Unsolved homicides in Sweden: A population-based study of 264 homicides

Differentiating Male and Female Intimate Partner Homicide Perpetrators: A Study of Social, Criminological and Clinical Factors

“…An additional aspect of the dark figures is related to unsolved homicides. Previous research from the Swedish context discloses that the unsolved homicides in Sweden predominantly concern cases involving young males who are criminally active (Sturup, Karlberg, & Kristiansson, 2015). Regardless, the existence of unsolved homicides poses limitations for the present thesis, especially with regards to non-IPH rates over time (study I), as there are indications of an increase of unsolved homicides in Sweden between 1990 and 2013 (Sturup & Granath, 2017).…”

Intra- and extra-familial child homicide in Sweden 1992–2012: A population-based study

“…In Northern European countries, such as Finland and Sweden, homicidal incidents, to a large extent, are the result of conflicts between adult males intoxicated with alcohol (Granath et al, 2011). Homicides in these countries are, to a lesser extent, the result of activities in a criminal milieua circumstance that is believed to contribute to high clearance rates (above 85%) (Sturup, Karlberg, & Kristiansson, 2015). In recent years, however, a decreasing clearance rate has been found in the subgroup of firearm-perpetrated homicides committed against criminally active males (Granath & Sturup, 2018).…”

Comparing serial homicides to single homicides: A study of prevalence, offender, and offence characteristics in Sweden

“…First, Sweden may have a higher rate of unsolved sexual serial homicides: that is, the lower rate may be attributable to the fact that many offenders have not been identified and convicted. However, unsolved Swedish homicide cases are typically characterised by male victims shot to death in public places, whereas unsolved sexual homicides are unusual (Granath & Sturup, in review; Sturup, Karlberg & Kristiansson ; Sturup et al, ); therefore, this explanation lacks empirical support, though, admittedly, not all sexual serial‐homicide offenders in Sweden are apprehended. Second, it may be the case that given the high clearance rate in Sweden, potential serial‐homicide offenders are identified after commission of a single homicide; thus, some potential sexual serial‐homicide offenders are probably apprehended before they can commit a second sexual homicide.…”

“…The reference group had been collected in conjunction with another research project on homicide offences committed between 2007 and 2009 (Sturup, Karlberg, & Kristiansson, ). In total, 264 homicide incidents had been committed during the inclusion period; exclusion of unsolved ( n = 36), homicide–suicide ( n = 13), serial ( n = 4; but included in the serial sample), spree ( n = 1), and recidivistic ( n = 3) cases—as well as cases in which the offender had previously been convicted of a homicide offence outside Sweden ( n = 3) or had no Swedish social security number ( n = 3)—the 201 primary offenders of solved, single homicides who remained were designated the reference group.…”

“…During the observation period 1973 to 2012, the annual average number of homicides was 100 (1.2 per 100.000 inhabitants). The clearance rate in homicides was over 90% in the 1970s and the 1980s (Somander, ; Wikström, ), 85% in the 1990s (Rying, ), and 87% in the 2000s (Sturup et al, ). The traditionally high clearance rate has decreased due to increases in firearm‐perpetrated homicides in criminal milieus in the last years (Granath & Sturup, in review).…”