|
Results of the Study
Gender and Age of the Victims: The 183 victims in the study
consisted of 99 (54.1 percent) females and 84 (45.9 percent) males. Mean age
of the victims was 36.3 years. The modal age was 26, with ten victims of that
age. The median age was 30. Overall, the victims ranged in age from two years
to 91 years. The distribution of the 183 victims by age group and gender is
provided in Table 1. As reflected in that table, female victims tended to be
somewhat younger than male victims.
|
Table
1
Distribution of Arson-Homicide Cases By
Age Group and Gender of Victim
(n = 182)
|
| Age
Group |
Male |
Female |
Total |
| 17
or below |
10 |
14 |
24
(13.2 %) |
| 18-29
years |
29 |
39 |
68
(37.4%) |
| 30-39
years |
7 |
18 |
25
(13.7%) |
| 40-49
years |
9 |
8 |
18
(9.9%) |
| 50-59
years |
9 |
7 |
16
(8.8%) |
| 60
or older |
20 |
11 |
31(17.0%) |
| Total |
*84 |
99 |
182
(100.0%) |
| *Age
information was not available for one male victim. |
|
Overall, more than one-third (68, 37.4 percent) of the victims in these 183
arson-homicides were between 18-29 years of age. Twenty-four (13.2 percent)
were 17 years of age or younger and 25 (13.7 percent) were between 30 and 39
years of age. In the 40-49 year age group there were 18 victims (9.9 percent).
Sixteen (8.8 percent) victims were between 50 and 59 years of age. A total of
31(17.0 percent) of the victims were aged 60 years or older. Information on
the age of one male victim was not available.
Cause of Death: Specific cause of death was available for 177 cases.
The most frequently occurring specific cause of death was fire and fire related
causes that accounted for 49 (27.7 percent) of the 177 victims. As reflected
in Table 2, equal numbers of victims (36, 20.3 percent) died as a result of
gunshots or stabbing. Blunt force injuries were the cause of 25 (14.1 percent)
of the deaths. The remaining victims died of asphyxiant gases (5, 2.8 percent),
cutting (3, 1.7 percent), or smothering (2, 1.1 percent). Specific cause of
death information was not available for six cases.
|
Table
2
Distribution of Arson-Homicide Cases
by Specific Cause of Death
(n =177)
|
| Cause
of Death |
Number
of Cases |
Percent |
| Gunshot |
36 |
20.3 |
| Strangulation |
21 |
11.9 |
| Fire,
Burns |
49 |
27.7 |
| Blunt
Force |
25 |
14.1 |
| Stabbing |
36 |
20.3 |
| Cutting |
3 |
1.7 |
| Asphyxiant
Gases |
5 |
2.8 |
| Smothering |
2
|
1.1
|
| Totals |
177
|
100.0
|
|
To enhance the analyses, the specific causes of death were collapsed into five
general causes as shown in Table 3. Fire-related causes, which included burns
and asphyxiant gases, accounted for 53 (29.9 percent) of the 177 deaths. Bladed
weapons, including specific causes of death of cutting and stabbing, were responsible
for 39 (22.0 percent) of the deaths. Injury from one or more gunshots (36, 20.3
percent) was the third most frequently occurring cause of death. Death by application
of blunt force (25, 14.1 percent) and by asphyxia (24, 13.7 percent) were less
often identified as the cause of death. Asphyxia included cases where the victim
was strangled or smothered. Cause of death information was not available for
six victims.
|
Table
3
Distribution of Arson-Homicide Cases
by General Cause of Death
(n = 177)
|
| Cause
of Death |
Number |
Percent |
| Fire-related |
53 |
29.9 |
| Bladed
weapon |
39 |
22.0 |
| Gunshots |
36 |
20.3 |
| Blunt
force |
25 |
14.1 |
| Asphyxia |
24 |
13.7 |
| Totals |
177 |
100.0 |
|
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