Elderly homicide perpetrators in Turkey

The extant literature contains limited studies addressing crimes committed by the elderly population. Understanding the characteristics of elderly perpetrators can guide the development of prevention strategies. This study aims to contribute to the profiling of killers within the elderly population and to provide recommendations for the prevention of homicide.

This study examines the demographic data, crime motivations, crime scenes, homicide methods, murder weapons, psychiatric diagnoses, and perpetrator-victim relationships of elderly offenders (aged ≥65 years at the time of the offense) who underwent forensic evaluation at the Fourth Specialization Board of the Council of Forensic Medicine of Turkey between 2011 and 2021.

Of the perpetrators, 96 (95%) were male, and 5 (5%) were female. The cases ranged in age from 65 to 87 years. The mean age of male perpetrators was 72.27 (±5.95) years, while that of female perpetrators was 68.20 (±1.92) years. Most offenders were male and had low educational attainment. The most common homicide location was the home (46%). A total of 26.7% of the perpetrators had killed their spouses. The most frequently used homicide method was firearm use. Schizophrenia was diagnosed in 8.9% of the perpetrators.

The data on elderly perpetrators are expected to enhance the understanding of this age group and provide valuable insights for geriatrics, gerontology, and criminology. Educating healthcare professionals, regularly monitoring the geriatric population, raising mental health awareness, and strengthening social support services for the elderly are anticipated to contribute to reducing homicide rates among older adults.