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When Men Murder Women: An Analysis of 1996 Homicide Data

Females Murdered by Males in Single Victim/Single Offender Incidents

Colorado

28 females were murdered by males in Colorado in 1996

The homicide rate among females murdered by males in Colorado was 1.45 per 100,000 in 1996

Ranked 25th highest in the United States


Age

Four female homicide victims (14 percent) were less than 18 years old.


Race

Female murder victims in which race was identified (27 victims) were all white females.


Most Common Weapons

In cases in which the weapon used in the homicide could be identified (27 cases), more than six out of 10 female homicide victims (17 victims or 63 percent) were shot and killed with guns. More than seven out of 10 gun victims (12 victims or 71 percent) were killed with handguns. There were six females killed with knives or other cutting instruments, and three females killed by bodily force. The remainder of cases involved other non-firearm weapons.


Victim/Offender Relationship

In cases in which the relationship between the victim and the offender could be identified (26 cases), nearly nine out of 10 female victims (23 victims or 88 percent) were murdered by someone they knew. Only three victims (12 percent) were killed by strangers. Of victims who knew their offenders, more than half (12 victims or 52 percent) were wives, common law wives, ex-wives, or girlfriends of the offenders. Among the 12 female intimates murdered, more than eight out of 10 (10 victims or 83 percent) were killed with guns; 80 percent of these gun victims (eight victims) were shot and killed with handguns.


Circumstance

In cases in which the circumstance of the homicide could be identified (24 cases), 75 percent (18 cases) were not related to the commission of another felony. Of these cases, 33 percent (six cases) involved arguments between the victim and offender.


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All contents � 1998 Violence Policy Center