Homicide victim/offender relationship in Florida Medical Examiner District 8.
This study examined the correlations between victim/offender relationship and three variables: motive, weapon choice, and number of injuries inflicted. Empirical relationship and motive categories were used. The sample consisted of 57 intentional homicide cases from Florida Medical Examiner District 8 between the years 1992 and 1996. Relationships were divided into primary and secondary categories. Primary relationships included intimates, relatives, and friends; secondary relationships included acquaintances and strangers. Motives were classified as romantic dispute, argument/conflict, revenge, or felony type; weapons as firearm or contact; and number of injuries inflicted as single or multiple. A significant correlation was found between victim/offender relationship and homicide motive; however, the revenge and felony type motive categories did not differ. Unexpectedly, no correlation was found between victim/offender relationship and either weapon choice or number of injuries inflicted. Further study is needed of the interactions between homicide victim/offender relationship and motive, weapon selection, and number of injuries inflicted.
Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA. shuala@hotmail.com
Shuala M
SM
Drawdy
Wade C
WC
Myers
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003417:Criminal Psychology; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D006708:Homicide / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000473:pathology