Women Who Kill Women: A Comparative Criminological Analysis in Italy

• In Event: Female Offenders, Serial Killers and Mass shootings

Abstract

Introduction
Female-perpetrated homicides remain an understudied area in criminology, especially when the victims are also female. While men commit the majority of female homicides, examining cases where women kill other women provides valuable insights into gender-based violence patterns. This study investigates the epidemiological and criminological aspects of female-perpetrated homicides of women in Italy, comparing them with male-perpetrated cases.
Materials and Methods
We reviewed newspaper reports from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2024, to compare homicides of women committed by males and females. Using specific Italian search terms, we gathered data on victims, perpetrators, and crime circumstances. We cross-referenced information for accuracy and verified some variables using data from the Italian Interior Ministry. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed to assess differences between male and female perpetrators.
Results
During the study period, 485 female homicides were recorded in Italy, accounting for approximately 35-40% of all homicides annually. The age distribution of female homicide victims was as follows: 7.4% (36) were aged 0-24 years, 22.1% (107) were 25-44 years, 29.3% (142) were 45-64 years, and the largest proportion, 36.3% (176), were 65 years or older. Of these homicides, 23 (4.7%) were committed by female perpetrators. Female perpetrators differed significantly from male perpetrators in terms of age, victim's age, method of homicide (p<0.001), relationship with the victim (p<0.001), and presence of a psychiatric disorder in the perpetrator (p=0.036). Notably, the most common method of homicide among female offenders involved asphyxiation-related deaths.
Discussion
Although female offenders account for a small proportion of homicides, their crimes differ significantly from those committed by males. These differences warrant further investigation, particularly from a preventive perspective, focusing on the psychopathological triggers of these acts and the victimological aspects.

Authors

• Claudio Terranova, University of Padova

• Pasquale Padalino, University of Padova

• Narjis Elisa Cattaneo, University of Padova

• Laura Marino, University of Padova