Homicides of children under age 5 by relationship with the offender, 1976-2005
Line chart with five lines: parent, friend or acquaintance, unknown, other family, and stranger.
For homicides of children committed by a parent, the percentage began at 57.1 in 1976 and increased to 59.1 in 1977. Then the percentage decreased to 47.3 in 1979, before rising to a high of 61.6 in 1985. After 1985, it decreased to 49.7 in 1993, before climbing to 57.0 in 1999. Then the percentage decreased to 51.3 in 2005.
For homicides of children committed by nonparental family members, the percentage began at 8.0 in 1976 and fell, reaching 6.1 in 1977. After 1977, the percentage rose, reaching 9.0 in 1979, before falling to 4.3 in 1982. Then it rose to 8.0 in 2000, before decreasing to 5.3 in 2004. Then the percentage rose to 7.4 in 2005.
For homicides of children committed by friends or acquaintances, the percentage began at 19.5 in 1976 and increased to 29.8 in 1996. Then the percentage decreased to 21.4 in 2003, before increasing to 27.1 in 2005.
For homicides of children committed by strangers, the percentage began at 3.3 in 1976 and increased to 4.1 in 1977. The percentage then decreased to 0.9 in 1986, before increasing, reaching 5.9 in 1995. After 1995, it decreased, reaching a low of 1.2 in 2000, before rising, reaching 3.6 in 2001, where it remained constant until 2002. Then the percentage decreased to 1.6 in 2004, before rising to 2.7 in 2005.
For homicides of children committed by unknown offenders, the percentage began at 12.1 in 1976 and fell to 10.4 in 1977. Then the percentage increased to 17.0 in 1979, before falling to a low of 8.1 in 1985. It then increased to 16.4 in 1990, before decreasing to 10.3 in 1999. The percentage then climbed to 13.0 in 2004, before falling to 11.5 in 2005.