CHARACTERISTICS AND TRENDS RELATING TO VICTIMS AND OFFENDERS OF INFANTICIDE
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Authors
Dinwoodie, Cameron Brooks
Issue Date
2011
Type
Thesis
Language
en
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
This thesis' intention is to determine what factors, if any, play a role in children becoming victims of murder. Broadly defined, child murder is broken into three distinct categories: neonaticide (less than 24 hours old), infanticide (24 hours to 1 year old), and filicide (above | year old). Many studies have been conducted on these types of murders, but have not conclusively shown risk factors for either the offender or victim. This thesis was inspired by the infamous case of Andrea Yates, a Texas woman who murdered her five children (Spinelli, 2004; West and Lichtenstein, 2006). The story of Andrea Yates shocked the United States and brought the uncomfortable topic of infanticide into mainstream discussion. Due to the nature of the crime, a need exists to develop the public’s understanding of risk factors in an effort to find effective means of prevention and deterrence.
An extensive review of research was conducted on studies of infanticide to find commonalities, potentially indicating the most likely offenders and victims. Data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Justice were collected and analyzed to determine the following: which victim-offender relationship results in the highest rates of infanticide, if the method of killing is based on the race of the offender, if there is a difference in rates of homicide in children under 5 years old, and what age group of offenders is most likely to murder a child under the age of 5 years old. Once high-risk groups and factors are identified, it is possible to create and implement educational programs to prevent this heinous crime against the most innocent of victims.