ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors examine various types of parricide in order to shed light on the heterogeneous nature of this type of domestic homicide. In terms of prevalence, however, parricide is a rare event and among the least frequent forms of domestic homicides. Research on the history of parricide shows that in past societies, parents were often killed by their adult children accidentally or as a result of domestic quarrels often involving alcohol abuse. Two major national databases frequently employed in studies include the Supplementary Homicide Report and the National Incident-Based Reporting System, both maintained by the FBI. Among United States homicide cases in which the perpetrator-victim relationship was known, annually parricides account for slightly less than 2 per cent of all homicides. The findings can be explained by considering that adolescents, young adults and females would perceive their victims as stronger and more powerful, and hence require an accomplice in order to carry out the homicide.
