A 15-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW OF HOMICIDE IN THE ELDERLY

With constant improvements in socioeconomic conditions, the people of most industrialized nations are living longer. Most elderly individual s lead productive lives within the community. Unfortunately, when elde rly individuals suffer from a debilitating disease or injury, society seems ill-equipped to care for them. The frailty and social isolation that comes with illness or advanced age renders the elderly more vulne rable to crime. This study examines the circumstances that surround ho micides of those 65 years of age or older which occurred in Jefferson County, Alabama over a 15 year span. We conducted a retrospective stud y of all decedents brought to the Jefferson County Coroner/Medical Exa miner Office during the 15 years from 1981-1995. A computer search ide ntified 150 homicide victims who were 65 years or older. In these 150 cases the causes of death were as follows: gunshot wound 50%, blunt fo rce injuries 19%, knife wounds 14%, and asphyxiation 10%. Younger homi cide victims were much less likely to be killed as the result of a dir ect physical assault; blunt force injuries and asphyxiation combined c aused death in only 7% of the younger population. Robbery was the most common motive for death in the elderly population, which accounted fo r 37% of cases. The most common location for homicides in the elderly population was in their own residence, which accounted for 71% of case s. Four elderly homicide victims were shot by the police. Three elderl y decedents died as a result of abuse.