Center for Judicial Excellence

Justice. Accountability. Integrity.

  • About Us
    • CJE Board of Directors
    • CJE Staff
  • Donate
  • Contact CJE
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Initiatives
    • Advocacy & Legislation
      • Media Advocacy
      • Policy & Legislation
      • Prior Legislative Victories
    • CJE Youth Speak
      • Forced “Reunification Camps”
    • U.S. Divorce Child Murder Data
    • Educating Oversight Agencies
    • Marin Court Misconduct
  • Resources
    • Family Court Crisis Background
    • Domestic Violence & Child Abuse Resources
    • Pro Bono Services, Self-Help Centers & Court Information
  • Media
    • Allen v. Farrow 2021 Panel Discussion
    • Kids of Divorce Speak Out
    • CJE in the News
      • Online & Print
      • TV & Radio
      • Press Releases
    • The Director’s Corner
    • Special Projects
      • Film
      • Photo Exhibit
      • Slideshow
    • Photo Gallery
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
      • Advocacy Training
    • Previous Forums & Events
      • Allen v. Farrow 2021 Panel Discussion
      • Santa Monica Weekend
      • People’s Choice Award!
      • 10 Year Anniversary Campaign
  • Take Action!
    • Donate
    • Volunteer
    • Advocacy Training Sign-Up
    • Get Social
  • News
You are here: Home / Projects & Initiatives / U.S. Divorce Child Murder Data

U.S. Divorce Child Murder Data

U.S. Child Murder & Divorce: A Snapshot

Experts in domestic violence have long known that the most dangerous time for a domestic violence victim and her/his children are the days immediately following their separation from their perpetrator, which places family courts worldwide on the front lines of a dangerous and volatile epidemic. 

Duncan and Jack 1

Duncan & Jack Leichtenberg were tragically killed by their father, Michael Connolly, in March 2009. Their mother Amy fought tirelessly to protect her boys and the family court judge did not listen to her.

Over the past decade, the Center for Judicial Excellence has tracked the number of children murdered by a parent when divorce, separation, custody, visitation or child support was mentioned in news coverage. Some of the children listed are murdered before the couple ever stepped foot in court. Others involve a criminal court refusing to grant a restraining order to a parent fearing for a child’s safety. Yet tragically, many of these cases involve a family court knowingly placing kids in harm’s way, a practice that must be documented in order for  child-centered policy reforms to be passed that will protect vulnerable children during this extremely volatile time in their lives.

We believe that if family courts across the country were held accountable for operating as they should – with child safety at the forefront of their decision-making, then many of these murdered children would be alive today.

A Sampling of Children Killed in the U.S. by a Parent when Divorce, Separation, Custody, Visitation, Child Support were Mentioned in News Coverage (2008-2022)

  • State Listing of U.S. Child Murder Victims (a concise PDF listing the more than 900 child murder victims, updated weekly)

Further Study Is Needed
This initial data set provides a significant opportunity for more in-depth research into these tragic cases. Unlike juvenile court records, most family court files are publicly accessible. Court transcripts often show that judges, attorneys, and other court appointees were warned about a parent’s violent criminal history and chose to ignore it before placing victims into unsupervised contact with their violent parent.

Family Court Child Murders Are Not ‘Uniquely’ American
For some context for this American child homicide crisis, we need only cross the pond to the U.K., and to the work of Women’s Aid, the national charity that is working to end domestic abuse against women and children there. The Women’s Aid 2016 report, Nineteen Child Homicides, presents stark evidence that what is happening in the United States is not unique, and that it is, in fact, a crisis that warrants more in-depth study and analysis. This report indicates that 19 children from 12 families had been killed in the past 10 years, and “each of these children had died at the hands of a parent who was a known perpetrator of domestic abuse.”

*If you know of a divorce-related child murder in the U.S. that we have missed, please email info@centerforjudicialexcellence.org.  Help us shine a light on these preventable tragedies.

Custody in Crisis: How Family Courts Nationwide Put Children in Danger 
By Laurie Udesky, 100Reporters

Amy, Duncan & JackDuncan, Jack & the dog

leichtenberg grave stone

Duncan & Jack Leichtenberg were tragically killed by their father, Michael Connolly, in March 2009.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • More
  • Email
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Pocket
  • Print

Family Law Documentary Trailer

Recent News

Parents in the US fear mass shootings, but kids are three times as likely to be shot at home

March 23, 2023

Angela Brooks will never forget the FaceTime call … [Read More...]

Father of Child Killed in Ellis County Says Death Was Preventable

March 20, 2023

The community of Italy in Ellis County continues … [Read More...]

Four times in the span of a month children have been killed by a parent in Colorado

March 17, 2023

DENVER — It’s the type of tragedy that should … [Read More...]

‘Greyson’s Law’ heading to final House committee approval

March 16, 2023

Hearing on law dedicated to murdered 4-year-old … [Read More...]

More news

News Archive

Contact Us

P.O. Box 150793
San Rafael, California 94915
Phone: 415-444-6556
Email:
info@centerforjudicialexcellence.org

Find Us on Facebook

Follow CJE on Twitter

My Tweets

Email List Signup

By entering your email address and clicking "Subscribe" you agree to receive email communications from the Center for Judicial Excellence.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Translate This Site

CJE DOES NOT GIVE LEGAL ADVICE. We want to hear your story, however, please be advised, if you choose to share information with us, we can not guarantee your privacy.
The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. All information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. Information on this website may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information. This website contains links to other third-party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader, user or browser; CJE and its members do not recommend or endorse the contents of the third-party sites. Readers of this website should contact their attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular legal matter. No reader, user, or browser of this site should act or refrain from acting on the basis of information on this site without first seeking legal advice from counsel in the appropriate jurisdiction. Only your individual attorney can provide assurances whether the information contained herein applies to your particular situation.

 

Copyright © 2023 Center for Judicial Excellence. All Rights Reserved.

Log in

 

Loading Comments...