When Men Murder Women: An Analysis of 1996 Homicide Data

Females Murdered by Males in Single Victim/Single Offender Incidents

Massachusetts

The homicide rate among females murdered by males in Massachusetts was 0.60 per 100,000 in 1996

Ranked 45th highest in the United States

Age

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

Race

Fourteen 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 (18 cases), two female homicide victims (11 percent) were shot and killed with guns; one of the gun victims was killed with a handgun. There were nine females killed with knives or other cutting instruments, and three 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 (16 cases), more than eight out of 10 female victims (13 victims or 81 percent) were murdered by someone they knew. Only three female victims (19 percent) were killed by strangers. Of victims who knew their offenders, 54 percent (seven victims) were wives, common law wives, ex-wives, or girlfriends of the offenders.

Circumstance

In cases in which the circumstance of the homicide could be identified (16 cases), 56 percent (nine cases) were not related to the commission of another felony. Of these cases, 67 percent (six cases) involved arguments between the victim and offender.

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