Cyber-Related Homicides: Exploring Predatory Behavior and Argument Escalation in Online Environments

• In Event: Special Types of Homicide and Homicide Threats

Abstract

Internet-related violence, which refers to incidents that originated in an online setting and ended in real-life violence, have been a matter of concern since the rise of social media communication and online dating. Despite the public’s anxiety regarding online-initiated predatory violence, particularly with respect to victimization of children, very few studies have examined the most serious act of online-initiated violence─ murder (see Jewkes, 2007; Wiederhold, 2013; Yardley & Wilson, 2015). Using journalistic accounts from sources deemed credible and legal materials, the present study was designed to assess offender, victim, and incident characteristics for online-initiated murders, such as cases in which the offender groomed the victim online and committed the murder during their first encounter, and cases in which an online argument escalated and ended in an offline murder. Cases in a variety of online environments were explored, including social media sites, dating sites, and advertisement sites (e.g., Craigslist). Data were collected on cases from multiple countries, and analyses will include a comparison between the United States and other countries on the above-mentioned characteristics. Implications for prevention will be discussed.

Authors

• F. Jeane Gerard, Coventry University

• Norair Khachatryan, University of South Florida