Publisher's Synopsis
Moms Who Kill
Mothers are supposed to be protective and shield their children from danger and destruction. Every child expects their mom to be there for them and instinctively trusts them. They would never expect their own mother of being able to commit such crimes, but they do.
Why Do They Commit These Acts Of Maternal Filicide
"Maternal filicide" is the technical term for the act of a mother killing her child. It is usually children under the age of eight who are killed by their mothers; those over the age of eight are more likely to be killed by their fathers.
So what can make a mother cross the line and actually kill her own child-or, in some cases, children? A history of mental illness, drug abuse, and even perceived altruistic reasons have all been seen in these horrible cases. Andrea Yates, famous for drowning her children in the family bathtub, had a known history of post-partum depression and psychosis and had been advised not to have any further children. In some cases, the mother may stop taking her medication or avoid the counseling doctors recommend.
In the case of Diane Downs, however, who attempted to kill all three of her children but only managed to kill her daughter, it was suspected that she committed the crimes to win the favor of an ex-boyfriend who had stated he didn't want any children. This isn't the only case that circles back around to a relationship. In fact, revenge on a partner might be one of the rarest reasons for filicide, but it happens as well.
Beyond Child Abuse
Women may only commit 14% of the violent crimes in the country, but filicide still remains prevalent. By learning what motivates these women to kill and attempting to understand their frames of mind it might be possible to identify at-risk behavior in the future and stop the violence.
From famous cases such as Susan Smith to lesser known ones such as Michelle Kehoe, all maternal filicides are tragic and horrifying. The murder of a child can never be justified. In the following book we'll look at the murders and the aftermath of their horrifying, unimaginable actions and try to gain an understanding of what motivated them and how those around them seemed to miss the warning signs of their impending actions.
Would You Like To Know More?
Download now and prepare yourself to be shocked by these acts of maternal filicide.
Scroll to the top of the page and select the buy button.
