Filicide

{{crimenav}}

{{cquote|Let us not obscure the fact that murder is murder.|||Vilissa Thompson<ref name="Huffpo Alex" />}}

'''Filicide''' is the despicable act of murdering your own [[Children|child(ren)]]. It is always wrong, no matter how "difficult" your child is.{{nofact}}

Most filicide perpetrators are mentally healthy.<ref>[https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0058981 https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0058981]</ref>

==Reasons==
Experts have identified 5 reasons why adults may kill their own children:<ref>[https://theconversation.com/why-do-parents-kill-their-children-the-facts-about-filicide-in-australia-111338 Why do parents kill their children? The facts about filicide in Australia]</ref><ref>[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2922347/ An Overview of Filicide]</ref>
#'''"Altruism"''' — The offender thinks the child is suffering, and thus kills them in an act of "love," or the offender intends to commit [[suicide]] and thinks the child could not cope with being left behind
#'''Accident''' — The offender simply intended to [[child abuse|beat the child]] and ended up killing them, or Munchausen by proxy was involved
#'''Psychosis''' — Drug use or [[insanity|severe mental illness]] causes the offender to kill for no clear reason
#'''Spousal revenge''' — The offender wants to make their spouse suffer
#'''Unwanted child''' — The offender didn't want kids, or doesn't want this particular kid

Some of these overlap with the [[Abortion#Reasons women have abortions|reasons women induce abortions]], though killing a sentient child is obviously far worse.

==Female infanticide==
Some parents kill female infants because they only want male babies. This may be especially prevalent in societies in which male (but not female) children are expected to look after their aging parents, or in which a dowry is necessary for marriage.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/abortion/medical/infanticide_1.shtml Female infanticide] - BBC</ref>

==Killing of disabled children==
{{cquote|How we treat the most vulnerable in society – in the health system, the justice system and elsewhere – is a litmus test for our compassion and humanity.|||André Picard<ref>[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-pardoning-robert-latimer-is-not-justified/ Pardoning Robert Latimer is not justified]</ref>}}

When a parent murders a non-disabled child, they may be called "pure evil" or a "monster."<ref name="Huffpo Alex" /><ref>[https://ollibean.com/wrong-murder-autistic-child/ IT IS WRONG TO MURDER YOUR DISABLED CHILD] - Judy Endow</ref> (And they'll deserve it.)

But when the child is [[disabled]], suddenly people trip over themselves in order to justify it.

Media outlets choose to focus on the children's disabilities, and the things they were unable to do (e.g. speaking), or things they did (like screaming or hitting, [[Sarcasm|which obviously non-disabled children never do]]). The children are portrayed as burdens on their parents, as a way of explaining why [[Eugenics|their death was logical]].<ref>[https://briannonlee.com/2016/10/19/autistic-children-murdered/ When autistic children are murdered] - Briannon Lee</ref><ref>[https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/03/new-report-discovers-that-the-media-normalizes-the.html New Report Discovers That the Media Normalizes the Murders of People with Disabilities] - Paste Magazine</ref> It may even be called a "mercy killing," "final act of love," "loving sacrifice," or some [[Bullshit|other]] [[euphemism]].<ref>[https://autisticadvocacy.org/2015/06/asan-statement-on-sentencing-in-jude-mirras-murder/ ASAN Statement on Sentencing in Jude Mirra’s Murder] - ASAN</ref> Other people may be told not to judge the murderer.<ref name="miscellany">[http://miscellanynews.org/2016/09/14/opinions/media-erases-autistic-victims-of-violence/ Media erases autistic victims of violence] - Miscellany News</ref><ref>[http://www.raggededgemagazine.com/0902/0902ft2.html Mercy! Here we go again] - Ragged Edge Online</ref>

Murderers of disabled children may receive sympathy to the point that people argue for a light sentence.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/01/world/father-s-killing-of-canadian-girl-mercy-or-murder.html Father's Killing of Canadian Girl: Mercy or Murder?] - New York Times</ref> For example, the two killers of Alex Spourdalakis were only sentenced for 3 years each, despite the horrific brutality of his murder,<ref name="Huffpo Alex">[https://www.huffpost.com/entry/murder-victims-disabilities-mercy-killings_n_58bd5abfe4b05cf0f401b603 How Murder Victims With Disabilities Get Blamed For Their Own Deaths] - Huffington Post (Note: Contains disturbing details of a child's murder)</ref> and the mother of 14-year-old Annie Marshall (who had been shut in a room and slowly starved to death), received only 5 years in prison.<ref>[http://www.raggededgemagazine.com/0902/0902ft2.html Look for Annie, Abuse] - Not Dead Yet</ref>

While the murderer may claim it was an act of altruism, they may have a history of hating the child's disability, suggesting that the act of cruelty was actually because they didn't want the child.

The Disability Day of Mourning keeps a long list of disabled people murdered by their families.<ref>[https://disability-memorial.org/ Disability Day of Mourning memorial]</ref>

===Murder of autistic children===
{{cquote|In the wake of this tragedy, I read a lot of articles that asked the readers to imagine how George’s mother must have felt. But I didn’t see a single article that asked the reader to empathize for George, to imagine how it feels to see your mother point a gun at you.|||Zoe Gross<ref name="George">[https://autisticadvocacy.org/2012/03/remarks-on-the-murder-of-george-hodgins/ Remarks on the Murder of George Hodgins]</ref>}}

[[Autism]] is a heavily stigmatized disability, and not all parents love their autistic children. Frighteningly, autistic children in particular are more likely to be victims of murder-suicide.<ref>[https://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/2016/08/22/emerging-evidence-indicates-that-children-with-disabilities-in-general-and-with-autism-in-particular-are-frequent-victims-of-murder-suicide/ Emerging evidence indicates that children with disabilities in general and with autism in particular are frequent victims of murder-suicide] - Left Brain, Right Brain</ref>

[[File:Katie McCarron.jpeg|right|thumb|165px|Katie McCarron's family wants her photos shared so people can know what a happy child she was. Her grandfather reported that her interests included singing, going to the zoo, dancing, visiting the mall, dressing up, and playing outside]]Here is an incomplete list of autistic children and young people who were killed.
* Jude Mirra (8), forcibly poisoned in 2010 by his millionaire mother<ref>[https://nypost.com/2015/05/28/millionaire-mom-who-killed-autistic-son-gets-18-years-in-jail/ Millionaire mom who killed autistic son gets 18 years in jail] - New York Post</ref><ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2014/10/09/justice/new-york-autistic-death-trial/ New York executive describes for jury how she killed her son] - CNN</ref>
* George Hodgins (22), shot and killed in 2012 by his mother<ref name="George" />
* Daniel Corby (4), drowned in 2012 by his mother;<ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/woman-sentenced-in-tub-drowning-of-autistic-son-4/ Woman sentenced in tub drowning of autistic son, 4]</ref> his mother may have been inspired by the news coverage of George Hodgins' death<ref name="George" />
* Alex Spourdalakis, a boy who loved music and balloons, brutally murdered in 2013 by his [[Anti-vaccination movement|anti-vaxxer mother]] and his godmother;<ref>[https://disability-memorial.org/alex-spourdalakis Alex Spourdalakis] - Disability Day of Mourning</ref><ref name="Huffpo Alex" /> he was a subject of several [[Age of Autism]] blog posts and was likely subjected to various biomedical "cures" before he was killed<ref>[https://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2013/06/14/autism-biomed-and-murder-of-alex-spourdalakis "Autism biomed" and the murder of Alex Spourdalakis] - Science Blogs</ref>
* London McCabe (6), a cheerful and loving boy who liked big hats and watching his parents kiss, thrown off a bridge in 2014 by his [[Anti-vaccination movement|anti-vaxxer]] mother<ref>[https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2015/06/the_first_fathers_day_after_hi.html The first Father's Day after his son was killed, Matt McCabe speaks out] - The Oregonian</ref><ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/jillian-mccabe-accused-throwing-autistic-son-oregon-bridge-n240606 Jillian McCabe Accused of Throwing Autistic Son Off Oregon Bridge] - NBC</ref>
* Nicholas Ritchett (20), shot and killed in 2015 by his father<ref>[https://autisticadvocacy.org/2015/06/statement-on-the-murder-of-nicholas-richett/ Statement on the Murder of Nicholas Richett] - ASAN</ref>
* Austin Anderson (19), who was blind and had limited mobility, left in a field to die without water or medication while his [[Child abuse|physically abusive]] [[Methamphetamine|meth]]-abusing mother watched in 2016<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/09/07/let-god-take-you-woman-said-she-left-her-blind-autistic-son-in-field-until-he-died-police-say/?utm_term=.4d5e9b00c444 'Let God take you': Woman said she left her blind, autistic son in field until he died, police say]</ref><ref>[https://time.com/4482411/death-autism-son-field-mother-missouri/ A Woman Brought Her Blind Son With Autism to a Field to Die, Police Say] - TIME</ref>
* Katie McCarron (3), an intelligent autistic girl who loved singing and walking in tall grass (among many things<ref>[https://mikestanton.wordpress.com/2006/06/18/for-mike-and-katie-mccarron/ For Mike and Katie McCarron]</ref>), was suffocated by her mother<ref>[https://disability-memorial.org/katherine-mccarron Katherine McCarron] - Disability Day of Mourning</ref>
* Je'Hyrah Daniels (4), thrown into a river in 2018 by her negligent and thieving mother who didn't want an autistic daughter<ref>[https://disability-memorial.org/jehyrah-daniels Je-Hyrah Daniels] - Disability Day of Mourning</ref><ref>[http://www.fox13news.com/news/local-news/deputies-no-sign-of-abuse-then-mom-drowns-daughter Report: Mother upset daughter had disability] - Fox 13 News</ref>
* Sarah Dubois-Gilbeau (5), who loved acting out movie scenes and Lego comic books, [[Child abuse|beaten to death]] by her father who didn't like her autism<ref>[https://disability-memorial.org/sarah-dubois-gilbeau Sarah Dubois-Gilbeau] - Disability Day of Mourning</ref>
* Thomas Valva (8), died of hypothermia after his father forced him to strip naked and sleep outside in freezing conditions while his stepmother sprayed him with cold water.<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/michael-valva-sentencing-thomas-update-b2242381.html Ex-NYPD officer Michael Valva sobs as he is sentenced to life for murder of eight-year-old son who froze to death in garage]</ref><ref>[https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/us-news/evil-stepmother-convicted-along-dad-29449249 Evil stepmother convicted along with dad after boy, 8, froze to death in garage]</ref>
* Lincoln Button (5), who loved watching the trains from his window and cuddling with his mother,<ref>[https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2025-10-14/autistic-boy-wanted-to-show-mum-trains-before-she-smothered-him-court-told Autistic boy 'wanted to show mum trains' before she smothered him, court told], ''ITV News''</ref> only for her to smother him to death because she'd had enough of raising him.<ref>[https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2025-10-16/mum-who-smothered-five-year-old-autistic-son-guilty-of-murder Mum who smothered five-year-old autistic son guilty of murder], ''ITV News''</ref>

Many of them are deeply missed by friends and family members, who said they were loving and a joy to have in their lives.<ref>[https://www.gofundme.com/f/rest-for-a-5-year-old-who-was-killed-by-her-father Rest for a 5 year old who was killed by her dad] - GoFund Me by Chantel DuBois</ref><ref>[https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2014/11/boy_thrown_from_newport_bridge.html Boy thrown from Newport bridge remembered at school as a kindergartner 'full of love'] - Oregon Live</ref><ref>[https://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/Neighbor-Mother-didn-t-care-about-daughter-tossed-into-Hillsborough-River_170576818 Neighbor: Mother 'didn’t care' about daughter tossed into Hillsborough River] - Tampa Bay</ref><ref>[https://notdeadyet.org/katie-mccarron The Murder of Katie McCarron] - Not Dead Yet</ref> None of these children and young people deserved death.{{nofact}}

Some members of the [[autism rights movement]] have raised concerns that sympathetic media portrayals could be linked to copycat crimes.<ref>[http://autisticadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/ASAN-Anti-Filicide-Toolkit-Complete.pdf ASAN Anti-Filicide Toolkit] (PDF)</ref> For example, 4 days after [[Autism Speaks]] released a video in which a mother discussed contemplating murder-suicide, 3-year-old autistic Katie McCarron was murdered by her mother.<ref name="miscellany" /><ref>[https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17847914/katherine-marie-mccarron Katherine Marie “Katie” McCarron] - Find a Grave</ref>

===Reactions to the murder of kids with disabilities===
Some autistic people, such as writer Mel Baggs, have asked that their death not be treated as justifiable if they are murdered.<ref>[https://ballastexistenz.wordpress.com/2006/04/19/if-i-am-killed/ If I am killed...] - Mel Baggs</ref>

====Lack of services====
{{cquote|Conversations about services and conversations about child abuse and murder need to be separated by a brick wall. This isn’t about services. And when we say, give us more funding or parents will kill their kids, we are saying, very literally: give us more money, or the kid gets it.|||Julia Bascom, director of ASAN<ref>[https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-mommy-blogger-who-tried-to-kill-her-autistic-daughter-talks-to-dr-phil The Mommy Blogger Who Tried to Kill Her Autistic Daughter Talks to Dr. Phil]</ref>}}

Anti-autism groups including [[Autism Speaks]] claim that lack of services drives parents to murder.<ref>[https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/wayne/2015/06/16/melvindale-murder-suicide/28817605/ Murder-suicide underlines strain of autism care] - Detroit Free Press</ref>

However, this doesn't account for the existence of wealthy murderers, or the existence of murderers who reject help from others.<ref name="Huffpo Alex" /><ref>[http://www.thinkingautismguide.com/2014/11/how-asan-helped-issy-stapleton-get.html How ASAN Helped Issy Stapleton Get Justice] - Thinking Person's Guide to Autism</ref> Advocates for autistic people have argued that claiming services will stop murders sounds awfully similar to using children's lives as a bargaining chip.<ref>[https://loveexplosions.net/2014/05/02/terrorist-threats/ Terrorist Threats] - Love Explosions</ref>

====Frightening comments by parents====
{{cquote|Yet there is a controversy because parenting an Autistic child is "hard," which means that Kelli Stapleton's feelings are more important than Issy's life.|||Anonymous autistic writer<ref>[http://iamnotkellistapletonflashblog.blogspot.com/2014/10/walk-in-issys-shoes-not-kellis.html Walk in Issy's Shoes, not Kelli's] #IamNOTkellistapleton Flash Blog</ref>}}

If anti-vaxxers think that autism has already "stolen" their child and taken away their [[soul]]<ref>[http://nautil.us/issue/60/searches/how-to-talk-about-vaccines-on-television How to Talk About Vaccines on Television] - Nautilus (featuring a terrible quote by Jenny McCarthy</ref><ref group="note">The child's soul, not the murderer's soul. But if anyone's missing a soul here, we'll give you a hint: it's not the child.</ref>, then murder must not be so bad, since the victim [[Other#Dehumanization|wasn't even a real person]].<ref>[http://autistext.com/2017/03/04/autpocalypse-then-autpocalypse-now/ Autpocalypse then, autpocalypse now] - Autistext</ref>

Members of anti-autism communities have spoken up for murderers and would-be murderers on social media, telling people to "walk in [the murderer's] shoes" before judging them.<ref>[https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2013/09/moms_alleged_attempt_to_murder.html Mom's alleged attempt to murder autistic teen prompts national, Kalamazoo response] - Michigan Live</ref>

Understandably, this shocked people. Decent parents of disabled children expressed horror at the idea that it is somehow "normal" to want to kill a child.<ref>[https://loveexplosions.net/2013/09/07/the-road-to-killing-a-child/ the road to killing a child] - Love Explosions</ref><ref>[https://www.meriahnichols.com/issy-stapleton-murdersuicide/ About the Issy Stapleton Murder/Suicide] - Meriah Nichols</ref> Autistics, including autistic abuse survivors, have asked why no one ever thinks to walk in ''their'' shoes, pointing out how hard it is to be an autistic child whose parent hates autism.<ref>[http://timetolisten.blogspot.com/2013/09/here-try-on-some-of-my-shoes.html Here, try on some of my shoes.] - Kassiane Sibley, abuse survivor</ref> "I could have been [attempted murder victim] Issy Stapleton," noted autistic writer Kassiane Sibley, whose violent mother threw her against a wall hard enough to dent her skull.<ref>[http://timetolisten.blogspot.com/2013/09/i-could-have-been-issy-stapleton.html I could have been Issy Stapleton.] - Kassiane Sibley</ref>

The death of a child is a terrible thing, including the death of an autistic child.<ref>[https://justkeepstimming.com/2018/11/01/anger/ Anger] - Just Keep Stimming</ref>

====Fighting ableism====
[[File:Disability Day of Mourning 1.png|right|thumb|165px|The disability day of mourning on March 1 honors disabled people killed by caregivers.]]
{{cquote|There were concrete documented efforts by the autism community to help [Spourdalakis], and she rejected that. She wanted her child [[Miracle|cured]], and when she couldn't, she resorted to murder.|||David Perry<ref name="Huffpo Alex" />}}

Members of the [[autism rights movement]] have pointed out that the common denominator is likely the horrible belief that children are better off dead than disabled.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/10/opinion/perry-autism-london-mccabe/ Why London McCabe's death matters]</ref> Some murderers have refused to accept their children's disabilities, and have put them through intensive [[applied behavior analysis|behavior modification]] or biomedical "treatments" before deciding to kill them.<ref>[https://loveexplosions.net/2014/01/03/kelli-stapleton-still-relevant/ Kelli Stapleton. Still relevant.] - Love Explosions</ref> "The truth is, Kelli didn’t want Issy anymore. She made it look like it was unselfish and loving, but it was not unselfish and loving," said Eileen Stapleton, grandmother of murder attempt survivor Issy Stapleton.<ref>[https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2014/10/post_540.html As Kelli Stapleton sentenced in autistic daughter's poisoning, other girl asks: 'What happens to my mom?']</ref>

On March 1, many disabled advocates observe the Disability Day of Mourning.

==See also==
* [[Ableism]]
* [[Anti-vaccination movement]]
* [[Autism Speaks]]
* [[Eugenics]]
* [[Abraham]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group="note"}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}
[[Category:Ableism]]

Categories: Ableism