Abductor Violence in Nonfamily Infant Kidnapping

Abstract

A study of 199 nonfamily infant abduction cases reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children between 1983 and 2000 compared violent with nonviolent cases. Violence occurred in 30 (15%) of the 199 cases. Murder of the victim mother occurred in 18 (60%) of the 30 cases, including 2 cases in which both parents were murdered. In 6 of the 30 cases (33%), the newborn was extracted by cesarean section, and 1 newborn died. Violent abductors compared to nonviolent abductors were more often women who were older than 30, married, overweight, who planned the abduction, had a prior relationship with the victim mother, used a confidence-style approach, carried a weapon, had a codefendant, and were motivated by a need to secure a partner relationship