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A JUVENILE JUSTICE ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION
Because All Kids Deserve a Second Chance
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White males, most commonly 15 to 16 years old
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Middle to upper middle class
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Family isolated either by geography or behavior and life style from surrounding community.
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One or both parents substance abusers, particularly alcohol.
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Child has not been in trouble with authorities.
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Guns are the most common form of weapon. Most commonly found in the home.
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Child has told teachers, friends or someone about abuse.
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Warnings have been ignored, or law enforcement, social services and other agencies repeatedly return child to abusers.
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Precipitating “triggering” event, such as sibling leaving, divorce, loss of job, change in surroundings, leads to killings.
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Crimes are ALWAYS premeditated, in the sense that abused children have thought about killing the abuser (or committing
suicide) for many years.
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Crimes are always unusually violent. “Overkill” is a hallmark of parricide.
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Parent is often sleeping or in a defenseless position when crime occurs, which doesn’t fit legal definition of “self-defense.”
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Kids historically get tougher sentences for killing a parent than a parent gets for killing a child - though most do NOT
receive life without parole.
*Compiled from When A Child Kills (Paul Mones), Kids Who Kill Their Parents( Kathleen Heide)
Some Common Characteristics: *
A child who kills his parents fits into three categories:
severely abused, mentally ill or anti-social. More than
90% have been severely physically, emotionally and
often sexually abused.
A child who kills his parents fits into three categories:
severely abused, mentally ill or anti-social. More than
90% have been severely physically, emotionally and
often sexually abused.
•
White males, most commonly 15 to 16 years old
•
Middle to upper middle class
•
Family isolated either by geography or behavior and life style from surrounding community.
•
One or both parents substance abusers, particularly alcohol.
•
Child has not been in trouble with authorities.
•
Guns are the most common form of weapon. Most commonly found in the home.
•
Child has told teachers, friends or someone about abuse.
•
Warnings have been ignored, or law enforcement, social services and other agencies repeatedly return child to abusers.
•
Precipitating “triggering” event, such as sibling leaving, divorce, loss of job, change in surroundings, leads to killings.
•
Crimes are ALWAYS premeditated, in the sense that abused children have thought about killing the abuser (or committing
suicide) for many years.
•
Crimes are always unusually violent. “Overkill” is a hallmark of parricide.
•
Parent is often sleeping or in a defenseless position when crime occurs, which doesn’t fit legal definition of “self-defense.”
•
Kids historically get tougher sentences for killing a parent than a parent gets for killing a child - though most do NOT
receive life without parole.
*Compiled from When A Child Kills (Paul Mones), Kids Who Kill Their Parents( Kathleen Heide)
Some Common Characteristics: *
