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ONOF Family homicide report: double alarm. From femicide to social conflict (October 16-22, 2025)

Curated by: Massimo Lattanzi, Tiziana Calzone, Federico Maroli

Sources: Data is collected and analyzed by the National Observatory on Family Homicides (ONOF), the operational arm of the Italian Association of Psychology and Criminology (AIPC) and the Italian Center for Relational Psychotraumatology (CIPR).

It is crucial to emphasize that the information is based on news reports from journalistic outlets and not institutional sources.

Section 1: Abstract

This report analyzes data collected by the National Observatory on Family Homicides (ONOF) for the week of October 16 to 22, 2025, highlighting a profound and alarming bifurcation in the nature of lethal and potentially lethal violence in Italy. The analysis reveals the existence of a "double alarm" outlining two distinct and gender-segregated phenomena of violence, each with specific dynamics, contexts, and risk profiles.

The first alarm concerns violence against women, which, as highlighted by the data, is confirmed as a phenomenon almost exclusively confined to the intimate and domestic sphere. In the period under examination, 100% of female homicide victims were killed by a partner or ex-partner. A particularly significant data point is the advanced age of both victims (62 and 80 years old) and perpetrators (64 and 80 years old), suggesting that such violence represents the terminal outcome of long-standing relational conflicts and dynamics of possession.

The second alarm, diametrically opposed, concerns violence against men, which manifests primarily as a social and public conflict. Data on attempted homicides is emblematic: 100% of victims were young men assaulted by other young men identified as "acquaintances." A bladed weapon was the exclusive instrument of aggression in all recorded cases. This outlines a pattern of impulsive and reactive violence rooted in a worrying inability to manage interpersonal disputes non-violently.

The fundamental conclusion of this analysis is that Italy is facing two distinct and parallel epidemics of violence: one, hidden within domestic walls, rooted in dynamics of control and affecting women; the other, exploding in public spaces, driven by impulsivity and involving mainly young men. Consequently, a dual-track prevention strategy is necessary, with interventions specifically calibrated to the unique dynamics of intimate partner violence and youth social violence.

Section 2: The Confined Battlefield: Anatomy of Femicide in the Intimate Sphere

An in-depth analysis of data regarding female victims reveals a consistent and dramatic picture that goes beyond mere statistics to illuminate the criminological and psychological foundations of gender-based violence, in this specific case within the context of old age.

Data collected in the week from October 16 to 22, 2025, is unequivocal. Out of a total of three consummated homicides, two victims were women, representing 67% of the total. The most critical data point concerns the relationship between victim and perpetrator: 100% of these women were killed by an intimate figure, 50% by a current partner and 50% by an ex-partner. The ages of the victims, 80 and 62, and those of their murderers, 80 and 64 respectively, place these events in a mature demographic context. The original report explicitly emphasizes how this violence "matures within domestic walls," with no link to external social conflicts.

Subsection 2.1: Deconstructing the "Femicide Script" in an Elderly Context

ONOF's statement that the data "dramatically confirm the femicide script" deserves careful analysis. This "script" is based on key elements such as possession, control, and the use of violence as a reaction to female autonomy, for example, the decision to separate. The cases under examination demonstrate that such dynamics not only persist but can reach their lethal peak even in decades-long relationships.

The advanced age of victims and perpetrators starkly contradicts the common perception of elderly relationships as a safe haven. This evidence suggests that the observed violence is not a sudden event, but rather "the final act of long histories of marital conflict." The logical step is clear: if homicides occur at 60 or 80 years old, it is highly unlikely they represent "impulsive youthful episodes." Conversely, it is plausible to hypothesize they indicate a lifetime of abuse, perhaps never surfaced or reported, culminating in a homicidal act triggered by a late-life stressor such as illness, a request for separation, or a perceived loss of control by the man. This implies that social support and control systems failed for decades to protect these women. Homicide thus becomes only the last, tragic visible data point of a long submerged history. This questions prevention models focused almost exclusively on young couples, highlighting a critical gap in identifying and intervening in domestic abuse in old age, often wrongly classified as elderly care issues or simple marital squabbles.

Subsection 2.2: The Domestic Sphere as a Place of Maximum Danger for Women

The data reinforce the conclusion that, for women, the risk of homicide "comes exclusively from the intimate and sentimental sphere." The home, the quintessential symbol of safety, transforms into the place of maximum danger. The end of a relationship or the relationship itself, especially if characterized by control and possession, constitutes the main threat context, regardless of the woman's age.

The phenomenon of late-life femicide suggests a systemic failure rooted in ageism and the tendency to privatize family issues. It is reasonable to assume that social services, healthcare personnel, and even law enforcement are less inclined to investigate or recognize signs of intimate partner violence in elderly people, attributing warning signs to dementia, caregiver stress, or other age-related issues. The call to action by the Italian Center for Relational Psychotraumatology (CIPR) for intervention before violence explodes raises a crucial question: why were these long-standing conflicts not addressed sooner? The answer might lie in the fact that elderly women are often more isolated, less accustomed to using modern support networks, and potentially more economically and emotionally dependent after a lifetime spent within a single relationship. Furthermore, professionals interacting with them may harbor biases preventing them from seeing an 80-year-old man as a potential murderer and his partner as a victim of coercive control. This reveals a critical flaw in the "one-size-fits-all" approach to domestic violence, making it imperative to redesign prevention and support infrastructures to be accessible and relevant for the elderly population.

Section 3: The Public Arena of Conflict: Impulsive Violence and Social Fracture Among Men

In stark contrast to the profile of female victimization, violence against men emerges as a public phenomenon linked to social dynamics and characterized by high impulsivity, especially among young people. Data from the analyzed week show that the only male victim of consummated homicide (33% of the total) was killed by an "acquaintance." However, it is the analysis of attempted homicides that outlines the picture more clearly: 100% of victims (4 cases) and 100% of perpetrators were men. The relational context was exclusively that of "acquaintance" in 100% of cases. The demographic profile is markedly young: victims aged 15, 22, 29, and 31; perpetrators aged 14, 20, 22, and 39. The chosen weapon was, without exception, a "bladed weapon" in 100% of attempted homicides. The violence is described as "explosive, reactive, and acted out in the here and now," manifesting in public spaces such as "outside schools, nightclub parking lots, bars, or on the street."

Subsection 3.1: The "Acquaintance" as Primary Threat for Men

The concept of "familiarity," as defined by the Italian Association of Psychology and Criminology (AIPC), includes a wide range of relationships, including precisely acquaintances. Data indicates that for men, danger lies not in intimacy, but in the volatile realm of social interactions with peers. Violence stems from dynamics related to honor, respect, and seemingly futile disputes that rapidly degenerate into lethal aggression.

This pattern of young men assaulting other young men over social disputes suggests a profound deficit in emotional regulation and non-violent conflict resolution skills, likely linked to rigid and performative models of masculinity. The violence does not appear instrumental (e.g., aimed at robbery) but expressive: an assertion of dominance or a reaction to perceived disrespect. The report's emphasis on "low frustration tolerance" is a key element. It is not just poor anger management, but a cultural script where backing down is experienced as social defeat, making violence the only option perceived as valid to "save face." This implies that traditional anti-violence campaigns might be ineffective. The problem is not a lack of awareness that violence is wrong, but the absence of socially acceptable alternatives for young men to manage conflict without losing status.

Subsection 3.2: The Bladed Weapon as a Symptom of Social Disintegration

The exclusive use of bladed weapons in 100% of attempted homicides is defined as a "very serious indicator." The knife is not just a tool, but a symbol. Its accessibility, ease of concealment, and lethal potential make it the weapon of choice for impulsive, close-range violence.

The fact that every single assault between acquaintances involved a bladed weapon implies a frightening normalization of weapon carrying among young people. The very presence of the weapon alters conflict dynamics, drastically lowering the threshold separating a verbal altercation or fistfight from a potentially deadly assault. The causal chain is evident: a young person carries a knife for "protection" or status; a trivial conflict begins; immediate weapon availability makes a violent resolution more accessible and psychologically immediate than de-escalation; the conflict instantly becomes lethal. The weapon is not just a tool used in violence, but a catalyst for it. This normalization creates a vicious cycle: more young people carry knives, more others feel compelled to do the same for self-defense, triggering a sort of social arms race in public spaces. This transforms everyday environments like schoolyards and bars into high-risk zones. Consequently, prevention efforts must go beyond conflict resolution education and include robust strategies to counter knife culture through community policing, amnesty programs, and targeted educational campaigns on the catastrophic consequences of weapon carrying.

Section 4: A Comparative Synthesis: The Two Faces of Lethal Aggression

Direct comparison between the two analyzed phenomena of violence highlights their diametrically opposed characteristics, reinforcing the "double alarm" thesis. It is not simply different types of crime, but two distinct social pathologies operating in parallel. The ONOF report's conclusion is stark: "if women are predominantly victims of those who claim to love them or have loved them, men are percentage-wise victims of relatives or, as in this case, acquaintances, in contexts of social conflict."

The first phenomenon, intimate femicide, sees exclusively women as victims (100% of female victims), predominantly mature or elderly (62 and 80 years old in the analyzed sample). Perpetrators are always men, partners or ex-partners of victims, also advanced in age (64 and 80 years old). This violence occurs in the domestic and private sphere, stemming from an intimate and sentimental relational context. The underlying psychological dynamic is linked to possessiveness and control, representing the culmination of chronic conflicts and long-term dynamics. In the week's data, this phenomenon dominates consummated homicides, constituting 67%.

The second phenomenon, male social violence, presents a mirror profile. Victims are exclusively men (100% of attempted homicide victims), in this case, young or young adults (15, 22, 29, and 31 years old). Perpetrators are also men, identified as "acquaintances," and belong to a similar demographic (14, 20, 22, and 39 years old). The context is social, not intimate, and violence explodes in public spaces like streets, bars, and schools. The dynamic is characterized by impulsivity, low frustration tolerance, and reactive aggression manifesting explosively and immediately ("acted out in the here and now"). The weapon of choice is the bladed weapon, used in 100% of analyzed attempted homicides. This form of violence dominates data on attempted homicides, representing 100%.

Section 5: Implications and Strategic Paths for Prevention

The analysis conducted unequivocally demonstrates that a monolithic strategy "against violence" is destined to fail. The "double alarm" requires a dual-track political response capable of addressing the specific causes of each phenomenon. The appeal by the Italian Center for Relational Psychotraumatology (CIPR), offering specialized support for relational trauma and emotional dysregulation, provides a concrete example of the type of intervention needed to act before conflict degenerates into violence.

Subsection 5.1: Strategies for Contrasting Intimate Femicide

To address violence in the intimate sphere, especially among the elderly population, targeted interventions are needed:

• Elderly-specific interventions: Develop screening protocols for healthcare workers and social workers interacting with elderly people to identify early signs of domestic abuse.
• Awareness campaigns: Promote information campaigns aimed at de-stigmatizing reporting domestic violence among older generations and educating family members and neighbors to recognize warning signs.
• Perpetrator programs: Establish specialized intervention programs for abusive men in old age, addressing themes such as control, loss, and aging-related stressors.

Subsection 5.2: Strategies for Reducing Male Social Violence

To mitigate impulsive violence among young men, strategies must focus on education and community:

• Educational reform: Integrate mandatory courses on emotional intelligence and non-violent conflict resolution into school curricula from a young age.
• Community interventions: Develop outreach programs for youth in at-risk public areas (such as squares, bars, school exits), offering mentorship and positive alternatives to street culture.
• "Knife crime" reduction initiatives: Implement a combination of targeted territorial control, rigorous enforcement of weapons carrying laws, and communication campaigns illustrating the devastating consequences of bladed weapon violence for both victim and aggressor.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the gravity of the "double alarm" cannot be underestimated. These two phenomena, although distinct, are both symptoms of deeper social fractures: one in the private sphere concerning gender relations and control; the other in the public sphere touching upon social cohesion and the crisis of masculinity. Addressing them requires a committed, evidence-based, and differentiated approach that values the experience of organizations like AIPC, ONOF, and CIPR to move from analysis to effective action. The contact information provided in the original document represents a tangible resource for those seeking help, anchoring the academic analysis of this report to a practical and life-saving potential.

If you recognized yourself in these dynamics, or if you feel that complex relationships (family, sentimental, or social) are generating an unmanageable level of conflict, you are not alone. The Italian Center for Relational Psychotraumatology (CIPR) offers a specialized approach to addressing relational traumas and emotional dysregulation before they result in violence. Our professionals in Pescara and Rome are ready to welcome you with personalized therapeutic paths to help you regain balance and well-being.

For more information or to book an interview, you can contact us:

Email: aipcitalia@gmail.com

Website: www.associazioneitalianadipsicologiaecriminologia.it

WhatsApp Phone: 3924401930

Do not postpone the possibility of embarking on a path of change.