Mothers who kill their offspring: testing evolutionary hypothesis in a 110-case Italian sample

Concealed Homicides-A Postmortem Study and Review

ABSTRACT

A study was undertaken at Forensic Science SA, Adelaide, South Australia, of all cases of homicide (January 2003-December 2022) where the victims' bodies had been concealed. Three hundred twenty-six homicides were identified, which included 27 cases where bodies had been deliberately hidden (8%) (age range, 2-82 years; ave, 34.9 years; M:F = 1.5:1). Deaths were due to blunt force trauma (n = 11), sharp force trauma (n = 4), asphyxia (n = 4), gunshot wound (n = 2), and a combination of drowning and asphyxia (n = 1). In 5 cases, the cause of death was not determinable. The methods of concealment (which were sometimes overlapping) included the following: dumping at a hidden/isolated location (n = 8), burial (n = 7), dismembering (n = 3), incinerating (n = 3), hiding in a wheeled garbage bin (n = 2), disposing in garbage resulting in the remains being located at waste disposal facilities (n = 2), hiding in a shed (n = 1), under a concrete floor (n = 1), in a suitcase (n = 1), in a river (n = 1), in a mine shaft (n = 1), and in a septic tank (n = 1). Although it has been asserted that concealed homicides are rarely encountered in forensic practice, the current study has demonstrated that the bodies in at least 8% of victims of homicide in South Australia have undergone some form of concealment.

Bad parents? evaluating judgements of infant homicides

While the killing of one's own infant is an undoubtedly harrowing crime, there exists little research exploring attitudes toward these individuals. Such work has focused primarily on depictions of mothers, yet U.K. government data indicate that the majority of infant homicide cases involve paternal suspects. A sample of U.K. residents (n = 245) participated in a mixed-methods design to explore attitudes toward mothers and fathers who have been accused of murdering their infant child and whether parental mental health issues impacted these judgements. Results aligned with the chivalry hypothesis wherein maternal suspects were evaluated more leniently. Qualitative analyses uncovered hidden gender expectations: mothers were ascribed blame when the father was accused of infant homicide, a finding that was not present in the reverse scenario. This suggests that traditional views of motherhood conflict with a shifting social landscape that is seeing an increase in stay-at-home fathers and working mothers.

Filicide by mentally ill maternal perpetrators: a longitudinal, retrospective study over 30 years in a single Northern Italy psychiatric-forensic facility

Characterization of mentally ill maternal perpetrators of filicide assigned to a single psychiatric-forensic facility, including previous access to mental health services. A cross-sectional, retrospective analysis of medical records and legal documentation of maternal filicide patients at a single psychiatric-forensic facility (1990-2021) was performed. Socio-demographic, relationship, psychopathological, and criminological characteristics were collected. Data were compared according to previous perpetrators' access to mental health services or not and access within 1 year prior to filicide or not. All 55 detainees (mean age 34.8 ± 6.2 years) were included. There were 64 victims; 15 (23%) were ≤ 1 year old and most (77%) were single victims. Some mothers had history of violence/abuse (29%), an aggressive parent (45%), and violent relationships with their intimate partner (46%) and were socially isolated (49%). Most crimes were motivated by altruism (53%). Women had attempted suicide in 39% of filicide cases. Previous psychiatric diagnoses were available for 56%; 71% had accessed services for ≤ 1 year. Patients unknown to mental health services were less likely Italian, with children below preschool age and with no history of physical abuse/violence, aggressive parent, or suicide attempts. Patients lost to mental health services (> 1 year) were less likely Italian or assuming psychopharmacological therapy, were in shorter relationships, and were mostly diagnosed with personality disorders. Female perpetrators of filicide are often unknown/lost to mental health services prior to the crime. Multifactorial historical and current characteristics aid in identifying mothers at risk. Communication of the availability of mental health services must be multi-lingual.

Evolutionary psychological perspectives on filicide are applicable in modern-day Norway

Current evolutionary psychological (EP) perspectives on filicide perpetration propose that it is an extreme behavioral manifestation of psychological mechanisms that evolved due to their function toward enabling ancestrally adaptive discriminative parental investment. Predictions concerning the characteristics traits of filicide derived from this hypothesis have been empirically supported cross-culturally. Still, it remains a theoretical and empirical question whether EP perspectives on filicide are applicable in societies where the general population is alleviated from ancestrally salient cues to reproductive conflict between individuals and children in their care and the opportunities for lethal caretaker behaviors are highly constricted. Compiling a national sample of filicide cases in modern-day Norway, the present study catered for testing whether EP perspectives on filicide apply in such a society. As predicted, the majority of incidents (79.5%) were associated with perpetrator psychopathology (psychotic episode or filicide-suicide). This further catered for testing the EP hypothesis that filicides associated with perpetrator psychopathology will be characterized by traits that contradict an ancestrally adaptive logic for discriminant parental investment. A full series of predictions derived from this hypothesis was supported as filicides with this association included no step-parental perpetrators and, when compared against filicides that were not associated with perpetrator psychopathology, had older victims and perpetrators and more often multiple victims. The findings confirm the potential applicability of EP perspectives on filicide in progressive and highly developed welfare states, thus lending support to their universal validity.

Experiences and perspectives of women who have committed neonaticide, infanticide and filicide: A systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: The phenomenon of child killing (neonaticide, infanticide or filicide) is a rare event that cannot be fully explained by a single construct as each case involves the unique life circumstances of each woman who committed the act(s). WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: The majority of women who committed neonaticide, infanticide or filicide regretted the act and regretted not seeking help from family and healthcare professionals. Women who committed neonaticide, infanticide or filicide in the main had complex circumstances characterised by poverty, abusive relationships, poor family and social support or over reliance on family supports and mental health issues. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: Women require a clear plan of what to do if they feel overwhelmed with caring for a baby or child. Healthcare professionals involved with women in the perinatal period need to explore further women's expressions of "not being ready to be a mother" which for some women may be pathological and require further assessment. Women need to be made aware of the support service pathways available to them during the perinatal period and beyond. Further research is needed to explore and learn from women's experiences to reduce child homicide mortality and support women and their families.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Meaning and personal experiences of the acts of neonaticide, infanticide and filicide have rarely been investigated from the perspectives of the women who committed those acts.

AIMS

To identify and synthesise evidence on the perspectives of women directly involved in the complex phenomena of neonaticide, infanticide or filicide from the evidence available on their unique point of view and how these experiences have affected women's lives. To understand how the experiences and perceptions of women who engaged in child killing present similarities or differences according to the child's age at time of death.

METHODS

Qualitative primary studies published in English were included if they explored the experiences of women who engaged in neonaticide, infanticide or filicide. Methodological quality was assessed using the qualitative Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist. A thematic analysis framework guided the synthesis.

RESULTS

Seven papers reporting on five studies met the inclusion criteria for the review. Three analytical themes were identified: Not ready to be a mother; Intentionality and premeditation in the context of trauma and mental health issues; Sorrow of regret.

DISCUSSION

The majority of women who committed neonaticide, infanticide or filicide had complex psychological, social and personal circumstances and in the main regretted the act and regretted not seeking help from family and healthcare professionals. Healthcare professionals in contact with women during the perinatal period and beyond need to be aware of the profiles of vulnerable women and undertake holistic integrated assessments to identify the woman's personal context, changes in interpersonal relationships, social isolation or over reliance on family supports and changes in mental health status or new onset of mental health conditions.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Women require a clear plan of what to do if they feel overwhelmed with caring for a baby or child. Healthcare professionals involved with women in the perinatal period need to explore further women's expressions of "not being ready to be a mother" which for some women might be pathological and require further assessment. Women need to be made aware of the support services pathways available to them during the perinatal period and beyond. Further research is needed to explore and learn from women's experiences of each of the phenomena separately to reduce child homicide mortality and support women and their families.

Neonaticides in the United States-2008-2017

Objective

This study examines factors associated with homicide in the first 24 hours of life (i.e., neonaticide) in the United States.

Methods

National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) linked birth-infant death data, for 50 states and the District of Columbia, from 2008 through 2017, were used to examine characteristics associated with neonaticide. National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) data were used to examine circumstances of neonaticides that occurred in 14 states. Circumstances of neonaticides are described, and rates for maternal and infant characteristics are presented as rates per 100,000 person-years.

Results

Among neonaticide victims in NVSS (N = 81), those of mothers who are young, unmarried, non-Hispanic, Black, and have lower education levels, are at an increased risk of neonaticide. Further, among mothers in NVDRS who committed neonaticide (N = 42), 66.7% were known to have given birth at a residence, without medical assistance. Approximately three-fourths (73.8%; n = 31) concealed their pregnancy, with 35.7% (n = 15) disposing of their infants in a trash receptacle after giving birth. Additionally, more than half of neonaticide victims were tested for alcohol, opioids, amphetamines, and cocaine, but a relatively small number tested positive for these substances.

Conclusions

Results highlight the importance of identifying factors that elevate risk to neonates so these deaths can be prevented. As such, many mothers who commit neonaticide are young, unmarried, and conceal their pregnancy; thus, programs that prevent teen pregnancy, decrease shame and stigma associated with birth to young mothers, and provide support and resources to pregnant women, may help prevent neonaticide.

Maternal filicide and mental illness: A descriptive study of 17 women hospitalized in a French secure unit over a 24-year period

Maternal filicide is defined as the murder of a child by its mother. Many classifications have been elaborated based on underlying motives such as altruism, mental pathology, fatal maltreatment, spousal revenge, or an unwanted child. Pathological filicide refers to cases in which the perpetrator has a major psychiatric illness. Related literature is sparse. The present work proposes to identify the main characteristics of mentally ill filicidal mothers. This study was based on data gathered through a retrospective chart review of all filicidal women admitted to the Henri Colin secure unit (France) between 1996 and 2019 (N = 17). Most filicidal mothers had a dysfunctional childhood marked by emotional neglect, intrafamilial violence, or social isolation. They were often married, on average about 32 years old. We found a history of attempted filicide in 3 cases, and abuse or neglect in 3 other cases. The victim's average age was 6.2 years old, and in several cases, multiple siblings were murdered. Half of the filicidal mothers had a history of psychiatric disorders. Three different diagnoses were found in our study: bipolar or depressive disorders (41.2%); schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders (41.2%); personality disorders (17.6%). We identified two subgroups, as having different motivational profiles. In the first group, filicide is a defensive reaction to a perceived threat: The murder is committed under the influence of hallucinations or delusions. In the second group, filicide is linked to a context of separation, real or imagined. Several forensic and psychopathologic features associated with each profile are detailed.

Trends of infanticides in northern Tunisia: A 40 years study (1977-2016)

BACKGROUND

The Tunisian Penal Code defines infanticide as the murder committed by the mother on her child at birth or immediately after. There is a dearth of studies and official statistics on infanticide in the Arab region and North Africa.

OBJECTIVE

to analyze the infanticide trends in northern Tunisia between 1977 and 2016.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

we included all cases of infanticides autopsied at the Legal Medicine Department of Charles Nicolle Hospital in Tunis, over a period of 40 years (1977-2016).

METHODS

A descriptive retrospective study.

RESULTS

We collected a total of 513 cases of infanticide over the study period. The general prevalence of infanticide was 0.42 per 100,000 live births per year. Infanticide often occurred during the week, in winter (31.5%) and in spring (30.9%). The newborn was often found on public roads (40.9%) and in urban areas (81.4%). The newborn was often full-term (73.6%), mature, without any congenital malformation, found completely naked (75.2%) and with an empty stomach (93.7%). The umbilical cord was often cut (71.5%), not ligated (82%) with an irregular edge (64%). There was often no putrefaction (54.4%). The hydrostatic test (81.8%) and histological examination (81.1%) showed that infants had breathed. Neglect was the most common cause of death (49.9%).

CONCLUSION

Northern Tunisia has a low prevalence of infanticide compared to most of the previous European and American studies. A better understanding of infanticide would allow us to adapt measures of prevention.

Homicide in the western family and background factors of a perpetrator

AIMS

Familicide is a multiple-victim homicide incident in which the killer's spouse and one or more children are slain. A systematic review was conducted to reveal the background factors of western homicide perpetrators.

METHODS

The systematic search was performed in the Arto, Medic, Cinahl, Medline, EBSCOhost Academic Search Premier and Social Services abstracts databases. The keywords were familicide, family homicide, familicide-suicide, filicide-suicide, extended suicide, child, murder, family, filicide and infanticide. The searches revealed 4139 references from the databases. The references were filtered and 32 peer-reviewed research articles revealed in years 2004-2014 were selected as data. The articles were analysed using inductive content analysis, by finding all possible background factors related to homicide.

RESULTS

The factors were described as percentages of the range. The background factors of familicide perpetrators were categorised as follows: perpetrators who had committed homicide of a child and intimate partner and possibly committed suicide; a father had who killed a child; a mother who had killed a child; a father who had committed a filicide-suicide; and a mother who had committed a filicide-suicide.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychological instability, violence and crime were found in all these categories of familicides. Perpetrators who had committed a suicide in addition to the familicide had more often been diagnosed with depression, but they sought treatment for mental health problems less often and had violence and self-destructiveness less often in their background than in other familicide categories. Social and healthcare professionals should be more sensitive to emerging family problems and be prepared for intervention.

Mothers who murdered their child: an attachment-based study on filicide

The current study examined whether attachment theory could contribute to identifying risk factors involved in filicide. Participants were 121 women: mothers from the normative population (NPM, n=61), mothers with mental illness (MIM, n=37), and filicidal mothers, i.e., mothers who had murdered their child (FM, n=23). Descriptive variables were collected and the Adult Attachment Interview was used to assess mental representations of attachment relationships using the traditional coding system and the Hostile/Helpless (HH) attachment state of mind coding. Unresolved, Insecure, Entangled, and Helpless representations of attachment relationships were overrepresented in the FM group. When a constellation of descriptive and attachment-based risk factors was taken into account, the HH attachment state of mind was found to contribute significantly to distinguishing between MIM and FM groups. As predicted, when the Bayesian Information Criterion was applied to multinomial regression models, descriptive variables were shown to be less able alone than in association with attachment-based classifications to disentangle the increased risk for committing filicide.

Toward a more holistic understanding of filicide: a multidisciplinary analysis of 32 years of U.S. arrest data

Filicide is the killing of one or more children by a parent, stepparent, or other parental figure. This study presents the first comprehensive analysis of U.S. filicide, drawn from 94,146 filicide arrests tabulated over a 32-year period in the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation's Supplementary Homicide Reports (SHR). Filicides comprised 15% of all murders during this period. Modal victim age was less than one year old. One-third of the victims were under a year old; over two-thirds of the victims were age six or less. Fathers were as likely as mothers to kill infants. The mean age of offenders was 32 years with a mode of 22 years, and nearly three-quarters were aged 18-45. Female offenders were notably younger than their male counterparts. Black (or African American) offenders were significantly overrepresented in filicide compared to Whites. Most common killing methods included using hands and feet, strangulation, beating, asphyxiation, drowning, and defenestration. Stepparents were not at higher risk of filicide than genetic parents, but were twice as likely to kill using firearms. Synthesizing these results with studies from other fields, we propose three transdisciplinary, empirically informed filicide categories primarily defined by effects of (1) psychopathology associated with neurotransmitter disturbances, (2) gender and sex hormones, and (3) evolutionary motives. Approaching filicide using this proposed hypothetical framework for future research may help identify at-risk populations and improve prevention and treatment.

A current absence of neonaticide in Norway

The present study is the first attempt to explore the rate, characteristics and legal reactions to neonaticide in Norway during the years 1990 – 2009. Potential incidents of neonaticide were identified through the national homicide index held by the National Criminal Investigation Service and the national police registers for all recorded crime in Norway held by the National Police Computing and Material Services. The study uncovers that no clear incident of neonaticide has been recorded in the respective registers during the study’s time period. There was however recorded one case of a discarded stillborn and one case of an abandoned neonate that died through exposure. The paper discusses whether the study’s findings are congruent with an evolutionary psychological understanding of filicide and current knowledge of risk factors and rates for neonaticide.