When Men Murder Women: An Analysis of 1999 Homicide Data

Females Murdered by Males in Single Victim/Single Offender Incidents

West Virginia

17 females were murdered by males in West Virginia in 1999

The homicide rate among females murdered by males in West Virginia was 1.82 per 100,000 in 1999

Ranked 12th in the United States

Age

No female homicide victims were less than 18 years old, but 3 victims (18 percent) were 65 years of age or older. The average age was 46 years old.

Race

Out of 17 female murder victims, 3 were black and 14 were white.

Most Common Weapons

For homicides in which the weapon used could be identified, 69 percent of female victims (11 out of 16) were shot and killed with guns. Of these, 73 percent (8 victims) were killed with handguns. There were 3 females killed with a knife or other cutting instrument, 1 female killed by a blunt object, and 1 female killed by bodily force.

Victim/Offender Relationship

For homicides in which the victim to offender relationship could be identified, 94 percent of female victims (16 out of 17) were murdered by someone they knew. One female victim was killed by a stranger. Of the victims who knew their offenders, 63 percent (10 victims) were wives, common-law wives, ex-wives, or girlfriends of the offenders. Among the 10 female intimates murdered, 80 percent (8 victims) were killed with guns; 63 percent of these (5 victims) were shot and killed with handguns.

Circumstance

For homicides in which the circumstance could be identified, 93 percent (14 out of 15) were not related to the commission of any other felony. Of these, 57 percent (8 homicides) involved arguments between the victim and offender.

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The Violence Policy Center is a national non-profit educational foundation that conducts research on violence in America and works to develop violence-reduction policies and proposals. The Center examines the role of firearms in America, conducts research on firearms violence, and explores new ways to decrease firearm-related death and injury.

All contents � 2001 Violence Policy Center