Marzuk et al., ; Violence Policy Center, ). The majority of homicide‐suicide incidents are intimate partner (IP)–related homicide‐suicides (Bossarte, Simon, & Barker, ; Eliason, ; Flynn, Gask, Appleby, & Shaw, ; Knoll & Hatters‐Friedman, ; Logan et al., ; Marzuk et al., ; Regoeczi & Gilson, ). Logan et al.…”

“…These incidents most often involve a male perpetrator and a female IP homicide victim (e.g., current or former girlfriend or spouse) (Bossarte et al., ; Eliason, ; Flynn et al., ; Knoll & Hatters‐Friedman, ; Logan et al., ; Marzuk et al., ; Regoeczi & Gilson, ). Perpetrators are mostly (>60%) non‐Hispanic White men (Bossarte et al., ; Logan et al., ) and of middle‐aged adulthood (Bossarte et al., ; Krulewitch, ; Logan et al., ; Regoeczi & Gilson, ). Homicide and suicide deaths in these incidents are also most often (>80%) the result of firearm‐related injuries (Bossarte et al., ; Logan et al., ; Regoeczi & Gilson, ).…”

“…Perpetrators are mostly (>60%) non‐Hispanic White men (Bossarte et al., ; Logan et al., ) and of middle‐aged adulthood (Bossarte et al., ; Krulewitch, ; Logan et al., ; Regoeczi & Gilson, ). Homicide and suicide deaths in these incidents are also most often (>80%) the result of firearm‐related injuries (Bossarte et al., ; Logan et al., ; Regoeczi & Gilson, ).…”

International comparison of civilian violent deaths: a public health approach to reduce gun-related deaths in US youth

“…Then compares current CVD with the other seven MWC. These include suicides and homicides, which in America are predominately related to firearms [7][8][9][10][11] . These major Western countries are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, and the UK.…”