Matricide During Covid-19 Pandemic: An Unusual Case of Family Violence

Abstract

The need to limit the spread of the virus in the population has forced many countries to impose strict measures of social distancing and home isolation. These measures, although necessary, have caused unprecedented social disruption. One of the most worrying effects of this social crisis is the increase in episodes of family violence which can be extremely serious up to the killing of family members. Matricide is a fairly rare event worldwide. Many authors have over time attempted to figure out the origins of a pathological condition-but not limited to-underlying such crimes often executed through particularly brutal criminal acts against the victims. In this study we present a case of a 66-year-old woman who was killed with multiple stab wounds from a diving knife and then burned. It was determined that the victim was murdered by her 36-year-old son, unemployed for about a year and with a history of alcohol abuse, had a suspected diagnosis of bipolar disorder in treatment with antidepressant drugs. On the victim’s body there were 31 stab wounds, localized mostly to the skull, face and thorax. Some of the typical characteristics highlighted in the literature regarding individuals who commit matricide are actually found in this case. This correspondence underscores the need to recognize and, in some cases, prevent the possible occurrence of such an eventuality within a family.