ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 7

Combined Homicide-Suicide in Galveston County
Hempel, AG
Chief forensic psychiatrist, Vernon State Hospital, TX

Felthous, AR
Professor of clinical psychiatry and director of forensic psychiatry service, Department of Psychiatry, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, and medical director, Chester Mental Health Center, IL

Heredia, A
Assistant professor, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, and Harris County Psychiatric Center, TX

Holzer, C
Professor, The University of Texas Medical Branch, TX

Freeman, E
Private psychiatric practice, TX

Goodness, K
Chief psychologist, Behavioral Management Treatment Program, Vernon State Hospital, TX

Bennett, TJ
Resident, Baylor College of Medicine, TX

Korndorffer, WE
Former chief medical examiner of Galveston County, Galveston County Medical Examiner's Office, TX

(Received 7 April 2000; accepted 22 June 2000)

Abstract

Combined homicide-suicides have been classified based on the psychopathology of the perpetrator and the nature of the relationship between perpetrator and victim(s). To further understand the nature of this tragic phenomenon and to test the validity and practicality of a previously suggested classification system, investigators systematically collected data on all combined homicide-suicide events that occurred in Galveston County, Texas over a continuous 18-year period (n = 20). The most common psychopathological finding for perpetrators was high serum alcohol levels that suggested intoxication. Most combined homicide-suicides fell into one of the relational categories and most of these, as predicted, were of the consortial type, possessive subtype. As expected, due to the small sample size, the less common types of combined homicide-suicide were not represented in this sample.

Keywords:
forensic science, forensic psychiatry, psychiatry, homicide, mass murder, murder, suicide, violence

Paper ID: JFS15007J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS15007J
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