We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Criminal

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is Parricide?

By Christina Edwards
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 19,721
Share

Parricide refers to the murder of one's close relatives. Although this typically refers to a person's parents, it may refer to any adult close relative, such as brothers or sisters. Offenders have a number of reasons for committing this type of crime, including mental illness and abuse. There have been several instances of parricide in literature, as well as throughout history.

Matricide refers to the act of a person killing his own mother. Though it does happen, matricide is a little less common than patricide, or a person killing his own father. Some other types of parricide include fratricide and sororicide, or the killing of one's own brother and sister, respectively. These usually refer to adult victims, since infanticide is the term used to describe the killing of young children.

Individuals who commit these types of crimes are typically adults, rather than children. Research also suggests that males are more likely than females to commit this crime. Offenders who are not mentally ill usually come from a violent home filled with abuse, including sexual abuse and physical abuse.

Throughout history, there have been several examples of parricide, particularly patricide, in famous literature. One such example is a Greek myth of Oedipus. In this story, Oedipus leaves home after an oracle foresees him killing his father and marrying his mother. Along his journey, he encounters a man who, unbeknownst to him, is his real father. After solving the riddle of the Sphinx, Oedipus is granted the queen's hand in marriage, only to discover she is actually his mother.

Tacitus, a senator and historian in ancient Rome, referred to the punishment for parricide as the parricide's doom. This punishment involved severely flogging the offender before sealing him in a leather bag filled with a snake, a rooster, a dog, and a monkey. The leather bag was then thrown into a river. Today, the punishment for parricide is not quite as creative.

One of the most famous cases of parricide occurred in Japan in 1968, and is often referred to as the Tochigi patricide case. After being repeatedly raped for years, 22-year-old Chiyo Aizawa strangled her father to death. This case was not only unusual because the offender was female, but it also forced Japan to change its severe punishment guidelines for parricide. After hearing the events leading up to the case, Aizawa received an uncommonly lenient sentence.

Another famous parricide occurred in Idaho in 2003. In September of that year, 16-year-old Sarah Marie Johnson shot and killed both of her parents. As of 2011, she was serving out her life sentence in a woman's correctional facility in Idaho. This case was so publicized for a few reasons. First, Johnson was a young female, and may individuals who commit these type of crimes are adult males. Additionally, she committed both matricide and patricide at the same time, which is also considered to be relatively rare.

Share
MyLawQuestions is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
By serenesurface — On May 03, 2011

Does the term parricide also apply to murder of step-parents and step-siblings?

By burcidi — On May 01, 2011

I read in an article that the majority of people who commit parricide in the U.S. have mental illnesses like schizophrenia.

I wonder if the reason for this is because people who have mental illness and paranoia have problems with the people they see and interact with the most? Because then, family members would be first in line.

I think this calls for more attention to mental health, diagnosis and treatment in the U.S.

What do you think?

By bear78 — On Apr 30, 2011

I think parricide would decrease if there were more social services in place to help people who are being harassed, physically or psychologically or ill treated by their family members.

I was watching a show, where a woman was constantly harassed by her ex-husband, to the point where she felt forced to murder him for her own safety. I think this happens more in countries where there are little or no protection provided for women.

If there were more opportunities for women and men also, to request for physical protection and psychological support, they might not get to that point of murdering their harasser.

Share
https://www.mylawquestions.com/what-is-parricide.htm
Copy this link
MyLawQuestions, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

MyLawQuestions, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.