When Men Murder Women: An Analysis of 1996 Homicide Data

Females Murdered by Males in Single Victim/Single Offender Incidents

Nevada

The homicide rate among females murdered by males in Nevada was 3.44 per 100,000 in 1996

Ranked 1st in the United States

Age

Six female homicide victims (22 percent) were less than 18 years old, and one victim was 65 years of age or older.

Race

Twenty female murder victims were white, six were black, and one was Asian or Pacific Islander.

Most Common Weapons

In cases in which the weapon used in the homicide could be identified (25 cases), nearly six out of 10 female homicide victims (14 victims or 56 percent) were shot and killed with guns. Nearly eight out of 10 of these gun victims (11 victims or 79 percent) were killed with handguns. There were six females killed with knives or other cutting instruments and four killed by bodily force. 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 (26 cases), nearly nine out of 10 female victims (23 victims or 88 percent) were murdered by someone they knew. Only three female victims (12 percent) were killed by strangers. Of victims who knew their offenders, 48 percent (11 victims) were wives, common law wives, ex-wives, or girlfriends of the offenders. Among the 11 female intimates murdered, 64 percent (seven victims) were killed with guns; 71 percent of these (five victims) were shot and killed with handguns.

Circumstance

In cases in which the circumstance of the homicide could be identified (20 cases), 80 percent (16 cases) were not related to the commission of another felony. Of these cases, 25 percent (four cases) involved arguments between the victim and offender.

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