Domestic Violence Homicide Report

Domestic Violence
Homicides in Utah
2000 through 2008

Christine Mitchell, Ph.D.
Benjamin Peterson, Ph.D.
Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice

Domestic Violence Homicides in Utah

Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Background……………………………………………………………………………………… 3

Executive Summary………………………………………………………………………….... 4

Introduction………………………………………………………………………………......…. 7
General Precipitating Factors for Domestic Violence……………………...……………..….........… 7
Intimate Partner Homicides…………………………….………………...………...................………. 7
Domestic Homicides of Children…………………………….………...………....................………. 10
Other Domestic Homicides …………………………….………...………..........................………. 12
References…………………………….………...………...............................................………. 13

Methods………..…………………………………………………………………………........ 15

Results………..………………..…………………………………………………………........ 16
Incident Characteristics………………………………………………………………….........… 16
Victims……………………………………………………………………………...……….........………. 17
Perpetrators……..………………………………………………………………...……….........………. 17
Perpetrator Suicide…………………..…………………………………………...……….........………. 18
Victim-Perpetrator Relationships……………...………………………………………………….………. 19
Criminal History and Outcomes..……………...………………………………………………….………. 20
Intimate Partner Homicides………….………...………………………………………………….………. 22
Parent Homicides with Victims 10 Years of Age or Less……………...……………………….………. 26
Other Types of Domestic Violence-Related Homicides…..…………...……………………….………. 29
Factors Influencing Conviction Outcomes……………...………………………………….…….………. 31
Utah Violent Death Reporting System……………...………………….…………………..…….………. 33

Conclusions……………………………………………...……………………………....……. 34

October 30, 2009 Page 2


Background
Background
The mission of the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice (CCJJ) is to

promote broad philosophical agreement about the objectives of the criminal and juvenile

justice system in the state; to provide a mechanism for coordinating the functions of various

branches and levels of government concerned with criminal and juvenile justice; and to

coordinate statewide efforts to reduce crime and victimization in Utah. To accomplish these

goals, the Commission includes a diverse membership representing a wide range of

organizations playing a role in justice issues in Utah. The CCJJ Research and Data Unit

conducts and coordinates research on pertinent criminal justice issues and serves as the

Statistical Analysis Center for the state of Utah.

The CCJJ Research and Data Unit conducts Health Violence and Injury Prevention Program
and coordinates research on criminal justice for their invaluable assistance with this project.
issues and serves as the Statistical Analysis
Center for the state of Utah. The authors of the Funding for this project and report was provided
2006 Crime Victimization Survey are Christine by grant 2008-BJ-CX-K033 awarded by the
Mitchell, Director of Research, and Benjamin Bureau of Justice Statistics, United States
Peterson, Research Consultant. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings,
and conclusions expressed in this publication
The authors wish to thank Teresa Brechlin and are those of the authors and do not necessarily
Anna Fondario from the Utah Department of reflect the views of the Department of Justice.



2000 through 2008

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Data were collected on 169 different Relationships between perpetrators and
domestic violence-related homicide victims ranged from spouses to aunt-
incidents between 2000 and 2008, nephew to ex-husband of victim’s
involving 180 victims and 173 daughter.
perpetrators.
Intimate partners killed their current or
9 incidents involved multiple victims killed past spouses or boy/girlfriends in 85
by a single perpetrator—7 with 2 victims (46.2%) of the cases reviewed. Romantic
and 2 with 3 victims—and 4 involved a rivalry played a part in the homicide in an
single victim killed by two different additional 7.1% of the cases.
perpetrators.
Parents or boy/girlfriends of parents killed
Between one-third and one-half of all a child in 31.5% of the cases.
Utah homicides during the study time
period were domestic violence-related. Other relationships were involved in
15.3% of the cases.
Close to half of the 184 incidents (46.1%)
involved a firearm and an additional The average age of the 180 victims was
12.5% involved a knife. 28.5 years, ranging from less than a year
old to 83 years of age at the time of the
The remaining 41.4% of the cases homicide.
involved child abuse or neglect, an
accidental drug overdose, an ax, beating, 109 of the victims were female and 71
drowning, automobile homicide, fire, and were male. Two-thirds of adult victims
strangulation or suffocation. were female. More than 80% of the
perpetrators were male.

Perpetrator Suicides

Almost one-quarter of the perpetrators 4 parents committed suicide after killing a
committed suicide and more than 90% of child—in two of these cases, the parents
the suicides were committed by male killed 2 of their children; in another, a
perpetrators. father killed his child, his live-in girlfriend,
and her child; and in the final one, a
Suicides were more common in intimate father killed his child and his wife.
partner homicides than parent homicides,
and suicide perpetrators were older than In 5 of the 9 cases in which a perpetrator
those who didn’t commit suicide. killed more than one victim, the
perpetrator committed suicide.



Criminal Justice Outcomes

Almost 60% of the perpetrators were Close to half of the perpetrators had a
ultimately convicted for charges relating prior arrest recorded in Utah’s criminal
to the homicide and 85% of these were history tracking system, and 15% had
sentenced to a prison term. been arrested for a felony level offense.

Intimate Partner Homicides

Most of intimate partner homicides Almost half of these perpetrators had a
involved a male perpetrator and female prior criminal record and a quarter had an
victim (87.1%). arrest for an assaultive offense.

The average age of the victims was 41.6 Boyfriends were more likely to have a
years. Two of the victims were teenagers criminal record than spouses, and
and three were in their 80’s, with a range perpetrators who committed suicide were
of 15 to 83 years. much less likely to have a prior criminal
record.
Suicide was very common in these
cases—36.5% of the perpetrators also Firearms were used in 61.2% of the
killed themselves, and suicide was more cases, with an additional 16.5% involving
common for male perpetrators. a knife.

47.8% of spouses or ex-spouses Spouses or ex-spouses were more likely
committed suicide compared to 17.2% of to use a firearm than boy/girlfriends or ex-
boyfriends or ex-boyfriends. boyfriends.

Perpetrators who did not commit suicide More than 80% of the homicide-suicides
were likely to go to prison. Only one involved a firearm compared to about half
offender who was convicted of an offense of incidents without a suicide following the
related to the incident did not receive a homicide.
prison term.

Parent Homicides with Child Victims Less than 10 Years of Age

23 of these victims (43.4%) were less parent perpetrators killed more than one
than a year old at the time of the child.
homicide.
In the 56 relationships involved in these
Just over half of these victims were male, homicides, there were 29 fathers, 13
but almost three-quarters of the mothers, 1 step-father, 2 foster-mothers,
perpetrators were male. and 11 boyfriends of the mother.

Two of the incidents included involved a Suicide was much less common among
multiple homicide with both a parent and parent perpetrators than intimate partner
an intimate partner homicide, as perpetrators and only occurred in
described in the previous section. Five multiple-victim homicides.


Sentences received by parent of these boyfriends had some arrest prior
perpetrators were generally lower than in to the homicide.
intimate partner cases, although three-
quarters were sent to prison. 10 of the perpetrators had a prior arrest
for driving under the influence and six had
One-third of parent perpetrators received been arrested for some type of drug
sentences with a maximum of life violation, for a total of 14 perpetrators
compared to two-thirds of intimate partner with a prior substance abuse arrest.
perpetrators.
Weapon use in parent homicides was
About 40% of the parent perpetrators had much less common than in intimate
some prior criminal arrest. partner homicides, and this helped to
explain differences in sentencing
One startling finding is that of the 11 compared to intimate partner homicides.
situations in which a child was killed by
his or her mother’s boyfriend, 9 (81.8%)

Other Types of Domestic Violence Homicides

43 incidents fell into the “other” category, 14% of these perpetrators committed
which included parent homicides when suicide.
the victim was an adult, other types of
family members, and romantic rivals. More than 80% of those who were
convicted for the crime were sentenced to
The average age of these victims was prison.
35.8 years, with a range from 1 to 72.
Close to half of these perpetrators had
Three-quarters of the victims were male been arrested at some time prior to the
and almost 90% of the perpetrators were homicide.
male.

Factors Influencing Conviction Outcomes
More severe sentences were received by A multiple regression analysis showed
male perpetrators who killed adults rather that when all these factors—victim age,
than children, who killed women, or who victim gender, perpetrator gender, and
used a weapon in the commission of the weapon use—were combined with prior
crime. arrests, only weapon use emerged as a
significant predictor of the level of severity
of the sentence.



INTRODUCTION AND General Precipitating Factors
BACKGROUND for Domestic Homicide

Domestic violence is a serious issue in Utah A great deal of research has been conducted
and across the United States. In particular, by government agencies and academics on
violence against intimate partners and domestic violence, and domestic homicide in
children can have a major impact on families particular. A full review of this literature is
and individual victims, as well as the criminal beyond the scope of this report. In the
justice system that investigates cases and following, however, we provide a summary of
attempts to deal with the problem. While some important factors that may contribute to
general violence of varying degrees between domestic homicide, including those that may
family members is fairly widespread, this also distinguish between abusers and killers. This
brings with it the potential for fatalities in selective review also differentiates between
some cases, both intentional and accidental. certain categories of domestic homicide, with
In a recent report on family violence, the an emphasis on homicides involving intimate
Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS, 2005) partners and children as victims. Within each
analyzed all murders committed in 2002 and category, precipitating factors are organized
found that 28.9% involved family or other according to background characteristics of
intimate partners (i.e., boyfriends or perpetrators and victims, as well as important
girlfriends). In Utah, although the murder rate features of the context surrounding the
is low, a larger percentage of these are incident, including family and relationship
domestic-related. Beyond these numbers characteristics. While there are important
and rates, many different factors can play a differences between these two homicide
role in domestic homicide, and it is important categories, there are key similarities as well.
to both understand these factors and more
closely examine the cases of domestic It is important to note that none of the factors
homicide in our state to identify common discussed below cause domestic violence
themes in background and context. homicide. Many of these factors may also be
present in individuals and relationships that
The purpose of this report is to provide this do not end in homicide. But, as more of
background and closer analysis of domestic these factors are present in any given
violence homicide incidents in Utah. A better perpetrator, victim, and/or relationship, the
understanding of the factors contributing to level of risk for domestic homicide should
domestic homicide of various types, as well increase. In fact, these risk factors are often
as the limitations on the information we have highly correlated.
available about these incidents, may help to
inform policy decisions regarding domestic Intimate Partner Homicides
violence and interventions for victims at early A large percentage of domestic violence
stages in the cycle of violence. homicides involve intimate partners,
including spouses, boyfriends/girlfriends, ex-
In the rest of this section, we will summarize spouses, and ex-boyfriends/girlfriends. In the
some general precipitating factors that BJS family violence report, an estimated
research has shown to contribute to 15.9% of all 2002 murder victims were
domestic homicide. Then, we will provide an current or former intimate partners of their
analysis of incidents in Utah according to assailant (8.6% spouse, 7.3%
available data from various sources that boyfriend/girlfriend). Intimate partners
identify some of these factors.


accounted for 55.4% of all domestic violence to control the partner (i.e., after attempts
homicides in this report (combining family to leave).
members and girlfriends/boyfriends).
• Jealousy/Controlling Behavior: Males
Not surprisingly, intimate partner homicide who murder their intimate partners (or
(and violence generally) has drawn the most who are murdered by their intimate
research attention. Below is a summary of partners) often display high levels of
some of the factors that have been found to jealousy regarding the activities of their
contribute to intimate partner homicide. Most partner, sometimes termed “morbid
of this research either closely examined a jealousy.” This jealousy most often is
sample of domestic violence homicides, or related to presumed sexual infidelity (real
compared relationships resulting in homicide or imagined), though it may also extend
with those involving nonfatal domestic to other social connection attempts by the
violence (see the Reference list at the end of partner outside the relationship (i.e.,
this section for some representative research friendships, work). Additionally, the
articles on the topic used in this summary). presence of jealousy may lead to
coercive and controlling behavior. These
Victim/Perpetrator Factors. Some elements controlling behaviors may include
within the background of the perpetrator nonlethal violence. It is rare to find such
and/or victim may serve as risk factors for thoughts and behaviors in female
intimate partner homicide. The most perpetrators (though presence in their
prominent of these is sex (i.e., men are more victim may contribute).
likely to be perpetrators and women victims),
• Criminal History: It is common for
though other factors such as criminal history,
perpetrators of intimate partner homicide
substance abuse, age, education, and
to have criminal histories, especially a
personality can contribute to or exacerbate
previous violent offense. But it is
these sex differences in homicide potential in
important to recognize that, while
intimate relationships.
previous violence in general is indicative
• Sex: Research has consistently shown of potential for lethal violence, many men
that males are much more likely to kill may only be violent within their intimate
their intimate partners. For example, relationships. Additionally, in a small
some estimates show that, in the United percentage of intimate partner homicides,
States, around 60 females murder a male this was the first incident of violence on
intimate partner for every 100 males that the part of the perpetrator. Criminal
murder a female partner. On the other history is not as predictive of homicide in
hand, homicides by females are much female perpetrators.
less common in general, and intimate
• Substance Use/Abuse: Alcohol and
partner homicides make up a larger
drug use, both long-term abuse and use
percentage of overall homicides for
prior to/during the incident, have been
females than males. The motivation and
found to contribute to intimate partner
circumstances surrounding the homicide
homicide, though the support for this
also differ. While females are most likely
factor is a bit mixed. Several studies have
to murder in self-defense (i.e., reaction to
found illicit drug use by the perpetrator
long-term abuse), male homicides of
within a conflictual relationship
intimate partners more often occur in the
contributes to the potential for homicide.
context of ongoing violence and attempts
Some studies have also shown that



alcohol abuse is an important contributing (see above), rigid attitudes and beliefs,
factor (e.g., Sharps et al., 2001), while selfish behavior, and lack of empathy.
others have found that it is not as
important as other factors (e.g., Campbell • Age Difference: Some research has
et al., 2003). With alcohol, the extent of found that there is a greater risk for
abuse and frequency of intoxication may intimate partner homicide when there is a
be most important. Additionally, in a large large discrepancy in the ages of the two
percentage of cases, one or both of the partners.
partners have been found to be
intoxicated (or under the influence of Contextual Factors. In addition to factors in
drugs) at the time of the incident. the individual perpetrator and/or victim
backgrounds, there are also various
• Education: Like substance abuse, contextual factors that are often more
education (or lack thereof) is a factor that important than individual factors. These are
has been found to have mixed predictive usually related to dynamics in the
value. Some research has shown that relationship, though also extend to the
lack of education (i.e., less than high proximal and distal circumstances
school) in both the perpetrator and victim surrounding the incident and even to the
can be a risk factor for homicide in an greater economic and sociocultural context
already conflictual relationship, but this is
inconsistent. Additionally, college • Prior Domestic Violence: Research
education in victims of domestic violence consistently finds that a large percentage
has been found to be a protective factor of female victims and perpetrators had
against homicide. experienced violence and abuse from
their partners, often over long periods of
• Personality/Mental Health: While not time. A recent review found that studies
usually considered one of the most have reported a range of between 25-
important factors in intimate partner 76% of male killers of their intimate
homicide, personality and mental health partners had previously been violent in
problems may increase the risk of the relationship (Aldridge & Browne,
homicide in the presence of some of the 2003). Apart from the presence of
contextual factors discussed below. previous violence, the type of violence
Some research has found that a majority has also found to be important. In
of males who kill their intimate partners particular, attempts to choke or
have a personality disorder of some kind. strangle the victim appear to be a
Personalities that are hypersensitive and significant risk factor. Additionally, the
overcontrolled, such as dependent, frequency and severity of violence, and
borderline, and narcissistic, have been how recent the previous attack was, are
those most often identified. These better predictors than presence of
(especially dependent) may be violence alone.
particularly problematic following
separation. Additionally, there is mixed • Separation/Estrangement: A large
evidence of the importance of depression percentage of intimate partner homicides
and paranoia for homicide, with occur following separation (or after a
depression being more prevalent in cases partner is informed of intent to separate),
of homicide-suicide. Other factors related or during periods of estrangement. This
to personality that have been researched factor is often related to the individual
include jealousy and possessiveness factor of jealousy and control, and it is



quite rare to see a woman murder a man vary according to other individual and
following separation. In such situational factors.
circumstances, the separation can be a
very salient loss of control. Some studies • Gun Possession/Access: Research has
have shown that the period immediately consistently shown that homicide is more
after the separation or estrangement (i.e., likely in an abusive relationship when
1-2 months after) is of particular risk to there is a gun in the house or easy
the woman. In many cases, however, access to a gun on the part of the
leaving or not cohabitating can decrease perpetrator. Beyond access to a firearm,
subsequent violence – it is important to use of such a weapon in the course of an
see many of these risk factors as assault greatly increases the likelihood of
occurring in combination. In other words, death.
for most women, there is a lot to gain by
• Unemployment: While some
leaving a dysfunctional relationship, but
researchers have downplayed the
also potential risks.
influence of unemployment, Campbell
• Threats: Threats to kill should be taken and colleagues (2003), for example,
very seriously, as a large percentage of found that a male partner who is
perpetrators who make such threats unemployed (and not seeking a job) was
ultimately follow through. While many one of the best predictors of homicide in
homicides occur without a prior threat on their large sample of abuse and homicide
the life of the victim, such threats have victims.
been found to be an important factor that
• Presence of Children: This factor has
distinguishes between perpetrators of
been studied by some researchers, and it
homicide and nonlethal violence against
differs according to the sex of the
an intimate partner (Campbell et al.,
perpetrator. Males tend to be less likely to
2003), particularly threats to kill and,
murder their intimate partner if they have
more generally, threats with a weapon.
a child with the partner that is living in the
Not surprisingly, threats often occur in the
house, though there is increased risk to
context of a potential separation (or to
the partner if she has a child from a
discourage such actions).
previous relationship living in the house.
• Agency Contact: Research generally In contrast, females have been found to
shows that over half of women who were be more likely to murder their partners in
murdered by their intimate partner had the context of a long-term abusive
made some contact with the criminal relationship when there are children
justice system in the 12 months prior to involved.
the murder. This most commonly involved
the reporting of an assault or stalking Domestic Homicides of Children
incident. Additionally, in a large Another major category of domestic violence
percentage of intimate partner homicides homicide involves children killed by parents
(by both males and females), the police or other caretakers. In the BJS report, an
had previously been called to the estimated 5.5% of all 2002 murders involved
residence to investigate a domestic a victim who was the son or daughter of the
incident and/or the female had sought or perpetrator (19% of all domestic/intimate
received a protective order against her partner homicides). But, this number does
partner. Again, such measures often help not include other relationships in this
to reduce future violence, though this will category, including boyfriend/girlfriend of



parent, that likely push this rate of domestic accidents from maltreatment. In terms of
violence homicide of children higher. perpetrators, young mothers have also
been found to be more likely to kill their
There is less research on domestic violence child.
homicides of children than on intimate
partner homicides, as it is often harder to • Criminal History: Prior criminal record is
access records related to the circumstances also a risk factor for domestic child
of these homicides. Below is a summary of homicide, with fathers or male caretakers
some of the factors that have been found to who kill their children more likely to have
contribute to the domestic violence homicide criminal histories.
of children (see the Reference list at the end
• Substance Use/Abuse: Alcohol and
of this section for some representative
drug use are often involved in domestic
research articles on the topic used in this
violence homicides of children, though
summary).
some (e.g., Websdale, 1999) have
argued that the causal role of substance
Victim/Perpetrator Factors.
abuse may be overestimated in many
• Sex: Unlike intimate partner homicide, cases. Substance abuse is also often
there is not as evident of a sex difference related to larger issues of mental health in
in perpetration of child homicide. While many perpetrators.
men are more likely to kill than women in
• Mental Health: Women who kill their
general, women are responsible for a
children are much more likely to be
much higher percentage of deaths of
labeled mentally ill (i.e., depressed) than
children under 12 (~43%). Homicides by
men, and are somewhat more likely to
women are more likely to involve
commit suicide following the murder.
maltreatment of a child under 5 years of
Some research has shown that suicidal
age or infanticide, and are more likely to
ideation on the part of the parent may put
involve the use of hands or feet as
the child at greater risk. A small subset of
weapons. Men are more likely to use
domestic child murderers may experience
weapons, to kill a child that is not their
acute psychotic episodes. Postpartum
own, and to kill a child and an intimate
depression in the mother is also a factor
partner together. In terms of victim sex,
in some infant killings.
there is no evidence that either male or
female children are killed at higher rates.
Contextual Factors.
• Age: Most research shows that infants
and younger children (under 5) are at • Parental Relationship: In most studies,
greater risk for homicide by parents and biological parents make up over half of
caretakers than older children. The the perpetrators of domestic violence
greatest risk is for children under age 1. child homicide. Some research has
This may also be related to the fragility documented the greater risk for homicide
and dependence of infants and young of a child by a stepfather or boyfriend of
children, as well as lack of knowledge on the mother (though no corresponding
the part of the caretaker and increased increase in risk from stepmothers or
stress. Even with their higher rates, girlfriends of the father).
deaths of infants and young children may
• Prior Child Abuse/Neglect: As with
still be underestimated, due to the
intimate partner homicide, prior history of
difficulty in distinguishing some cases of
abuse is one of the best predictors of


subsequent child homicide. Again, since unplanned pregnancy, and conflicts with
many domestic violence child homicide other family members. Such stressors are
victims are very young (i.e., under age 1), often accompanied (and magnified) by a
abuse on the part of the parent or lack of coping mechanisms and parenting
caretaker has a higher likelihood of skills.
causing lethal harm. Some research
shows that males are more likely to kill in It should be noted that a small subset of
the course of battering. Many cases of domestic violence homicide incidents may
child homicide can be classified as abuse involve multiple victims, often including an
or neglect taken too far, and may not be intimate partner and child. In most cases,
very different conceptually than sublethal research has shown that the killing of the
abuse cases. child is often an extension of the intimate
partner killing. Thus, the primary target is
• Parental/Caretaker Domestic Violence: more likely to be the intimate partner, and
Not surprisingly, the toxic situations in such homicides fall more in line with the
which domestic violence child homicide intimate partner factors.
often occurs involve not only abuse of the
child, but also violence between the
parents (or the mother and stepfather or Other Domestic Violence Homicides
boyfriend). Research shows a While the majority of domestic violence
relationship between woman battering homicide cases tend to involve intimate
and child battering in males. Also, partners or children as victims, there remain
common background and contextual other incidents that may be classified under
factors tend to promote both types of the category of domestic homicide. These
violence. include the killing of a sibling or parent within
a family, as well as the killing of a romantic
• Agency Contact: Reviews of research in rival in an extension of intimate partner
this area report findings in the range of disputes.
25-50% of domestic child homicides had
involved some prior contact between the These other categories of domestic violence
family and child protective services. homicide have not received as much
research attention as intimate partner
• Unemployment/Poverty: Unemployment homicide or domestic violence child
and financial hardship are commonly homicide. Some intimate partner research,
found in the family situation of children however, does address the “rivalry” killings
who are murdered by parents or that sometimes occur in intimate partner
caretakers. While this data is often hard relationships that have ended. By far, males
to find, one study found that almost three- are most likely to pursue and kill another
quarters of cases of domestic violence male who is involved with their former
child homicide in which data were intimate partner (sometimes in the course of
available involved a family that qualified killing the former partner herself). Cases of
as “poor” (Websdale, 1999). women engaging in similar actions are
• Other Stressors: Many cases involving extremely rare. For the killing of siblings,
both female and male perpetrators also some data on the national level show that
point to other life stressors as influential such homicides are most likely to occur
in the situation leading up to the child between teenage or young adult male
homicide, including financial and marital siblings as a result of an argument.
difficulties, limited social support,


Summary References
This review has attempted to provide some
important factors that should be considered This reference list represents the sources
when examining cases of domestic violence that were consulted for the above review of
homicide, based on previous research. Once precipitating factors, and may also be used
again, these factors should not be looked at for further information on the topics. It is by
in isolation, but rather in combination with no means a comprehensive list of research
each other in the context of conflictual and on domestic homicide.
dysfunctional relationships. Obviously, not all
males or substance abusers, for example, General Domestic Violence
will end up killing their intimate partners. But,
Homicide
males who have previously abused their
intimate partners and who have jealousy and Bureau of Justice Statistics (June 2005).
control issues, are frequently intoxicated, are Family violence statistics: Including
in the process of separating from their statistics on strangers and acquaintances.
partner, and who have easy access to a gun, Washington, DC: U.S. Department of
may have a high likelihood of committing Justice (NCJ 207846).
homicide (or even being the victim of
homicide at the hands of their partner). The Websdale, N. (1999). Understanding
same is true for the factors described in domestic homicide. Boston: Northeastern
relation to domestic violence homicides of University Press.
children.
Intimate Partner Homicide
It is important to emphasize here the
combination of individual and contextual Adams, D. (2007). Why do they kill? Men
factors when studying domestic violence who murder their intimate partners.
homicide. Often, various factors in the Nashville: Vanderbilt University Press.
background of perpetrators and victims put Aldridge, M.L., & Browne, K.D. (2003).
them at risk for lethal violence when various Perpetrators of spousal homicide: A
contextual and relationship factors are review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 4,
present (and vice versa). As we will see in 265-276.
examining the cases in Utah, many of these
factors (especially contextual) are difficult to Block, C.R., & Devitt, C.O. (June 2000).
obtain from official records. Thus, we present Chicago Women’s Health Risk Study at a
the information in the following sections that glance. Chicago, IL: Illinois Criminal
we were able to find through official records, Justice Information Authority (NCJ
and then briefly discuss some potential 187781).
methods for obtaining this missing
information in future research. Breitman, N., Shackleford, T.K., & Block,
C.R. (March 2003). Is age discrepancy a
risk factor for intimate partner homicide?
Illinois Criminal Justice Authority Research
Bulletin, 1, 1-8.
Browne, A., Williams, K.R., & Dutton, D.G.
(1999). Homicide between intimate
partners: A 20-year review. In M.D. Smith
& M.A. Zahn (Eds.), Homicide: A



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Washington, D.C.: Office of Juvenile
Campbell, J.C., Webster, D., et al. (2003). Justice and Delinquency Prevention
Risk factors for femicide in abusive (OJJDP Justice Bulletin), U.S. Department
relationships: Results from a multisite case of Justice (NCJ 187239).
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P.J. (2005). Child murder by mothers: A
Dobash, R.E., Dobash, R.P., Cavanagh, K., critical analysis of the current state of
& Medina-Ariza, J. (2007). Lethal and knowledge and a research agenda.
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female partner: Comparing male 1578-1587.
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Against Women, 13, 329-353. Liem, M., & Koenraadt, F. (2008). Filicide: A
comparative study of maternal vs. paternal
Gauthier, D.K., & Bankston, W.B. (2004). child homicide. Criminal Behaviour and
“Who kills whom” revisited: A sociological Mental Health, 18, 166-176.
study of variation in the sex ratio of spouse
killings. Homicide Studies, 8, 96-122. Marleau, J.D., Poulin, B., Webanck, T., Roy,
R., & Laporte, L. (1999). Paternal filicide:
Johnson, H., & Hotton, T. (2003). Losing A study of 10 men. Canadian Journal of
control: Homicide risk in estranged and Psychiatry, 44, 57-63.
intact intimate relationships. Homicide
Studies, 7, 58-84. Palermo, G.B. (2002). Murderous parents.
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McFarlane, J., Campbell, J.C., & Watson, K. and Comparative Criminology, 46, 123-
(2001). The use of the justice system prior 143.
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Justice Review, 26, 193-208. Stanton, J., & Simpson, A. (2002). Filicide: A
review. International Journal Of Law and
McFarlane, J., Campbell, J.C., Wilt, S., Psychiatry, 25, 1-14.
Sachs, C.J., Ulrich, Y., & Xu, X. (1999).
Stalking and intimate partner femicide.
Homicide Studies, 3, 300-316.
Sharps, P.W., Campbell, J.C., Campbell,
D.W., Gary, F., & Webster, D. (2001). The
role of alcohol use in intimate partner
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Domestic Violence Child Homicide
Bourget, D., Grace, J., & Whitehurst, L.
(2007). A review of maternal and paternal
filicide. The Journal of the American
Academy of Psychiatry and Law, 35, 74-
82.



METHODS Definition of a “domestic violence-
related homicide.”
Data were collected on all domestic violence- A murder committed by a family member
related homicides in Utah occurring between or a current or former intimate partner
2000 and 2008 that could be identified as (including spouses, ex-spouses, and
domestic-violence related using the definition boyfriends or girlfriends). The definition
given in the box to the right. It is possible also includes romantic rivalry homicides
that domestic violence homicides were that result less directly from intimate
missed because the perpetrator could not be partner relationships, for example, an ex-
identified which meant that a relationship spouse kills a new boyfriend or girlfriend
between perpetrator and victim could not be of their ex-spouse.
determined.
homicide, and prior and subsequent arrests
Data was obtained from a variety of and convictions for the perpetrators. No
sources—including the Utah Violent Death source had complete data in these areas—
Reporting System (UVDRS), the Utah for example, UDC only has data on
Incident Based Reporting System (IBRS), the perpetrators and only on those perpetrators
Utah Department of Corrections (UDC), the who have been convicted and sentenced.
Utah Criminal History System (UCCH), the
Supplemental Homicide Reports (SHR), the Where data sources had conflicting
Utah Domestic Violence Council annual information, the following priorities were
domestic violence homicide reports (UDVC), assigned: 1) UDC, 2) UCCH, 3) UVDRS, 4)
and newspaper accounts of the homicides UDVC, 5) SHR, 6) IBRS, and 7) newspapers.
and subsequent criminal cases. All sources More detailed data on the victim-perpetrator
were used to identify cases which fit the relationship and the circumstances of the
definitions and compile the data of interest. homicide were obtained from the UVDRS
system and from the Intimate Partner
Data were collected in the following Violence (IPV) sub-system of UVDRS. Much
categories: victim demographics, perpetrator of this information was only available on
demographics, homicide event information, more recent cases, which will be reflected in
victim-perpetrator relationship, criminal the data analysis sections.
charges and convictions resulting from the



RESULTS
More than half of the homicides in Utah in Percent of Domestic Violence Related
2008 were domestic violence-related. Homicides
53.5 55.3
60.0
48.8

% of homicides
50.0 41.8 40.0
36.2 38.6
Data were collected on 169 different incidents 40.0 32.6 31.9
30.0
between 2000 and 2008 involving 180 victims
20.0
and 173 perpetrators. 9 incidents involved 10.0
multiple victims killed by a single perpetrator—7 0.0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
with 2 victims and 2 with 3 victims—and 4 Year
involved a single victim killed by two different
perpetrators. More information on these
incidents is given in the section on victim-
perpetrator relationships. Number of Victims by Year
2000 through 2008
Domestic violence homicides account for a large 22 23 23 22
25 21 21
percentage of the total homicides committed in 20 17 17
Utah. In 2008, more than half of the homicides 15
14

occurring in the state were domestic violence- 10
related based on data collected through the 5

Uniform Crime Reporting system. 0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Incident Characteristics
The domestic violence homicides included in
this study covered a vast array of situations and
Method of Death
resulted from a large variety of events. Close to
Weapon # of Victims
half of the 184 incidents (46.1%) involved a Firearm 84
firearm and an additional 12.5% involved a knife. Knife 23
The remaining 41.4% of the cases involved child Ax 1
abuse or neglect, an accidental drug overdose, Automobile 3
an ax, beating, drowning, automobile homicide, Fire 5
fire, and strangulation or suffocation. One Drug overdose 2
Water overdose 1
unusual incident involved a child homicide Other objects 3
committed by a mother forcing the child to drink Fight, fists, blunt force 9
large amounts of water as a disciplinary Drowning 1
technique. Suicide by the perpetrator was Strangulation or suffocation 14
common. Relationships between perpetrators Child abuse or neglect 34
and victims ranged from spouses to aunt-
nephew to ex-husband of victim’s daughter.



Victims
Age Distribution of Victims
180 victims were killed in domestic violence
Age Category # of Victims
incidents between 2000 and 2008. The number Less than 1 year 23
of incidents has remained relatively constant 1-2 years 16
over this time period. During the same time 3-5 years 10
period, Utah state population has grown by 6-10 years 6
almost 23%. 11-20 years 9
21-30 years 33
31-40 years 29
The average age of the 180 victims was 28.5 41-50 years 25
years, ranging from less than a year old to 83 51-60 years 14
years of age at the time of homicide. 109 of the 61 and older 15
victims were female and 71 were male.

Two-thirds of adult victims of domestic
violence homicide were women.

Victims fell into two distinct groups—child and Victim Gender by Age
80
adult victims—with different characteristics. 70
67.2

Younger victims were equally as likely to be 60 54.5
% of victims

50 45.5
male or female, while older victims were more 40 32.8
likely to be female. The average age of male 30
victims was 22.5 years compared to 32.4 years 20
10
for female victims. More than half of the victims 0
10 years of age or less were male (54.5%) Male Female

compared to less than a third (32.8%) of the 10 years or less Over 10 years

victims over 10 (χ2(1) = 6.92, p<.01).

Perpetrators
More than 80% of the perpetrators were
male.

The 169 domestic violence incidents involved Age Distribution of Perpetrators
173 perpetrators. 144 (83.2%) of the Age Category # of Perpetrators
perpetrators were male and 29 (16.8%) were Under 18 4
18-20 years 11
female. Their average age at the time of the
21-30 years 61
murder was 36.5 years (age was missing in 5 31-40 years 40
cases). There was no difference in the average 41-50 years 26
age of male compared to female perpetrators. 51-60 years 13
61 or more 13



Perpetrator Suicide
Almost one-quarter of the perpetrators
committed suicide.

39 (22.5%) of the perpetrators committed Perpetrator Suicide by Age
suicide. More than 90% (92.3%) of the suicides 100
were committed by male perpetrators. 76.3

% of perpetrators
80 64.9
60
The average age of the perpetrators who 40
35.1
23.7
committed suicide was 50.8 years. 35.1% of the 20
suicides were less than 40 years of age 0
compared to 76.3% of the perpetrators who did less than 40 years 40 years or more

not commit suicide (χ2(1) = 20.40, p<.01). Of the suicide no suicide

9 pairs in which both the perpetrator and victim
were over 60 years of age, 7 involved a
perpetrator suicide.

Suicides were more common in intimate
partner homicides than parent homicides.

Almost half of the suicides were committed by Number of Suicides by Type of Relationship
husbands—46.2% were committed by husbands 30 26
# of perpetrators

after killing their wives. If ex-husbands, 20
commonlaw husbands, boyfriends and ex- 10 5 6
4
boyfriends are added to the numbers, 29 out of
0
39 (74.3%) suicides were committed by men Spouse/ex- Boyfriend/ex- Parent Other
after killing their current or ex-intimate partners. spouse boyfriend

Note: Two perpetrators are shown in more than one category
4 parents committed suicide after killing a
child—in two of these cases, the parents killed 2
of their children; in another, a father killed his
child, his live-in girlfriend, and her child; and in
the final one, a father killed his child and his
wife. In 5 of the 9 cases in which a perpetrator
killed more than one victim, the perpetrator
committed suicide.

Suicides were more likely when the
perpetrator used a weapon to commit the Percent of Perpetrators Using Weapons

murder. 100.0% 87.2%
% of perpetrators

80.0%

60.0% 50.7%
34 (87.2%) of the suicides used a traditional
weapon (gun or knife) to kill their victims 40.0%

20.0%
compared to 68 (50.7%) of the non-suicides
(χ2(1) =15.10, p<.01). 0.0%
Suicide No Suicide



Victim-Perpetrator Relationships
About two-thirds of cases involved intimate Perpetrator's Relationship to the Victim
partner relationships.
parent 25.4

184 victim-perpetrator pairs were analyzed. boy/girlfriend of parent 5.9
spouse 24.9
Intimate partners killed their current or past
ex-spouse 5.4
spouses or boy/girlfriends in 85 (46.2%) of the boy/girlfriend 9.7
cases reviewed. Romantic rivalry played a part ex-boy/girlfriend 5.9
in the homicide in 7.1% of the cases. Parents or roommate 2.2
boy/girlfriends of parents killed a child in 31.5% rival 7.0

of the cases. Other relationships were involved other 13.0

in 15.3% of the cases. These other 0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0

relationships included roommates, brothers and
sisters, sons, cousins, an aunt, and in-laws,
among others. Relationships in Multiple
Victim/Perpetrator Homicides
Multiple Victims/Single # of
Multiple victims and/or multiple perpetrators Perpetrator Incidents
occurred in 13 of the 184 incidents (7.1%). Father killed 2 children 3
Multiple victims with a single perpetrator were Mother killed 3 children 1
more common than multiple perpetrators with a Father killed his child, girlfriend, and 1
single victim. her child
Father killed child and wife 1
Ex-boyfriend killed ex-girlfriend and 2
A male perpetrator with a female victim was her new dating relationship
the most common pair. Ex-husband killed ex-wife and her 1
mother
The 184 incidents were classified by the gender Single Victim/Multiple # of
of the victim and the gender of the perpetrator. Perpetrators Incidents
Ex-wife and her boyfriend killed ex- 1
4.3% involved a female victim with a female husband
perpetrator, 56.0% a female victim with a male Mother and father killed child 1
perpetrator, 12.5% a male victim with a female Mother and step-father killed child 1
perpetrator, and 27.2% a male victim with a Mother and her boyfriend killed child 1
male perpetrator.

In the female victim-female perpetrator pairs, 7 Gender of Victims and Perpetrators
out of 8 involved a mother killing her child under Perpetrator
10 years of age. The other one involved a Victim Female Male
Female 8 103
romantic rivalry. Male 23 50

Almost three-fourths of women or girls who
were killed by men were victims of intimate Female Victim-Male Perpetrator
partner violence. Relationships
Spouse 37 Roommate 1
The 103 female victim-male perpetrator pairs Ex-spouse 9 Father 15
were more diverse. Intimate partners were Boyfriend 17 Boyfriend of mother 5
involved in 71.8% of these cases, romantic Ex-boyfriend 11 Son 5
rivalry in 1.0%, parents in 19.4%, and 7.8% fell Romantic rival 1 Other 2



into the other category. The average victim age
was 33.9 years.

About a half of men or boys killed by women
were victims of intimate partner violence,
and a third were boys killed by their mothers.

The 23 male victim-female perpetrator pairs had
an average victim age of 28.9 years. Just under Male Victim-Female Perpetrator
half (47.8%) of these cases involved an intimate Relationships
partner relationship, 34.8% were parent-child, Spouse 9 Roommate 1
and 17.4% fell into the other category. Ex-spouse 1 Mother 8
Girlfriend 1 Other 3

Parents killing their children accounted for
almost half of the male victim-male
perpetrator cases.

The 50 male victim-male perpetrator pairs had
Male Victim-Male Perpetrator
an average age of 19.6 years. Romantic rivalry Relationships
accounted for 22.0% of the cases, parents for Rival 11 Roommate 2
46.0% of the cases, other family for 28.0% of the Father 17 Other 14
cases, and roommates for 4.0%. Boyfriend of mother 6

Criminal History and Outcomes
Close to 60% of the perpetrators were
convicted on a charge related to the
homicide.

101 of the 173 perpetrators (58.4%) were
ultimately convicted for charges relating to the Convictions Received by Perpetrators
Conviction Sentence #
homicide and 86 (49.7%) were sentenced to a Capital Prison 10
prison term. The 101 perpetrators received the Life in Prison
following sentences: 1st Degree Prison 40
• 10 received a capital conviction, which 20 Years to Life Unsentenced 1
carries a life sentence in prison 2nd Degree Prison 31
1 to 15 Years Probation/jail 5
• 41 received a 1st degree conviction, which Unsentenced 1
carries a 5 (or more) years to life sentence. 3rd Degree Prison 5
o 40 of these were sentenced to prison 0 to 5 Years Probation/jail 3
o 1 is still awaiting sentencing Misdemeanor Probation/jail 5
• 37 received a 2nd degree conviction, which 0 to 1Years
carries a 1 to 15 year sentence.
o 31 were sentenced to prison
o 5 were sentenced to probation
o 1 is still awaiting sentencing
• 8 received a 3rd degree conviction, which
carries a 0 to 5 year sentence.



o 5 were sentenced to prison
o 3 were sentenced to probation and/or
jail time
• 5 were convicted of a misdemeanor and all
were sentenced to probation and/or jail time.

About 20% of the perpetrators did not
commit suicide and were not convicted.

The remaining 33 perpetrators who did not
commit suicide and were not convicted had the
following outcomes:
• 12 had been arrested but had not been Outcomes for Perpetrators
120 101
convicted by July 2009.

# of perpetrators
100

• 5 were found mentally incompetent to stand 80
60
39
trial. 40
12
• 4 homicides occurred on Federal land and
20 5 4 4 3 2 1 2
0

were handled in Federal courts.

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• 4 perpetrators were believed to have fled the

ra

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ui
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at
co

is

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pe

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te

d
nt
• 3 were found not guilty or had charges
dismissed.
• 2 of the perpetrators were juveniles.
• No information was found for 2 perpetrators.
• 1 perpetrator died in jail before he was
convicted.

Close to half of the perpetrators had a prior
criminal record.

79 of the 173 perpetrators (45.7%) had a prior Percent of Perpetrators with Prior Arrests
arrest recorded in Utah’s criminal history 50 45.7
% of perpetrators

tracking system and 26 (15.0%) had been 40
25.4
30
arrested for a felony level offense. These 80 20
17.9 17.9 17.9
10.4
offenders averaged 2.65 prior arrests with a 10
0
range from 1 to 16 prior arrests. The following Any Violent DUI Drug Property Other
summarizes the types of charges against the Type of Charge
perpetrators in these prior arrests. Note that an
offender may have more than one type of arrest
charge.

Offenses which lead to an arrest are often
entered under generic codes such as “assault”
which may or may not have involved a domestic
violence incident. Arrests were only counted as
domestic violence if the records clearly indicated
a domestic violence connection.



Violence. 44 of the perpetrators (25.4%) had
been arrested for a violent offense—40 of these Prior Arrests for Domestic Violence
for some type of assault and 21 for a domestic Homicide Perpetrators
# of
violence assault. 3 had been arrested for sex
Arrest Type Perpetrators
crimes. Seven perpetrators had an arrest Violent 44
relating to a protective order violation. Nine Domestic Violence 21
perpetrators had been arrested for a weapons Assault 40
violation. Sex Crime 3
Protective Order 7
Substance Abuse Violations. 41 of the Weapon 9
Substance Abuse 41
perpetrators (23.7%) had been arrested for a Drug Crime 18
crime related to substance abuse. 18 had been Driving Under the Influence 31
arrested for a drug offense and 31 for Driving Property 31
Under the Influence (DUI). Other 31
Total with at least one arrest 79
Other Crime Types. 31 perpetrators had a
property crime arrest and 31 had been arrested
for crimes in the “other” offense category.
These include public order and alcohol
possession offenses.

Five of the perpetrators had been in prison in
Utah prior to the homicide and an additional 19
had been on probation with the Utah
Department of Corrections prior to the homicide.

Intimate Partner Homicides
Most intimate partner victims were women
and most perpetrators were men.

Homicides involving current or former intimate
Intimate Partner Perpetrators
partners were analyzed separately.
Relationships included in this category were husband 34
boyfriend 17
spouses, common-law relationships, ex-
ex-boyfriend 11
spouses, boy or girlfriends, and ex-boy or ex- wife 9
girlfriends. 85 total incidents were included in ex-husband 9
this category, with 85 victims and 85 commonlaw husband 3
perpetrators. ex-wife 1
girlfriend 1

Five intimate partner homicide incidents had 0 10 20 30 40

multiple victims, only one of which was an Number of victims

intimate partner. In two of these cases, the
perpetrator was an ex-boyfriend of the victim
and also killed her new boyfriend and himself.
In the third case, an ex-spouse killed his ex-wife
and her mother. In the fourth case, a husband



killed his wife and their child, and in the fifth
case, a boyfriend killed his girlfriend, her child, Intimate Partner Victim and Perpetrator Gender
and his child. The incidents involving the non- 74 74
80
intimate partner victims are also included in the

# of individuals
60
sections on parent homicides and other 40
domestic homicides. 20 11 11

0
The figure on the previous page shows the Male Female
Victim Perpetrator
relationship of the perpetrators in this study to
their victims. 74 (87.1%) of the perpetrators
were male and 11 female. Victims had the
opposite distribution, with 74 female victims and
11 male. Age Distribution of Intimate Partner Victims
Age Category Number of Victims
The average age of the victims was 41.6 years. 15-19 2
20-39 41
Two of the victims were teenagers and three
40-59 31
were in their 80’s, with a range of 15 to 83 years. 60 or more 11
48.2% of the victims were between 20 and 39,
36.4% between 40 and 59, and 13.0% were
over 60. The average age of the perpetrators
was 44.5 years (age was missing in 2 cases). Age Distribution of Intimate Partner
The range of ages was 18 to 88 years. Of those Perpetrators
with known ages, 43.4% were between 20 and Age Category Number of Perpetrators
39 years of age, 41.0% were between 40 and 59 18-19 1
years, and 14.5% were over 60. 20-39 36
40-59 34
60 or more 12
Perpetrators committed suicide in more than
one-third of these cases.

Suicide was very common in these cases— Percent of Intimate Partner Perpetrators
36.5% of the perpetrators also killed themselves. Committing Suicide
60.0%
Suicide was more common for male
% of perpetrators

47.8%
50.0% 40.0%
perpetrators, with 39.2% of male perpetrators 40.0%
27.3%
killing themselves compared to 18.2% of female 30.0%
20.0% 11.1%
perpetrators. (Small sample size makes 10.0%
statistical analysis invalid). Suicide 0.0%
boyfriend ex-boyfriend ex-spouse spouse
perpetrators were older than those who did not
kill themselves. The average age of suicides
was 51.9 years, compared to 40.3 for others
(t(81)=3.36, p<.01).

It was much more likely for a spouse or ex-
spouse (we have included common-law partners
in the spouse category) to commit suicide after
killing his or her partner than for a boyfriend or
ex-boyfriend. 47.8% of spouses or ex-spouses
committed suicide compared to 17.2% of


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