Gender and Murder

This chart shows that several of the murders committed and reported on were committed by male offenders and had male victims; with male offenders and female victims coming as a close second. There is nothing state in Virginia law that says a male offender will get a higher sentence than a female offender. It seems that most of these cases involve the offender murdering someone that they knew via work, family, or friends. There were very few cases in which it seems that it was a stranger who murdered someone that they did not know.

I will examine two reports of men and women killing their significant others over martial issues. The first one to be examined is “Slays Two and Dies” and “Kills Wife’s Lover.”

“Slays Two and Dies”- In a fit of jealousy, this woman kills her former lover who had reunited with his wife. She then proceeds to kill her daughter, then turns the gun on herself and commits suicide. The report on this story matches the sensational style of reporting that was common during this time and that is especially come in this newspaper.

“Kills Wife’s Lover”- Mr. Nemec kills his wife’s lover, Mr. Miskell, who also happened to be living with them. What is interesting about this story is that Mr. Miskell and Mrs. Nemec had married, after her husband begged her to return, she did with her new husband and her former husband’s knowledge. This story also fits the sensational style of reporting that appears to be common in this newspaper.