When Men Murder Women: An Analysis of 1999 Homicide Data

Females Murdered by Males in Single Victim/Single Offender Incidents

Vermont

6 females were murdered by males in Vermont in 1999

The homicide rate among females murdered by males in Vermont was 1.99 per 100,000 in 1999

Ranked 6th in the United States

Age

One female homicide victim (17 percent) was less than 18 years old, and 1 victim (17 percent) was 65 years of age or older. The average age was 41 years old.

Race

All 6 female murder victims were white.

Most Common Weapons

For homicides in which the weapon used could be identified, 67 percent of female victims (4 out of 6) were shot and killed with guns. Of these, 50 percent (2 victims) were killed with handguns. There was 1 female killed with a knife or other cutting instrument and 1 female killed by bodily force.

Victim/Offender Relationship

For homicides in which the victim to offender relationship could be identified, all of the female victims (6 out of 6) were murdered by someone they knew. No female victim was killed by a stranger. Of the victims who knew their offenders, 67 percent (4 victims) were wives, common-law wives, ex-wives, or girlfriends of the offenders. Among the 4 female intimates murdered, 75 percent (3 victims) were killed with guns; 67 percent (2 victims) were shot and killed with handguns.

Circumstance

For homicides in which the circumstance could be identified, none were related to the commission of any other felony. Of the 6 homicides, 33 percent (2 homicides) involved arguments between the victim and offender.

Back to Table of Contents

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 � 2001 Violence Policy Center