# Child murder > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Child_murder > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Child_murder.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_murder > Source revision: 1340775432 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Homicide of a minor}} {{About||practices of systematically killing very young children|infanticide|the killing of one's own children|filicide}} {{more sources|date=February 2025}} {{homicide}} '''Child murder''', also known as '''pedicide''', '''child manslaughter''' or '''child homicide''', is the [homicide](/source/homicide) of an individual who is a [minor](/source/Age_of_majority). In many legal jurisdictions, it is considered an [aggravated](/source/Aggravation_(law)) form of homicide. The age of the victim may constitute an aggravated factor for homicide offenses, or child murder may be a stand-alone criminal offense. == Punishment by jurisdiction == [[File:Albert_Fish_1903_crop.jpg|thumb|left|[Albert Fish](/source/Albert_Fish), a [serial killer](/source/serial_killer) known for committing pedicides from the 1920s until his arrest in 1932]] ===United States=== In 2008, there were 1,494 pedicides in the [United States](/source/United_States). Among the victims, 1,035 were male and 452 were female.United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2009). Crime in the United States: Uniform Crime Report, 2008. Retrieved from {{cite web |url=http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2008/offenses/expanded_information/data/shrtable_02.html |title=Expanded Homicide Data Table 2 - Crime in the United States 2008 |access-date=2010-08-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100819101712/http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2008/offenses/expanded_information/data/shrtable_02.html |archive-date=2010-08-19 }} About half of the states that maintain the [death penalty](/source/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States) have included pedicide to their list of aggravating factors that may make a murder punishable by death. The victim's age under which the crime is a capital crime varies between states. The ages are set between 10 and 17, with 12 being the most common age.{{cite web | url=https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/stories/use-of-the-death-penalty-for-killing-a-child-victim | title=Use of the Death Penalty for Killing a Child Victim }} Child [manslaughter](/source/manslaughter) can result in an aggravated charge in some jurisdictions such as in the [State of Florida](/source/State_of_Florida).{{Cite web|url=http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0782/Sections/0782.07.html|title=Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes : Online Sunshine|website=www.leg.state.fl.us}} ===United Kingdom=== Any murder in the [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom) carries a [mandatory life sentence](/source/Life_imprisonment_in_the_United_Kingdom). In [England](/source/England) and [Wales](/source/Wales), pedicides involving sexual or sadistic conduct or abduction of the victim can result in a whole life order (i.e. life imprisonment without the possibility of parole) being imposed where the offender is at least 21 years of age. Sentencing guidelines state that where the offender is under 21, the starting point is a minimum term of 30 years.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} ==By other children== [[Image:William York killing Susan Matthew.JPG|left|thumb|18th century illustration of William York (aged 10) murdering Susan Matthew (aged 5) on 13 May 1748, from [The Newgate Calendar](/source/The_Newgate_Calendar)]] {{see also|List of youngest killers}} In most countries, there are very few cases where children are killed by other children. According to the U.S. Department of Justice statistics for 1996,{{citation needed|date=January 2014}} one in five pedicides were committed by other children. Several pedicides have gained prominent media exposure. One was the killing on 12 February 1993 of the 2-year-old boy [James Bulger](/source/Murder_of_James_Bulger) by Robert Thompson and Jon Venables who were both 10-years-old in [Bootle](/source/Bootle), [Merseyside](/source/Merseyside), [England](/source/England). He was beaten and stoned before his corpse was left on train tracks in order to give the impression that a train had hit him. Bulger's killers became the youngest convicted murderers in the modern history of the United Kingdom. Another notable case in the UK occurred in 1968 in [Newcastle upon Tyne](/source/Newcastle_upon_Tyne), when 10-year-old [Mary Bell](/source/Mary_Bell) was convicted of manslaughter due to diminished responsibility in the deaths of toddlers Martin Brown and Brian Howe. She was released in 1980 at the age of 23.{{Cite web|last=Kuroski|first=John|date=2021-10-24|title="Evil Born": The Vicious Crimes Of 11-Year-Old Murderer Mary Bell|url=https://allthatsinteresting.com/mary-bell|access-date=2022-02-20|website=All That's Interesting|language=en-US}} In 1998, 8-year-old Madelyn Clifton was killed by 14-year-old [Josh Phillips](/source/Josh_Phillips_(murderer)).{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} One of the most recent cases occurred in May 2021 in [St. Johns County, Florida](/source/St._Johns_County%2C_Florida), when 14-year-old Aiden Fucci fatally stabbed his schoolmate, 13-year-old [Tristyn Bailey](/source/Murder_of_Tristyn_Bailey). Bailey sustained 114 stab wounds in total. In 2023, Fucci pleaded guilty to the murder and was sentenced to life in prison.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-24 |title=Florida teen sentenced to life in prison for fatally stabbing cheerleader |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/teen-sentenced-life-prison-fatally-stabbing-florida-cheerleader-114-rcna76550 |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=NBC News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Lapin |first=Tamar |date=2021-05-28 |title=Teen accused of killing 13-year-old cheerleader allegedly stabbed her 114 times |url=https://nypost.com/2021/05/27/teen-accused-of-killing-13-year-old-cheerleader-allegedly-stabbed-her-114-times/ |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=New York Post |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Bridges |first=C. A. |date=2023-03-23 |title=Aiden Fucci stabbed 13-year-old Tristyn Bailey 114 times. Here's everything to know |url=https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/crime/2023/03/23/aiden-fucci-florida-murder-killing-tristyn-bailey/70040639007/ |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=The Florida Times-Union |language=en-US}} ==By medical professionals== Children, especially infants, have been killed on purpose by medical professionals. [Katherine Ramsland](/source/Katherine_Ramsland), an expert in serial killers, believes predatory offenders may view healthcare agencies as "places of trust" where they have advantages. While other killers may decide to reduce the workload, or set someone up out of spite, or get [God complex](/source/God_complex) and think they are [helping their victims](/source/Angel_of_mercy_(criminology)), or be seeking attention, self-empowerment, and thrill.{{cite web |title=Lucy Letby: Inside the mind of a serial killer - the psychology behind healthcare murderers |url=https://news.sky.com/story/lucy-letby-inside-the-mind-of-a-serial-killer-the-psychology-behind-healthcare-murderers-12941902 |date=19 Aug 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230819152532/https://news.sky.com/story/lucy-letby-inside-the-mind-of-a-serial-killer-the-psychology-behind-healthcare-murderers-12941902 |archive-date=19 August 2023 |work=Sky News |last=Peplow |first=Gemma |location=United Kingdom |language=en}} In one such case, [neonatal nurse](/source/neonatal_nurse) [Lucy Letby](/source/Lucy_Letby) was accused of killing at least 7 infants between June 2015 and 2016 at the [Countess of Chester Hospital](/source/Countess_of_Chester_Hospital) and attempting to kill a further 10 more.{{cite web |title=How the Police caught Lucy Letby |url=https://news.sky.com/story/how-the-police-caught-lucy-letby-12933640 |date=17 Aug 2023 |first1=Megan |last1=Harwood-Baynes |first2=Tom |last2=Parmenter |work=[Sky News](/source/Sky_News) |location=[United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom) |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230818171804/https://news.sky.com/story/how-the-police-caught-lucy-letby-12933640 |archive-date=18 August 2023}} In another case, French anaesthetist Frédéric Péchier was sentenced for murdering or attempting to murder patients as young as 4 years old, from 2008 to 2017, out of jealousy and disdain for his peers.{{cite web| url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2epv08xwz7o |title=French 'Doctor Death' who poisoned patients jailed for life |date=18 Dec 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20251219215715/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2epv08xwz7o |archive-date=19 December 2025 |first1=Hugh |last1=Schofield |first2=Lara |last2=Gozzi |publisher=[BBC](/source/BBC) }}{{cite web| url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2025/09/08/frederic-pechier-an-anesthesiologist-accused-of-30-poisonings-goes-on-tri |title=Frédéric Péchier, an anesthesiologist accused of 30 poisonings, goes on trial |date=8 Sep 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250908144357/https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2025/09/08/frederic-pechier-an-anesthesiologist-accused-of-30-poisonings-goes-on-trial_6745157_7.html |archive-date=8 Sep 2025 |first=Henri |last=Seckel |publisher=[Le Monde](/source/Le_Monde) }} ==Media coverage== [[File:Jammu1MH uu.jpg|122px|thumb|upright|[Jammu Siltavuori](/source/Jammu_Siltavuori), also known as "Uncle Jammu", murdered two 8-year-old girls in 1989.{{Cite web|url=https://truecrimefinland.squarespace.com/new-blog?offset=1506088771422|title=Episode 004: Uncle Jammu|work=True Crime Finland|date=September 8, 2017|access-date=October 27, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.12657/31121/638220.pdf%3Fsequence%3D1%26isAllowed%3Dy&ved=2ahUKEwjPzb_Z4dPsAhWx-yoKHSyRCT84HhAWMAh6BAgGEAE&usg=AOvVaw31peiBtwEdiYQur7-fsIzI|title=Nodes of Contemporary Finnish Literature - Oapen}}]] In 1992, after the fatal shooting of 7-year-old [Dantrell Davis](/source/Dantrell_Davis) as he left the [Cabrini–Green](/source/Cabrini%E2%80%93Green) [public housing](/source/public_housing) project for school, the ''[Chicago Tribune](/source/Chicago_Tribune)'' put every pedicide on the front page. 62 pedicides were reported that year.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} Multiple deaths in one incident, such as the 1999 [Columbine High School massacre](/source/Columbine_High_School_massacre), 2012 [Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting](/source/Sandy_Hook_Elementary_School_shooting), 2022 [Robb Elementary School shooting](/source/Uvalde_school_shooting), 2018 [Parkland high school shooting](/source/Parkland_high_school_shooting) and the 1996 [Dunblane massacre](/source/Dunblane_massacre) tend to gather the most media attention but are statistically scarce.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} thumb|left|A photo of the police at the Sandy Hook Elementary School shortly after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting ended {{clear}} ==Genocide and child soldiers== {{main|Children in the military}} The military use of children refers to children being placed in harm's way in military actions, in order to protect a location or provide propaganda.{{Cite news|url=http://www.historyextra.com/podcast/children-war|title=Children at war|work=History Extra|access-date=7 December 2017|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112002342/http://www.historyextra.com/podcast/children-war|archive-date=12 January 2018|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.unicef.org/emerg/files/ParisPrinciples310107English.pdf|title=The Paris Principles: Principles and guidelines on children associated with armed forces or armed groups|last=UNICEF|year=2007|access-date=24 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030083755/http://www.unicef.org/emerg/files/ParisPrinciples310107English.pdf|archive-date=30 October 2016|url-status=live}} This is sometimes referred to as child sacrifice, though not equivalent to the religious variety. It may also refer to the use of children as child soldiers or saboteurs.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} [Red Hand Day](/source/Red_Hand_Day) on February 12 is an annual commemoration day to draw public attention to the practice of using children as soldiers in wars and armed conflicts.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} ==Muti killings== [Medicine murder](/source/Medicine_murder), often referred to as ''muti killing'', is a practice of [human sacrifice](/source/human_sacrifice) and [mutilation](/source/disfigurement) associated with traditional medicinal practices, such as [muti](/source/muti). Victims of muti killings are often children. Organs and/or body parts are usually taken while the child is still alive. An unknown child (referred to as ''[Adam](/source/Adam_(unsolved_Thames_murder_case))''), whose decapitated torso was found in the [River Thames](/source/River_Thames) in [London](/source/London) in 2002 is believed to have been the victim of a muti killing.{{cite news| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1723795.stm | work=BBC News | title=Torso murder reward offered | date=21 December 2001 | access-date=28 April 2010}} ==Murdered children of royalty== [[File:Theodor Hildebrandt - The Murder of the Sons of Edward IV - Google Art Project.jpg|268px|thumb|A painting from 1835 by [Theodor Hildebrandt](/source/Theodor_Hildebrandt) with the title ''The Murder of the Sons of Edward IV'' depicting Edward V of England and his brother Richard of York about to be killed]] 130px|thumb|right|Diadumenian, killed at the age of nine 130px|thumb|right|Aged 16, Conradin was beheaded. 130px|thumb|right|Jacques-Victor Henry, Prince Royal of Haiti, bayoneted by revolutionaries at the age of 16 *[Alexander IV of Macedon](/source/Alexander_IV_of_Macedon), 323–309 BC *Two sons of [Queen Dowager Zhao](/source/Queen_Dowager_Zhao) of [Qin](/source/Qin_(state)) and her lover [Lao Ai](/source/Lao_Ai), † 238 BC *[Hieronymus of Syracuse](/source/Hieronymus_of_Syracuse), 231–214 BC *[Caesarion](/source/Caesarion), June 23, 47 BC – August 23, 30 BC *[Julia Drusilla](/source/Julia_Drusilla_(daughter_of_Caligula)), summer of AD 39 – 24 January 41 *[Diadumenian, Roman co-emperor (May–June 218)](/source/Diadumenian), September 14, 208 – June 218 *[Licinius II, Roman co-emperor (317-324)](/source/Licinius_II), c. 315 – c. 326 *Gisald (son of [Sigismund of Burgundy](/source/Sigismund_of_Burgundy)), † 1 May 524 *Gondebaud (son of [Sigismund of Burgundy](/source/Sigismund_of_Burgundy)), † 1 May 524 *Théodebald (son of [Chlodomer](/source/Chlodomer)), c. 521-531 *Gunthaire (son of [Chlodomer](/source/Chlodomer)), c. 523-531 *[Tremorus of Brittany](/source/Tremorus_of_Brittany) (son or stepson of [Conomor](/source/Conomor)) - ''Legendary'' (6th century AD) *[Tiberius](/source/Tiberius_(son_of_Maurice)) (son of East-Roman emperor [Maurice](/source/Maurice_(emperor))), † 27 November 602 *Petrus (son of East-Roman emperor Maurice), † 27 November 602 *Paulus (son of East-Roman emperor Maurice), † 27 November 602 *Justin (son of East-Roman emperor Maurice), † 27 November 602 *Justinian (son of East-Roman emperor Maurice), † 27 November 602 *Merovech (son of [Theudebert II](/source/Theudebert_II) of [Austrasia](/source/Austrasia)), † 612 *[Chilperic, king of Aquitaine](/source/Chilperic_of_Aquitaine), † 632 *[Tiberius, Byzantine co-emperor (706-711)](/source/Tiberius_(son_of_Justinian_II)), 705 – December 711 *[Edward the Martyr](/source/Edward_the_Martyr), c. 962 – 18 March 978 *Several sons of [Harald Kesja](/source/Harald_Kesja), some of which might have been [minor](/source/Minor_(law)), were murdered in 1135 *Harald (son of [Sigurd Munn](/source/Sigurd_II_of_Norway) & [Kristin Sigurdsdatter](/source/Kristin_Sigurdsdatter)), killed in the [1160s](/source/1160s) before the [age of majority](/source/age_of_majority) *[Alexios II Komnenos](/source/Alexios_II_Komnenos), 14 September 1169 – September 1183 *[Emperor Antoku of Japan](/source/Emperor_Antoku), December 22, 1178 – April 25, 1185 *[Vira Bahu I, King of Polonnaruwa](/source/Vira_Bahu_I_of_Polonnaruwa), 1179 – 1196 *[Conradin, Duke of Swabia & King of Jerusalem](/source/Conradin), 25 March 1252 – 29 October 1268 *[Şehzade Halil](/source/%C5%9Eehzade_Halil), probably 1346 – 1362 *[Thong Lan, king of Ayutthaya](/source/Thong_Lan), c. 1373/74 – c. 1388/89 *[Chang of Goryeo](/source/Chang_of_Goryeo), September 6, 1381 – December 31, 1389 *Yi Bang-Beon (son of [Taejo of Joseon](/source/Taejo_of_Joseon) & [Queen Sindeok](/source/Queen_Sindeok)), 1381 – October 6, 1398 *Yi Bang-Seok (son of [Taejo of Joseon](/source/Taejo_of_Joseon) & [Queen Sindeok](/source/Queen_Sindeok)), 1382 – October 6, 1398 *[Danjong of Joseon](/source/Danjong_of_Joseon), August 9, 1441 – December 24, 1457 *[Alexios V, Trapezuntine emperor](/source/Alexios_V_of_Trebizond), 1454 – November 1, 1463 *[Edward V](/source/Edward_V) of England, November 2, 1470 – c. 1483 *[Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York](/source/Richard_of_Shrewsbury%2C_Duke_of_York), August 17, 1473 – c. 1483 *[Lê Quang Trị, Emperor of Annam](/source/L%C3%AA_Quang_Tr%E1%BB%8B), 1509 – May 1516 (his two brothers were killed along with Quang Trị) *[Feodor Godunov](/source/Feodor_II_of_Russia), 1589 – 10 or 20 June 1605 *[Osman the Young of the Ottoman Empire](/source/Osman_II), November 3, 1604 – May 20, 1622 *[Louis XVII](/source/Louis_XVII) of France, March 27, 1785 – June 8, 1795 *[Jacques-Victor Henry, Prince Royal of Haiti](/source/Jacques-Victor_Henry), March 3, 1804 – October 18, 1820 *[Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia](/source/Grand_Duchess_Anastasia_Nikolaevna_of_Russia), June 18, 1901 – July 17, 1918 *[Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich of Russia](/source/Tsarevich_Alexei_Nikolaevich_of_Russia), August 12, 1904 – July 17, 1918 ==References== {{Reflist}} {{Authority control}} Category:Child murder Category:Killings by type --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Child murder](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_murder) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_murder?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.