ABSTRACT
Violent deaths of human origin traditionally are separated into such categories as murder, infanticide, war, genocide, and terrorism. Other catastrophic events are labeled as accidents and disasters. In domestic violence, the killer is usually a man, whether the murder develops from a domestic or criminal situation. Most observers attribute the rising abuse and murder of children to dysfunctional families. The role of the murderer has been passing to even younger men in recent years: those of ages 15–24 now have the highest rate of committing homicides—as well as the highest rate for becoming a victim of homicide. In recent years there has been a marked increase in the fear of lethal violence on campuses, from elementary school to university. The child who takes pleasure in tormenting animals could be on the watch list for future serial killers. The sorrow of bereaved family members resonated with the personal experiences of those who had experienced traumatic loss in their own lives.
