Behavioral Analysis of Maternal Filicide, 2015
SpringerBriefs in Behavioral Criminology Series

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Language: English

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108 p. · 15.5x23.5 cm · Paperback
Maternal filicide has been discussed in the medical, mental health, and child abuse fields, yet little research exists with a criminal justice/law enforcement perspective. Nevertheless, criminal justice professionals responsible for investigation and prosecution of these offenders often must give attention to unique behavioral, social, and psychological dynamics not considered in many other types of cases.  The Federal Bureau of Investigation?s (FBI) Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) III ? Crimes Against Children identified, collected, and reviewed law enforcement case files in which a biological mother killed her child(ren).  Collectively, the cases involve 213 biological mothers who killed 265 children, and are comprised of neonaticide, infanticide, and filicide cases. Data analysis revealed that the offenders ranged in age from 12-46 years, and many were unmarried, unemployed, and had a history of violence. Many of the victims were three years of age or younger, did not live with their biological fathers at the time of their deaths, and had a history of maltreatment most often perpetrated by their mothers. In addition, traditional weapons such as a firearm or knife were used less often compared to asphyxiants and blunt force instruments. The authors explore the tenets of female violence, the mother-child dynamic and mental disorders, and address the complexities associated with investigating and prosecuting maternal filicide offenders.    ?
​​Introduction.- Precedent for Leniency.- General Violence.- Female Violence.- The Mother-Child Dynamic.- Mental Disorders.- Filicide Classification Systems.- Incidence & Prevalence.- Neonaticide.- Infanticide.- Filicide.- Method.- Results.- Discussion.- Conclusion.- Limitations and Strengths.

Joy Lynn E. Shelton, B.A, is a Crime Analyst in the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit III- Crimes Against Children.  She joined the unit in 1999 and serves as the Principal Researcher for the maternal filicide study and co-researcher for the Suicide Among Child Sex Offenders and Residential Child Abduction projects.  She has co-authored several academic articles and law enforcement guides on the topic of neonaticide – the killing of a child within 24 hours of birth and Child Sex Offender Suicide.  In addition, she provides analytical and operational support for other crimes against children research and investigations.   Mrs. Shelton presents at a wide-variety of national training venues and is a frequent presenter at the FBI’s National Academy at Quantico, VA.

Supervisory Special Agent (SSA) Tia A. Hoffer has a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology, and prior to her work with the FBI, she conducted psychological assessments, individual, and group psychotherapy. She has been with the FBI since 1998 and is currently assigned to the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) III, which deals specifically with Crimes Against Children. SSA Hoffer provides operational support to federal, state, and local law enforcement through case consultations and on-site deployments. She has trained criminal justice and mental health professionals in matters involving child abductions, child homicides, and sexual victimization of children. She is the Principal Investigator on research projects including Suicide among Child Sex Offenders, Criminal Histories of Animal Cruelty Offenders and the General Assessment Questionnaire Validation project.

Mrs. Muirhead joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a research contractor in November of 2005 where she provided statistical expertise on long-term, multi-year projects to the National Center for the Analysis Violent Crime’s Behavioral Analysis Units.  Projects included but were not limited to:Targeted Violence in Institut

Offers a criminal justice/law enforcement perspective on maternal filicide Explores the mother-child dynamic and mental disorders Addresses the complexities associated with investigating and prosecuting maternal filicide offenders? Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras