Forensic Science Institute

Tag: maternal filicide

Research: Behavioral Characteristics of Maternal Filicide: A Case Study

The purpose of this study is to identify the history and behavioral trends of maternal filicide in the United States. This study examines six cases of filicide that were highly publicized by the media. The media tends to overdramatize certain aspects of cases, which then leads to the overshadowing of actual facts. The data was gathered from court records, police reports, televised offender interviews, and records of psychiatric assessments. The cases that were reviewed were homicides that took place between 1997 and 2005. The study examined the childhood, mental history, prior criminal history, motives and the family-of-origin for each of the filicidal women. The mean age of the mothers at the time they committed the offense was 29.83 years. The women ranged in age from 18 to 38 years. The six women in the study killed a combined total of 17 children (16 males and 1 female). Males were overrepresented as victims in this study compared to other research involving maternal filicide.

Posted on April 16, 2019 by Dr. Mark McCoy

Research: Maternal Filicide

Incidents of mothers killing their own children are becoming more commonplace in the U.S. In fact the U.S. ranks the highest of any developed nation in maternal filicide. The literature on filicide is inadequate to determine relevant risk factors for maternal filicide. It is proposed that an in-depth analysis of maternal filicide be undertaken to examine the childhood dynamics and common behavioral characteristics of the filicidal mothers, and determine which childhood factors and behaviors may be relevant to risk prediction.

Posted on April 16, 2019 by Dr. Mark McCoy

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