When Men Murder Women: An Analysis of 1996 Homicide Data

Females Murdered by Males in Single Victim/Single Offender Incidents

Wisconsin

The homicide rate among females murdered by males in Wisconsin was 1.41 per 100,000 in 1996

Ranked 28th highest in the United States

Age

Six female homicide victims (16 percent) were less than 18 years old, and 10 victims (27 percent) were 65 years of age or older.

Race

Twenty-seven female murder victims were white, nine were black, and one was American Indian or Alaskan native.

Most Common Weapons

In cases in which the weapon used in the homicide could be identified (30 cases), more than half of the female homicide victims (16 victims or 53 percent) were shot and killed with guns. Nearly nine out of 10 of these gun victims (14 victims or 88 percent) were killed with handguns. There were six females killed with knives or other cutting instruments and five females killed by bodily force. The remainder of cases involved other non-firearm weapons.

Victim/Offender Relationship

Nearly eight out of 10 female victims (29 victims or 78 percent) were murdered by someone they knew. Eight female victims (22 percent) were killed by strangers. Of victims who knew their offenders, 21 percent (six victims) were wives, common law wives, ex-wives, or girlfriends of the offenders. Among the six female intimates murdered, 33 percent (two victims) were shot and killed with handguns.

Circumstance

In cases in which the circumstance of the homicide could be identified (34 cases), 88 percent (30 cases) were not related to the commission of another felony. Of these cases, 23 percent (seven cases) involved arguments between the victim and offender.

Back to When Men Murder Women Table of Contents