Article Figures & Data
Tables
Classification Description Type of filicide Mentally ill Axis I diagnosis present; psychotic or nonpsychotic; infanticide. Mental illness present. Intent may be present. Fatal abuse Recurrent or isolated event of neglect or shaken-baby or battered-child syndrome. Mental illness not present. Intent not present. Retaliating Associated with revenge and anger. Mental illness not present. Intent present. Mercy Child ill with severe or debilitating illness. Not better accounted for by any other category. Mental illness not present. Intent present. Other/or insufficient information May include cases with multiple factors. Unknown Mental illness may be present. Intent may be present. Specifiers Group A Associated or not associated with suicide Group B Associated or not associated with substance abuse Group C Predictable or not predictable Year Frequency 1 Victim More Than 1 Victim 1991 2 2 — 1992 2 2 — 1993 6 6 — 1994 4 2 1 1995 9 9 — 1996 15 8 3 1997 6 2 2 1998 11 4 3 1999 5 5 1 2000 2 2 — 2001 15 5 4 Total 77 47 14 Method Number of Victims Percent Firearm 26 34 Battery 17 22 Knife 9 12 Strangulation 8 10 Blunt instrument 5 7 Carbon monoxide intoxication 2 1 Other intoxication 1 1 Drowning 1 1 Fall 1 1 Other 7 9 Type of Filicide Cases Mentally ill 49 With psychotic intent 28 Fatal abuse 19 Retaliating 2 Mercy 0 Other/unknown 7