When Men Murder Women: An Analysis of 1996 Homicide Data

Females Murdered by Males in Single Victim/Single Offender Incidents

California

The homicide rate among females murdered by males in California was 1.77 per 100,000 in 1996

Ranked 17th highest in the United States

Age

Forty-two female homicide victims (15 percent) were less than 18 years old, and 30 victims (11 percent) were 65 years of age or older.

Race

Female murder victims in which race was identified (275 victims) included: 191 white females, 68 black females, and 16 Asian or Pacific Islanders.

Most Common Weapons

In cases in which the weapon used in the homicide could be identified (275 victims), more than half of all female homicide victims (150 victims or 55 percent) were shot and killed with guns. Nearly nine out of 10 gun victims (131 victims or 87 percent) were killed with handguns. There were 46 females killed with knives or other cutting instruments, 32 females killed by bodily force, 19 females killed by strangulation, and 17 females killed with blunt objects. The remainder of cases involved other non-firearm weapons.

Victim/Offender Relationship

Nearly nine out of 10 female victims (247 victims or 88 percent) were murdered by someone they knew. Only 35 female victims (12 percent) were killed by strangers. Of victims who knew their offenders, six out of 10 (148 victims or 60 percent) were wives, common law wives, ex-wives, or girlfriends of the offenders. Among the 148 female intimates murdered, two thirds (98 victims or 66 percent) were killed with guns; 88 percent of these gun victims (86 victims) were shot and killed with handguns.

Circumstance

In cases in which the circumstance of the homicide could be identified (280 cases), 88 percent (246 cases) were not related to the commission of another felony. Of these cases, 77 percent (189 cases) involved arguments between the victim and offender.

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