When Men Murder Women: An Analysis of 1996 Homicide Data

Females Murdered by Males in Single Victim/Single Offender Incidents

Maine

The homicide rate among females murdered by males in Maine was 1.57 per 100,000 in 1996

Ranked 21st highest in the United States

Age

One female homicide victim was less than 18 years old, and two victims (20 percent) were 65 years of age or older.

Race

All 10 female murder victims were white.

Most Common Weapons

Four of the 10 female homicide victims (40 percent) were shot and killed with guns. One of these gun victims was killed with a handgun. There were three females killed with knives or other cutting instruments. The remainder of cases involved other non-firearm weapons.

Victim/Offender Relationship

All 10 female victims were murdered by someone they knew. Half of the victims (five victims or 50 percent) were wives, common law wives, ex-wives, or girlfriends of the offenders. Among the five female intimates murdered, 60 percent (three victims) were killed with guns; one of these gun victims was shot and killed with a handgun.

Circumstance

Eight of the ten cases (80 percent) were not related to the commission of another felony. Of these cases, 88 percent (seven cases) involved arguments between the victim and offender.

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