When Men Murder Women: An Analysis of 1996 Homicide Data

Females Murdered by Males in Single Victim/Single Offender Incidents

Delaware

The homicide rate among females murdered by males in Delaware was 3.23 per 100,000 in 1996

Ranked 2nd highest in the United States

Age

One victim was less than 18 years old, and three victims (25 percent) were 65 years of age or older.

Race

Seven female murder victims were white and five were black.

Most Common Weapons

In cases in which the weapon used in the homicide could be identified (11 cases), more than half (six victims or 55 percent) were shot and killed with guns. Half of all gun victims (three victims or 50 percent) were killed with handguns. There were four females killed by bodily force and one female killed with a blunt object.

Victim/Offender Relationship

All female victims were murdered by someone they knew. Half of the victims (six victims or 50 percent) were wives, common law wives, ex-wives, or girlfriends of the offenders. Among the six female intimates murdered, 83 percent (five victims) were killed with guns; 60 percent of these gun victims (three victims) were shot and killed with handguns.

Circumstance

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

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