Domestic Killers
A domestic murderer is someone who kills their domestic partner and/or children, as well as third parties that may include new partners, other family members, neighbours, friends, co-workers, helping professionals, bystanders, and others killed as a result of the incident.
In most cases masculinity and perceptions of power sets the background for the crimes. The family role of the father is central to their ideas of masculinity and the murders represent a last ditch attempt to perform a masculine role.
Domestic homicides account for a large proportion of homicides worldwide, particularly in high-income countries like Canada where 20% of homicides are domestic homicide.
Unlike strategic and planned murders, domestic homicide often happens in the heat of passion, fueled by drugs, alcohol, jealousy, revenge or a toxic mix of all these.
Characteristics
- History of severe mental illness, from schizophrenia to psychic disorders.
- Cognitive impairment
- Lower IQ scores
- Less felony convictions than those who kill strangers
- Poor emotional control and impulsive tendencies
- Shooting and stabbing are the most common causes of death in domestic homicides
- Women are more likely to be killed with firearms and beatings/strangulation
- Men are more likely to be killed with knives or sharp objects
- Men are more likely than women to commit suicide following domestic homicide
Sub-Types
- Self-righteous: The killer seeks to locate blame for his crimes upon the mother whom he holds responsible for the breakdown of the family. This may involve the killer phoning his partner before the murder to explain what he is about to do. For these men, their breadwinner status is central to their idea of the ideal family.
2. Disappointed
This killer believes his family has let him down or has acted in ways to undermine or destroy his vision of ideal family life. An example may be disappointment that children are not following the traditional religious or cultural customs of the father.
