When Men Murder Women: An Analysis of 1996 Homicide Data

Females Murdered by Males in Single Victim/Single Offender Incidents

Virginia

The homicide rate among females murdered by males in Virginia was 2.56 per 100,000 in 1996

Ranked 6th highest in the United States

Age

Ten female homicide victims (11 percent) were less than 18 years old, and four victims (five percent) were 65 years of age or older.

Race

Forty-six female murder victims were black, 39 were white, and two were Asian or Pacific Islanders.

Most Common Weapons

In cases in which the weapon used in the homicide could be identified (83 cases), nearly two thirds of the female homicide victims (55 victims or 66 percent) were shot and killed with guns. More than seven out of 10 of these gun victims (39 victims or 71 percent) were killed with handguns. There were 15 females killed with knives or other cutting instruments, and seven 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 (83 cases), more than nine out of 10 female victims (80 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, 58 percent (46 victims) were wives, common law wives, ex-wives, or girlfriends of the offenders. Among the 46 female intimates murdered, 72 percent (33 victims) were killed with guns; 67 percent of these gun victims (22 victims) were shot and killed with handguns.

Circumstance

In cases in which the circumstance of the homicide could be identified (82 cases), 80 percent (66 cases) were not related to the commission of another felony. Of these cases, 82 percent (54 cases) involved arguments between the victim and offender.

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