Parents who commit suicide after killing their children

Mike Berry

Clinical Forensic Psychologist

Ruth Cliff

Psychology Research Assistant:

Each year in England and Wales an average of 56 children are victims of homicide.  Smith et.al (2012) suggest that every ten days a child is killed by his/her parent(s).  Flynn  et. al. (2009) examining homicides followed by suicides in the U.K. (1996-2005) identified 5 096 homicides of which 203 (4%) offenders died by suicide before trial.  Thirty-seven (18%) cases involved parents killing their children then themselves (an annual average of four parental homicides/suicides). 

Resnick (1969) identified specific motivations for parents who kill their children (e.g. altruistic acutely psychotic accidental filicide unwanted child or spousal revenge).  We also identify parents killing their child for reasons relating to the killer's own status.  Children are equally likely to be killed by their mother or father with no significant difference between immediate or delayed suicide.  Flynn and others. identified a child is most at risk when parents are aged 25-34.  

Mental health and criminal history...

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