Murder/Suicide USA 2011

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My Apologies


I started to do a monthly wrap-up in 2011, but as you can see, I never got past January. I also attempted to summarize the data monthly on Twitter, but I missed quite a few months, although I still have the data.

January 2011


After the bloodbath of January 2010, with no less than 80 cases of murder/suicide reported, I was expecting a similar result for 2011, but it was not to pass.

January 2011's count on the 31st was a mere 61, about 2% less than one would expect on an average 31 day month. Of course, one month bleeds into the next—2011's first murder/suicide was actually 2010's last—so by the 1st of February the last news of January rolled in, making it an average month after all.

This is a very predictable crime. There are going to be at least two a day, on average.  You can bet on it.  Although we all would like to think it matters, the economy only plays a small part in these tragedies.  Good times or bad times, it just happens.

For some reason during January there was a lot of talk about "double suicide", especially in regards to old folks. I had to disagree in at least one case, but there were three or four "double suicide" stories I passed up on because there were just no details. Perhaps those stories kept the numbers down.

The most intriguing story of the month was the "Coffee Clash" article, the culmination of a decade-old missing person case with revenge killing overtones.

There were two jumpers reported, which, in my experience, is rare.

Charcoal (carbon monoxide poisoning) also made a double showing in January, along with three fires.

Two cats and a dog were lateral casualties, and one hungry kitty tipped off neighbors to the tragedy next door.

At least ten kids were orphaned.  They were the lucky ones.  Five were killed by their parents (2 moms, 1 dad).

January's "Get Over It" award has to go to the news organizations in and around Bordentown, NJ.  This story and numerous follow-ups have flooded the news for the entire month.  Chances are this trend will go on for several weeks, if not months.  Some stories have legs.

January's "Flash From The Past" concerns last Fall's murder/suicide in Gastonia, NC.  A Gastonia funeral home worker had lifted a credit card from one of the bodies and on January 8th committed suicide after being arrested for identity theft.

There were the usual clutch of old folks checking out, as well as lovers and ex-lovers.  Motel 6 and WalMart made the news, SWAT teams took a break for a change, bodies were found in a cemetery (good place for them when you think about it) and at least one teen made a desperate, final act.

In the months to come I will continue to do a monthly wrap-up, hopefully with better stats.


8 comments:

  1. What is the purpose to this site? To bring awareness? Or to make fun of these people and there family's? And do you, the site owner, know how these people feel? I'm interested to know. You can email me at Romank0808@gmail.com.

    ReplyDelete
  2. One of Close relative recently committed suicide by inhaling Helium Gas in Maryland.He was 23 years
    and is in USA for Masters Degree.
    The police have closed the file by confirming suicide.His name is Prem Venkatasubramanian.

    Can any one find the exact reason and let me know
    the actual cause of death with a copy of the postmortem.My id is bulletvasu@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. We provide hundreds of clean-ups for these types of situations every year. It's not pretty but hopefully these victims' families had someone like me around to help them in their difficult time. www.cendecon.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sorry for my late reply, but as to the purpose of this site...

    "A nationwide database to track murder-suicide should be established or integrated into existing data collection mechanisms. In order to better understand the phenomenon and develop effective prevention strategies, the data collected should be detailed and include: the gender, sex, age, ethnicity, and profession of the perpetrator and victim(s); the type of weapon used, including the make and model of firearm; the specific location of the event, e.g. workplace, specific room in residence; and, any available information regarding the motivation of the murderer."
    —American Roulette (2008)

    I agree with that. I wish I had more (and in a different way, less) data, but I don't. So this site serves as an archive for those who would like to study the phenomenon in more detail.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for compliling this data. It is probably very hard for some to read. Others of us have to stand back and look at this kind of information more clinically to either get closure, see the history of a specific area, and bring some understanding of why neighborhoods still behave specific ways (urban legend, or healing process) or just for the sake of preventative measures. Those who commit acts such as these are anomalies within the system. We will never understand them, but if we can somehow see it coming, then perhaps lives can be saved in the future.

      Delete
  5. we are trying to do exactly what you have suggested: produce a database of intimate partner homcide-suicide in order to determine just what is taking place and what can be done to prevent these incidents. This is a dissertation for a PhD in forensic psychology.
    smch

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. smh: please provide contact info for data base for forensic psychology studies. I do not like the voyeuristic feel to this site, including the black backgrounds, the listing of headlines, etc. True research would not feel this eerie to me.

      Delete
  6. I hope your readers refer to my website - www.federalwitness.info and become familar with the devilry stalking us. Many of us have died and it's time someone said NO! Contact me at Federalwitnessing@gmail.com and I'll do the same, if I can get through. Remember to FEAR NOT! God is with us. God Bless"

    ReplyDelete