MOTHERS WHO KILL

Women who kill their children seems like an unfathomable thing to do. However, high profile cases such as Andrea Yates and Casey Anthony, shows that this maternal filicide (mothers that kill their children) does happen. This research will examine mothers that killed their children within the last 20 years. Multiple variables will be examined such as: demographics of mother and victim, motivation for maternal filicide, history of diagnosed mental illness and family history of mental illness, history of alcohol and/or substance abuse, history of domestic violence (either perpetrated by mother or someone in the household for from mothers upbringing), other risk factors for maternal filicide (economic marginalization, age of mother, marital status), the specifics of the crime, such as the modus operandi, and the punishment the mother received for the filicide (sentenced and incarceration/ mental institution, probation etc.