When Men Murder Women: An Analysis of 1996 Homicide Data

Females Murdered by Males in Single Victim/Single Offender Incidents

Michigan

The homicide rate among females murdered by males in Michigan was 1.75 per 100,000 in 1996

Ranked 18th highest in the United States

Age

Nine female homicide victims (10 percent) were less than 18 years old, and 11 victims (13 percent) were 65 years of age or older.

Race

Fifty-three female murder victims were black and 33 were white.

Most Common Weapons

In cases in which the weapon used in the homicide could be identified (79 cases), nearly six out of 10 female homicide victims (44 victims or 56 percent) were shot and killed with guns. More than six out of 10 of these gun victims (27 victims or 61 percent) were killed with handguns. There were 14 females killed with knives or other cutting instruments, 10 females killed by bodily force, and six 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 (74 cases), more than nine out of 10 female victims (71 victims or 96 percent) were murdered by someone they knew. Only three female victims (four percent) were killed by strangers. Of victims who knew their offenders, 44 percent (31 victims) were wives, common law wives, ex-wives, or girlfriends of the offenders. Among the 31 female intimates murdered, 52 percent (16 victims) were killed with guns; 69 percent of these (11 victims) were shot and killed with handguns.

Circumstance

In cases in which the circumstance of the homicide could be identified (67 cases), 72 percent (48 cases) were not related to the commission of another felony. Of these cases, 58 percent (28 cases) involved arguments between the victim and offender.

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