The Female Family Annihilator

Abstract

This study explores patterns among female family annihilators using a non-random sample (n = 7), where offenders killed four or more family members during a single homicidal event. Acts of maternal familicide are measured against the family annihilator profile. Overall, many variables remain consistent across gender, but there appear to be substantive differences in motivation, spousal murder attempt, and the role of alcohol. Findings suggest that research on the family annihilator needs to be more inclusive of women, including use of more gender-neutral language. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed, and a new definition of the family annihilator is offered.

An Examination of the Mental Health and Negative Life Events of Women Who Killed Their Children

“…Moreover, they were significantly less likely to report being employed than their male counterparts. These findings are consistent with the extant literature, which has noted that financial pressures are an important factor in maternal filicide cases (Alder and Polk 2001;Hatters Friedman and Resnick 2007;Scott and Fleming 2014). For example, Oberman and Meyer (2008) in their study of eight women incarcerated for filicide found: "The majority had not finished secondary school; they had little means of supporting themselves and were dependent on the good will of others for housing, food, and support" (p. 68).…”

“…In addition, this study was unable to include cases of murder-suicide (Alder and Polk 2001;Holland et al 2015) or cases in which the offender is confined in a mental institution. Moreover, important differences could exist in cases of maternal filicide that ended at an earlier point in the criminal justice process, for example, charges were not filed or convictions were not obtained as compared to cases in which offenders were ultimately imprisoned (Scott and Fleming 2014). Third, because of how data on the age of the victim were collected, this study was unable to examine neonaticide or infanticide.…”

“…Third, because of how data on the age of the victim were collected, this study was unable to examine neonaticide or infanticide. Meaningful differences could exist in the offender, victim, and offense characteristics based on this measure (Beyer et al 2008;Porter and Gavin 2010;Scott and Fleming 2014). Fourth, data were based on the self-reporting of the respondents; as such, underreporting must be acknowledged, in particular in the subject areas in which a stigma exist, for example, abuse and mental health.…”

“…Studies that attempt to explain the phenomenon of filicide have drawn attention to socio-economic disadvantages plaguing the lives of perpetrators. Limited education, unemployment, poverty, and housing insecurity have been identified as risk factors in the literature (Alder and Polk 2001;Beyer et al 2008;Harris et al 2007;Hatters Friedman and Resnick 2007;Leveillee et al 2007;Scott and Fleming 2014;Smithey 1997;Wilczynski 1997). Between a third to a half of filicidal women have not graduated high school (Crimmins et al 1997;Eriksson et al 2016;Putkonen et al 2011).…”

Youthful Familicidal Offenders: Targeted Victims, Planned Attacks

“…These offenders typically targeted their parents and siblings (Ewing 1997;Heide and McCurdy 2010;Shon and Roberts 2010), and killed only their parents if no siblings were in the family home at the time (Anthony 2014;Heide 2013;Mulvey et al 2006). And, more rarely, in the case of female familicidal offenders, most were in their 20s, and their spouses or children or both were targeted (Messing and Heeren 2004;Scott and Fleming 2014).…”