Female-perpetrated sexual homicide : a systematic review

Abstract

Research into the aetiology of sexual homicide perpetrators often highlights the impact of adverse childhood experiences and deviant sexual interests on offence commission. However, this research traditionally focuses on samples of male offenders. In attempts to facilitate the generation of knowledge concerning female sexual homicide offenders (FSHO), a systematic review was conducted to establish the current state of literature on this population. In identifying how the developmental antecedents of adverse childhood experiences and deviant sexual interests impact FSHOs, we can further identify how they differ from male sexual murderers. According to the current literature, a population of North American FSHO reflect a balanced ethnic distribution and target individuals within their own ethnic group. Additionally, FSHO were far more likely to use a weapon whilst killing a victim that they were previously acquainted with. Besides differentiating them from their male counterparts, this suggests that there is further heterogeneity within the motivations behind female sex offending based on the ethnic distribution and weapon preferences. While all developmental factors were absent from the literature gathered, heterogeneity within the sexual murderer population is reflected in the demographics, victimology, and modus operandi of FSHO. Implying not only are they distinguishable from male perpetrators but may further be distinguished from each other. This review highlights a knowledge gap concerning the developmental processes and relevant factors to female sexual offending and establishes that more research into this population is necessary.