When Men Murder Women: An Analysis of 1997 Homicide Data

Females Murdered by Males in Single Victim/Single Offender Incidents

Oklahoma

The homicide rate among females murdered by males in Oklahoma was 2.41 per 100,000 in 1997

Ranked 5th highest in the United States

Age

Ten female homicide victims (24 percent) were less than 18 years old, and 4 victims (10 percent) were 65 years of age or older.

Race and Ethnicity

Out of 41 female murder victims, 27 were white, 9 were black, 3 were American Indian or Alaskan native, and 1 was Asian or Pacific Islander. Under ethnic classification, 1 of the 27 white females was categorized as being of Hispanic origin. None of the women in the other 3 racial groups were categorized as being of Hispanic origin.

Most Common Weapons

In cases in which the weapon used in the homicide could be identified (40 cases), over two thirds of the female homicide victims (27 victims or 68 percent) were shot and killed with guns. Over 8 out of 10 of these gun victims (22 victims or 81 percent) were killed with handguns. There were 4 females killed by bodily force and 6 killed with blunt objects. The remainder of cases involved other non-firearm weapons.

Victim/Offender Relationship

The relationship was identified for all 41 cases. More than 9 out of 10 female victims (39 victims or 95 percent) were murdered by someone they knew. Only 2 female victims were killed by a stranger. Of the victims who knew their offenders, 56 percent (22 victims) were wives, common-law wives, ex-wives, or girlfriends of the offenders. Among the 22 female intimates murdered, 82 percent (18 victims) were killed with guns; 89 percent of these gun victims (16 victims) were shot and killed with handguns.

Circumstance

In cases in which the circumstance of the homicide could be identified (41 cases), 85 percent of the murders (35 cases), the homicides were not related to the commission of any other felony. Of these cases, 43 percent (15 cases) involved arguments between the victim and offender.

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