When Men Murder Women: An Analysis of 1996 Homicide Data

Females Murdered by Males in Single Victim/Single Offender Incidents

Indiana

The homicide rate among females murdered by males in Indiana was 1.54 per 100,000 in 1996

Ranked 23rd highest in the United States

Age

Ten female homicide victims (22 percent) were less than 18 years old.

Race

Thirty-two female murder victims were white and 14 were black.

Most Common Weapons

In cases in which the weapon used in the homicide could be identified (45 cases), six out of 10 female homicide victims (27 victims or 60 percent) were shot and killed with guns. Nearly three quarters of these gun victims (20 victims or 74 percent) were killed with handguns. There were nine females killed with knives or other cutting instruments, and five females killed by bodily force. The remainder of cases involved other non-firearm weapons.

Victim/Offender Relationship

All but one of the female victims (45 victims or 98 percent) were murdered by someone they knew. Only one female victim was killed by a stranger. Of victims who knew their offenders, six out of 10 (27 victims or 60 percent) were wives, common law wives, ex-wives, or girlfriends of the offenders. Among the 27 female intimates murdered, 74 percent (20 victims) were killed with guns; 70 percent of these gun victims (14 victims) were shot and killed with handguns.

Circumstance

In cases in which the circumstance of the homicide could be identified (40 cases), 93 percent (37 cases) were not related to the commission of another felony. Of these cases, 46 percent (17 cases) involved arguments between the victim and offender.

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