File:Family Annihilation.jpg

A familicide is a type of murder or murder-suicide in which a perpetrator kills one or more close family members (both biological and foster) in quick succession, most often children, relatives, spouse, siblings, or parents. In half the cases, the killer then kills themselves in a murder-suicide. If only the parents are killed, the case may also be referred to as a parricide. Where all members of a family are killed, the crime may be referred to as family annihilation.

There are various types of familicide:

  • Matricide: The killing of the individual's mother.
  • Patricide: The killing of the individual's father.
  • Filicide: The killing of a child (or children) by one's own parent (or parents)
  • Infanticide: The killing of one's child (or children) up to 12 months of age.
  • Mariticide: The killing of a husband or significant other; current common law term for either spouse of either sex/gender.
  • Uxoricide: The killing of a wife or significant other.
  • Fratricide: The killing of the individual's own brother
  • Sororicide: The killing of the individual's own sister
  • Avunculicide: The killing of the individual's own uncle
  • Nepoticide: The killing of the individual's own nephew

Notable villains who have committed familicide edit