Studies on Child Abuse and Neglect: Victim, Perpetrator, Family, and Incident Characteristics of 32 Infant Maltreatments Deaths (1997)

Information regarding perpetrators is highlighed in bold. Just as I have often said, based on the many articles posted here--there an awful lot of crying babies who are being killed by dad while dad is babysitting.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6V7N-3SX6YKK-2&_user=4558894&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_acct=C000063405&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=4558894&md5=c34e843552164144bd5d926ff5520c95

Victim, perpetrator, family, and incident characteristics of 32 infant maltreatment deaths in the United States Air Force*1

Albert L. Brewster, John P. Nelson and Kent P. Hymel
Donald R. Colby
D. R. Lucas, Thomas R. McCanne and Joel S. Milner
Headquarters Family Advocacy Program, Brooks Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX, USA
Air Force Office of Special Investigation, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, DC, USA
Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, USA
Received 24 March 1997;
revised 4 August 1997;
accepted 8 August 1997. ;
Available online 11 June 1998.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the present study was to extend the previous number of variables used to describe infanticide and identify factors that might be used to prevent infanticide.
Method: Using a multidisciplinary approach, victim, perpetrator, family, and incident variables in 32 cases of infanticide were identified and examined. Available investigative, birth, medical, autopsy, and Air Force Family Advocacy Program records concerning substantiated cases of infanticide due to family maltreatment occurring in the United States Air Force from 1989 through 1995 were independently reviewed for 58 criteria. Interrater reliability was 96%.

Results: Victim—The mean age of the infant-victim was 4.9 months old. Although 35% of physicians' reports about the infant-victim noted colic, only 10% of the mothers and 13% of the parent-perpetrators reported their infants as being colicky. Fifty-five percent of the infant-victims had physical trauma before the fatal incident, indicating physical abuse. At death age, the infants' weights and lengths were smaller (36th and 39th percentile, respectively) in comparison to normal infants the same age. Perpetrator—The caretaker-perpetrator had a history of abuse in childhood (23%), was male (84%), the biological father of the victim (77%), and a first-time parent (54%). Family: The infant-victim families were composed of young (mother = 23.3 years old; father = 24.3 years old), married (97%) parents with one or two children (M = 1.6). Incident: The incident had the infant-victim crying (58%) and alone with the caretaker-perpetrator (86%) on the weekend (47%) at around noon in the home (71%).

Conclusions: The findings indicate several factors related to infanticide. Awareness of these factors may help in the prevention of infanticide.


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