Table 2.
Mechanisms of injury in homicide incidents involving autistic child victims by sex as reported in US news media, January 2000 – December 2019
| Means of Homicide | Victims |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Male n (%) | Female n (%) | Total n (%) | |
|
| |||
| Gunshot wound | 12 (25.5) | 0 (0.0) | 12 (23.1) |
| Drowning | 8 (17.0) | 2 (40.0) | 10 (19.2) |
| Suffocation/strangled/asphyxiation | 8 (17.0) | 2 (40.0) | 10(19.2) |
| Neglecta | 5 (10.6) | 0 (0.0) | 5 (9.6) |
| Medication overdose | 3 (6.4) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (5.8) |
| Blunt head trauma/traumatic brain injury | 2 (4.3) | 1 (20.0) | 3 (5.8) |
| Stabbed/slashed | 3 (6.4) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (5.8) |
| Fire | 1 (2.1) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.9) |
| Physical abuse/blunt traumatic injury | 1 (2.1) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.9) |
| Thrown off bridge | 1 (2.1) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.9) |
| Unknownb | 3 (6.4) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (5.8) |
| Total | 47 (100.0) | 5 (100.0) | 52 (100.0) |
a
Neglect includes dehydration/malnourishment, medication restriction, hypothermia, being left in hot vehicle.
b
Means of homicide was not disclosed or stated in the news reports.