When Men Murder Women: An Analysis of 1996 Homicide Data

Females Murdered by Males in Single Victim/Single Offender Incidents

Georgia

The homicide rate among females murdered by males in Georgia was 2.47 per 100,000 in 1996

Ranked 8th highest in the United States

Age

Ten female homicide victims (11 percent) were less than 18 years old, and six victims (six percent) were 65 years of age or older.

Race

Female murder victims in which race was identified (91 victims) included: 51 black females, 39 white females, and one Asian or Pacific Islander.

Most Common Weapons

In cases in which the weapon used in the homicide could be identified (91 cases), nearly three quarters of all female homicide victims (67 victims or 74 percent) were shot and killed with guns. Three quarters of these gun victims (50 victims or 75 percent) were killed with handguns. There were 10 females killed with knives or other cutting instruments, seven females killed by bodily force, and five females killed with blunt objects. 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 (90 cases), more than nine out of 10 female victims (83 victims or 92 percent) were murdered by someone they knew. Only seven female victims (eight percent) were killed by strangers. Of victims who knew their offenders, more than half (44 victims or 53 percent) were wives, common law wives, ex-wives, or girlfriends of the offenders. Among the 44 female intimates murdered, 75 percent (33 victims) were killed with guns; 70 percent of these gun victims (23 victims) were shot and killed with handguns.

Circumstance

In cases in which the circumstance of the homicide could be identified (72 cases), 85 percent (61 cases) were not related to the commission of another felony. Of these cases, 67 percent (41 cases) involved arguments between the victim and offender.

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