Texas Mother Accused of Killing Children: Psychologist Robert R. Butterworth Describes Psychology of Killer Moms.

News Editors/Health/Medical Writers

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 12, 2003

Deanna LaJune Laney, a Texas woman, was accused today of fatally beating her children with rocks. She remained on a suicide watch today at Smith County Jail, where she was held in lieu of $3 million bond on capital murder and aggravated assault charges.

More than 600 mothers kill their children each year, which gives rise to a psychological condition described as "maternal filicide," according to a child psychologist who has reviewed the worldwide research on this topic.

"There are six major personality profiles of mothers who kill their children," said Los Angeles psychologist Robert R. Butterworth, Ph.D. He describes what the psychological research tells us about the different types of mothers who murder their children and their possible motivations:

-- The Mentally Ill Mother: A woman who may be acutely psychotic,

having serious psychological disturbances starting from her

own childhood or her parents, which may be instrumental in

causing her own psychological problem to surface. An

inadequacy in handling aggression, probably originating from a

disturbed relationship with the murderer's own parents, which

could include hereditary influences.

-- The Retaliating Mother: A woman who is jealous of her husband

and envious of the child because of the attention that it

receives from others, whereas the mother may have had little

or no attention in her own childhood, which leads to a

disturbed, immature, nongiving relationship with the child.

The filicide could be motivated by revenge, especially with

male children; the mother's anger toward the child's father

may be displaced onto the male child, who reminds the mother

of the child's father.

-- The Depressed Mother: Research shows that more than a third of

the mothers killed their children under the influence of

depression or what could be an extended form of suicide: "I

kill the one I most love -- my child." Thus a child is

particularly vulnerable when a depressive illness is present.

The risk becomes high when depressive illness is combined with

certain types of personality structures.

-- The Unwanted or Unexpected Mother: Unwanted or unplanned

children, especially in countries where birth control and

abortion are difficult to obtain, are more likely to suffer

from maternal filicide.

-- The Merciful Mother: A sick or diseased child is killed by the

loving mother to protect the child from pain and suffering.

-- The Battering Mother: In a fit of rage, they accidentally

batter the child to death.

Other findings:

-- The high frequency of altruistic motives distinguish filicide

from other homicides.

-- Crime statistics show that mothers are more rarely or more

mildly punished for filicide than fathers.

-- Mothers kill children only, but men who kill their children

are more likely to kill their wives.

-- Suicide or attempted suicide following the crime was also more

likely with fathers.

Psychologist and media commentator, Robert R. Butterworth, Ph.D., has assisted radio, TV, and print media since 1984 find answers and provide insight to enhance understanding of psychological issues on a variety of topics. Dr. Butterworth has conducted extensive surveys focused on children and youth, social, political and trauma issues. His comments, observations and op-ed articles have appeared in most of the major newspapers in the United States and worldwide. He is seen quite often on NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX and CNN network news especially during monumental events such as violence, disasters and youth tragedies and psychological reactions to breaking news and human event stories.