Infanticide and neonaticide: How often are these victims concealed?

Abstract

Homicide rates in infants (under 1 year of age) and neonates (under 1 day of age) are greater than in any other childhood age group. Using data from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) for the years 2018–2021, we sought to determine the demographics of infanticide and neonaticide perpetrators and victims, the incidence of both crimes, how often these victims were concealed, and the most common means of concealment. Here, we report that perpetrators of infanticide were predominantly male, while perpetrators of neonaticide were most often female. For infanticide, victims were most often male, whereas in neonaticide, there was no significant difference in the sex of the victims. Infanticides were far less likely to be concealed than neonaticides. When combining infanticides and neonaticides, we found that perpetrators were most often Black, aged 21–30, the parent, and also the caregiver at the time the crime was committed. Victims were most often concealed by being placed in bags or in the trash, respectively. By identifying which individuals are most likely to offend, intervention strategies can be developed for the highest risk populations. When these crimes cannot be prevented, knowing how the deaths are often concealed can be used to focus investigations to obtain justice for the young victims.