title: Intimate partner homicide: new insights for understanding lethality and risks.
abstract: Research on covictims, family members, and close friends who have lost loved ones to intimate partner homicide (IPH) is a neglected area of study. We conducted phenomenological interviews with covictims to gain insights into risk and lethality, examined affidavits from criminal case files, and reviewed news releases. The data uncovered acute risk factors prior to the homicide, identified changes in the perpetrators' behavior and the perpetrators' perceived loss of control over the victim, and described barriers that victims faced when attempting to gain safety. Findings suggest that recognizing acute risk factors is an important area for future IPH research.
authors.affiliation: Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA bshee006@odu.edu.
authors.forename: Brynn E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Sheehan
authors.affiliation: University of New Hampshire, Durham, USA.
authors.forename: Sharon B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: University of New Hampshire, Durham, USA.
authors.forename: Mary M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Moynihan
authors.affiliation: University of New Hampshire, Durham, USA.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dudley-Fennessey
authors.affiliation: University of New Hampshire, Durham, USA.
authors.forename: Jane G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Stapleton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D032882:Comprehension; D019548:Crime Victims; D057237:Criminals; D005260:Female; D006708:Homicide; D006801:Humans; D000066511:Intimate Partner Violence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000401:mortality*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: acute risk factor; covictims; intimate partner homicide; lethality