NCJ Number
32512
Date Published
1975
Length
9 pages
Annotation
CASES OF 120 FEMALES WHO MURDERED OR ATTEMPTED TO MURDER 161 VICTIMS OVER A PERIOD OF 22 YEARS ANALYZED AS TO WHETHER VIOLENT MEANS OR POISON, INCLUDING GAS, WERE USED.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR DISPUTES THE TRADITIONAL CLAIM THAT POISON IS THE MOST USUAL WEAPON OF FEMALE MURDERERS. STATISTICS ARE PRESENTED WHICH ARE BROKEN DOWN TO SHOW THE COMPARATIVE FREQUENCY OF SUCCESSFUL AND UNSUCCESSFUL HOMICIDES PERPETRATED BY FEMALES USING POISON OR GAS AND USING VIOLENT MEANS. THE AUTHOR CLAIMS THAT HER STATISTICS AND THOSE OF THE FEDERAL CRIMINAL POLICE BUREAU SHOW THAT POISON OR GAS IS NOT THE WEAPON MOST USED BY FEMALES AND THAT THE USE OF THOSE MEANS HAS EVEN BEEN DROPPING OFF IN RECENT YEARS. CASE HISTORIES ARE GIVEN SHOWING TYPICAL METHODS USED BY FEMALE MURDERERS. THESE INCLUDE THE MURDER OF A MEMBER OR MEMBERS OF ONE'S FAMILY CIRCLE BECAUSE OF PERSONAL CONFLICTS AND THE MURDER OF STRANGERS FOR GAIN. POISON IS THE WEAPON USED IN THE CASE HISTORIES CITED. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT MORE THAN HALF OF THE FEMALE MURDERERS UNDER STUDY HAD PREVIOUSLY - AND PARTICULARLY IN THEIR YOUTH - BEEN REPEATEDLY SUBJECTED TO PHYSICAL MISTREATMENT. THE TERM 'EXPANDED SUICIDE' (ERWEITETER SELBSTMORD) IS USED TO DESCRIBE THE ACT OF OTHERNG OR ATTEMPTING TO KILL ONESELF AND ONE OR MORE OTHERS AT THE SAME TIME. FOR THE ORIGINAL OF THIS DOCUMENT IN GERMAN, SEE NCJ-28283.