Dark Side of Family Dynamics: A Case Series on Familicide

Familicide and its subtypes—parricide, filicide, uxoricide, fratricide, and sororicide—represent the most extreme manifestations of intrafamilial violence. These crimes are rare and often underreported in the Indian scientific literature, particularly from the central Rajasthan region. The present study aims to describe five autopsy-confirmed cases of intrafamilial homicide presenting as a cluster within a single month, and to analyze the forensic, circumstantial, and motive-related aspects of each case. This is an autopsy-based, observational case series. Five cases of intrafamilial homicide—each representing a distinct subtype of familicide—were received for medico-legal autopsy at the mortuary of Government Medical College, Kota, Rajasthan, during the study period of November 2023–October 2024. Post-mortem examination was conducted following standard autopsy protocol. Detailed history was obtained from police inquest papers and accompanying officers. The five cases comprised one parricide (drug-addicted son killing both parents with a blunt weapon), one filicide (intoxicated father fatally stabbing his son with a knife), one uxoricide (husband strangling wife due to financial disputes), one fratricide (brother killing brother with an axe over a property dispute), and one sororicide (wife and her paramour killing sister-in-law to conceal an illicit relationship). Motives identified included drug addiction, impulsive behavior, financial stress, property disputes, and illicit relationships. The simultaneous presentation of five distinct subtypes of familicide within a year from one institution highlights the forensic significance and societal burden of intrafamilial violence in the region. Early identification of risk factors—including substance abuse, financial stress, domestic conflict, and extramarital relationships—alongside timely psychiatric intervention may help prevent such tragedies.