When Men Murder Women: An
Analysis of 1998 Homicide Data
Females Murdered by Males
in Single Victim/Single Offender Incidents
Colorado
41 females were murdered by males
in Colorado in 1998
The homicide rate among females
murdered by males in Colorado was 2.05
per 100,000 in 1998
Ranked 10th in the United
States
Age
Six female homicide victims (15 percent) were
less than 18 years old, and 2 victims (5 percent) were 65 years of age
or older. The average age was 35 years old.
Race
Out of 41 female murder victims, 1 was American
Indian, 4 were black, and 36 were white.
Most
Common Weapons
For homicides in which the weapon used could be
identified, 42 percent of female victims (16 out of 38) were shot and
killed with guns. Of these, 81 percent (13 victims) were killed with
handguns. There were 11 females killed with knives or other cutting
instruments, 2 females killed by a blunt object, and 9 females killed
by bodily force.
Victim/Offender Relationship
For homicides in which the victim to offender
relationship could be identified, 95 percent of female victims (38 out
of 40) were murdered by someone they knew. Two female victims were killed
by strangers. Of the victims who knew their offenders, 53 percent (20
victims) were wives, common-law wives, ex-wives, or girlfriends of the
offenders. Among the 20 female intimates murdered, 65 percent (13 victims)
were killed with guns; 77 percent of these (10 victims) were shot and
killed with handguns.
Circumstance
For homicides in which the circumstance could be identified, 86 percent (31 out of 36) were not related to the commission of any
other felony. Of these, 58 percent (18 homicides) involved arguments between the victim and offender.
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The Violence Policy Center is
a national non-profit educational foundation that conducts research
on violence in America and works to develop violence-reduction policies
and proposals. The Center examines the role of firearms in America,
conducts research on firearms violence, and explores new ways to decrease
firearm-related death and injury.
All contents � 2000 Violence
Policy Center
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