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When Men Murder Women: An Analysis of 1996 Homicide Data

Females Murdered by Males in Single Victim/Single Offender Incidents

South Carolina

58 females were murdered by males in South Carolina in 1996

The homicide rate among females murdered by males in South Carolina was 3.03 per 100,000 in 1996

Ranked 3rd highest in the United States


Age

Five female homicide victims (nine percent) were less than 18 years old, and five victims (nine percent) were 65 years of age or older.


Race

Thirty-six female murder victims were black and 22 were white.


Most Common Weapons

In cases in which the weapon used in the homicide could be identified (54 cases), more than two thirds of female homicide victims (37 victims or 69 percent) were shot and killed with guns. Nearly six out of 10 of these gun victims (22 victims or 59 percent) were killed with handguns. There were eight 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 (56 cases), more than nine out of 10 female victims (55 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, 76 percent (42 victims) were wives, common law wives, ex-wives, or girlfriends of the offenders. Among the 42 female intimates murdered, 69 percent (29 victims) were killed with guns; 52 percent of these gun victims (15 victims) were shot and killed with handguns.


Circumstance

In cases in which the circumstance of the homicide could be identified (56 cases), 86 percent (48 cases) were not related to the commission of another felony. Of these cases, 85 percent (41 cases) involved arguments between the victim and offender.


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All contents � 1998 Violence Policy Center