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The Furor Over Maternal Homicide

Are We Losing Sight of the Primary Issue?

American University

Angela Moore Parmley

National Institute of Justice

The furor over maternal homicide, fueled by the media frenzy, prompted passage of the Unborn Victims of Violence Act in April 2004. Leading up to the passage of the Act, maternal homicide received extensive media attention because of sensationalized cases like the murder of Laci Peterson and her unborn baby Conner. This article questions whether the media sensationalism surrounding maternal homicide has deflected attention from the fundamental issue by exploring the extant research on the relationship between intimate partner violence and pregnancy and intimate partner homicide and pregnancy. The article concludes that the primary issue underlying pregnancy and homicide is intimate partner violence. Because of a focus on maternal homicide that may not be warranted, the article advocates for a stronger relationship between researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. The article also outlines suggestions for future research that could further disentangle the relationship between pregnancy and homicide.

Key Words: maternal homicide • intimate partner violence • violence during pregnancy

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