Familicide: The Growing Epidemic

The considerable rise in familicide over the last server months has been well – horrifically shocking. Familicide, is legally defined as the act of committing murder or murder-suicide by a family member. Victims are spouses, children, relatives, parents, siblings and often the murderer ends the reign of terror by completing suicide. Statistically it is a crime more often committed by men, and the favored weapon of choice is a gun. It is an unimaginable crime- visions that human psyche cannot tolerate. Such a grave interpersonal act of violence  are crimes that we just do not comprehend. Familicide is not a frequent crime, but it is the most common type of mass murder identified. However, in recent months the startling increases in familial murders leave us stunned.

On January 29th, 2009 51-year-old Mark Meeks of Columbus, Ohio was seen shoveling the fresh fallen snow outside of his quiet suburban home mid morning. His wife, Jennifer Dallas Meeks was home, as were his two children 8-year-old Abigail and 5 year-old Jimmy who were probably thrilled that it was a “snow day” – a get out of school free day! What ever was pressing Mark, we will never know- he had just returned to work after a temporary lay-off and by all accounts seemed to be a happy, loving, devoted family man. Apparently, there were no overt signs of trouble brewing. Whether he took the time to write his suicide note, and the quick explanatory email to his father in law before or after he shot his wife and children is an unanswered question. Maybe it was all drafted while his family enjoyed lunch at the kitchen table. After his family was gone,  Mark Meeks finished off his plan by taking his own life.

In the same week, Ervin and Anna Loupe had resolved after both losing their jobs that it would be better to end their lives and the lives of all 5 of their children ranging in ages from 24 months to 8 years old. The plan was well thought out. The children were pulled from school the week prior. It was certain that money wasn’t coming in, and Ervin had been told by one of the administrators at the place both he and Anna were employed at, that he should just kill himself. The background is interesting, there are some obvious concerns- this could have possibly been prevented.

In closely related news, 16-year-old Lewis C. Powell plead guilty to one count of First Degree Murder charges for beating his mother to death with a baseball bat. It turns out that being a privileged child comes with high expectations. Donna Rosemarie Campbell Powell argued with her son over receiving a C in an advanced class he took at his private, $20,000 annual tuition school, where he was known to be an honor student and athlete. Taking full responsibility for his mother’s murder, Lewis confessed to the murder, described how he hid his mother’s body in the garage over night, and covered her.