Spousal (partner) post-homicidal suicides (according to electronic media in the regions of Russia)

Spousal (partner) post-homicidal suicide (PHSU) are most frequent type such delict which were practically not analyzed in Russian Federation (RF). The aim of the study is to study cases of spousal PHSU in the regions of the Russian Federation, their variety and motives for committing them. Materials and methods. It was possible to collect information in the electronic media for over 20 years (2002-2021) on 130 cases of PHSU in 59 regions of the Russian Federation (from 1 to 9 cases in the region), 128 men and 2 women aged 21 to 86 (mean age 45.9±12.1) who committed murders followed by suicide, and 156 victims (19 males and 137 females) aged 1.5 months to 84 (mean age 39.6±15,7). For each case of PHSU, socio-demographic and criminological indicators, features of the delict (presence of mental disorders, probable motives) were written out. Mathematical and statistical processing was carried out using descriptive statistics and x2-distribution. Results. In 80% of spousal (partner) PHSUs the victim was only the wife (partner, beloved). In 6.2% victims were the spouse and her children, in 6.2% victims were the spouse and one of the family members (adult children, grandchildren, relatives, mother-in-law), in 7.6% victims were the spouse and her lovers, or male acquaintances. In only two cases women killed their elderly husbands with a knife because of conflicts (64 and 84 years of age). The average age of the aggressors and victims turned out to be the lowest in the spousal and child PHSU and the oldest age in the spousal and family PHSU. At the same time, the murdered wives from the subgroup of spousal and out-of-family PHSU were about 10 years younger than their husbands' aggressors, as were their lovers and murdered men. In these cases, firearms were used as a method of both murders and subsequent suicides, and strong jealousy was the leading motive for aggression. The males (lovers) were, on average, the same age (38.3±10.7, from 21 to 53 years of age) as the murdered women in this group. Murders were most often committed with the help of piercing objects (41.5%), firearms (39.2%) and by strangulation (6.2%), and suicides were committed with firearms (42.3%) and cold weapons (23. 1%), hanging (20%). Jealousy (Othello's syndrome for pathological jealousy) was the most common motive for lethal aggression (26.2%), but in isolated cases there were encountered psychotic incidents. Relationship breakup (separation) was observed in 14.6%, conflicts, quarrels were reported in 11.6%, divorce was reported in 9.2%. Mental disorders were indicated in 10.8% of cases, most often (60%) psychoactive substances (alcohol) addiction. In 20.8% the reasons for the aggression were not known. Conclusion. Spouse PHSUs are significantly more often performed by men who, on average, are older than their wives (partners). The proposed typology of marital PHSU is working and suitable for practice. The leading causes of PHSU are jealousy, relationship breakup, divorce, conflicts and quarrels. PHSUs are also committed by people with mental disorders, which suggests a psychopathological factor as aggression and auto-aggression.