For this reason, information fir both has been included. Bereavement Complications of the Family 1. Blame and assignment of guilt are common reactions as family members question what they or other family members could have done to prevent the murder. Social support may be withdrawn due to the stigma of murder, which tends to blame and assign guilt to the victim. Extreme anger and rage is felt by the survivors along with an intense desire for revenge and retribution.
Survivors feel helpless, fearful, impotent, and vulnerable.
The concept of personal control is severely damaged, sometimes irrevocably. The murderer may not be identified or apprehended, leaving the family angry, frustrated, and fearful, sometimes for years. If the murderer is apprehended, it can sometimes take many years to litigate the case through the justice system. Lack of familiarity with the legal process further complicates normal grief. The trial experience itself can be traumatic as the family relives the murder, including photographs, autopsy reports, and details of the event.