ABSTRACT
The killing of parents, often referred to as parricide, has evoked horror since antiquity, as evidenced in Greek and Roman mythology dating back hundreds of years (Heide, 1992). In the United States, analyses of homicides from the mid-1970s through 2002 in which the victim-offender relationship was known have consistently indicated tha t approximately 2% involved biological parents as victims (Boots & Heide, 2006; Heide, 1989). The public tends to be particu larly concerned when parents are slain by minors. Analyses of parricide inci dents from 1976 through 1999 have shown tha t the involvement of juveniles
Juvenile Parricide Offenders 77 in killing their parents has been substantial. Approximately one of four fathers (25%) and one of six mothers (17%) killed over the 24-year period were slain by children under 18 (Heide & Petee, 2007).
