'Familicide' very rarely happens without warning signs, say domestic violence researchers

WARNING: This story contains discussion of intimate partner violence and suicide.

In social media images, the Walsh family of Harrow appeared the picture of domestic bliss — making the murder-suicide event that destroyed them all the more shocking.

But while the devastating tragedy of June 20 may have been unthinkable to the community, it's highly unlikely that it occurred arbitrarily, according to researchers on the subject.

"These cases don't happen out of the blue. Someone doesn't wake up one day and decide to kill their family members," said Peter Jaffe, a founding member of the Chief Coroner of Ontario's Domestic Violence Death Review Committee.

"Usually, there's multiple warning signs. The vast majority of cases have seven or more risk factors that would be known to friends, family, coworkers. Often the police, and often community professionals — family doctors, potentially teachers."

"Generally speaking, it would be extremely rare to find a situation of a homicide-suicide with no warning signs."

OPP have not released information about the circumstances leading to the family's deaths, but have described the incident as a case of "intimate partner violence."

Jaffe's work has included participation in the Canadian Domestic Homicide Prevention Initiative, which defines "familicide" as an individual killing his or her current or former spouse and at least one child, whether biological offspring or a stepchild.

Such events remain uncommon. According to the initiative, there were only 25 cases of familicide in Canada over a 10-year period, from 2010 to 2019 — comprising less than four per cent of all domestic homicides.

The initiative's examination of familicide is among the first of its kind in Canada, pooling knowledge from coroners' investigations, inquests, inquiries, and studies to help inform promising practices in prevention.

"There's an increasing amount of data available where we can see consistent patterns," Jaffe said. "There's consistent risk factors, and there's consistent missed opportunities to intervene."

Overwhelming majority of familicide perpetrators are middle-aged men

All but one of the 25 cases that met the criteria for familicide were perpetrated by men, with the most-represented age range being males between 25 and 54 years of age.

The average age of the perpetrators was 39.

Katreena Scott, academic director of Western University's Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children, feels there's no dispute that familicide is "a very gender-related crime."

She believes societal and cultural factors play a major part in familicides being overwhelmingly committed by men. "It is rooted in a sense of ownership and entitlement, a sense of possessiveness that happens in terms of socialization."

The actions of Steven Walsh, 42, share other common incident characteristics of familicides in the initiative's 10-year study period: 64 per cent of the killings occurred in a residence shared by the perpetrator and the victims, and 41 per cent were committed with a firearm.

OPP have disclosed that the bodies of Steven Walsh's wife Carly and their two children — Madison, 13, and Hunter, 8 — were found at their home with fatal gunshot wounds. Steven Walsh died by self-inflicted gunshot.

Familicide disproportionately occurs in rural homes

The statistics show that rural settings — such as the Walsh family residence at 1200 County Road 13 — are over-represented in familicide occurrences. Despite less than 20 per cent of Canada's population living in rural settings, almost half of Canada's documented familicides have taken place in such areas.

A greater proportion of familicide perpetrators committed suicide in rural settings (62 per cent) compared to urban areas (38 per cent).

"Certainly, there's crime in cities. But rural communities have a disproportional amount of domestic violence and domestic homicide," Jaffe said. "Part of the association is that you're more likely to find firearms (in rural communities). You're also more likely to be isolated, both by geography and by ability to access resources on a timely basis."

Other risk factors for familicide include histories of abuse, ongoing or pending separation of the couple, alcohol or drug issues, employment or financial problems, and mental health symptoms such as depression.

Few details have emerged publicly about Steven Walsh, although Carly posted about him on Facebook on special occasions.

"This guy right here is the best thing that ever happened to me and the kids," Carly wrote in a post with photos of Steven on Father's Day of last year. "The one who makes us laugh, the one to make our memories memorable, the one who guides and provides for us."

The Walshes had a 15-year marriage

The couple married in 2009. According to Carly's posts, they met on a blind date in 2006

In March of this year, Carly noted that Steven was living away from home for at least a week. "We miss him but he's kicking hardcore butt where he's at.... He's going to do great things," she wrote.

"New adventures are scary, but when you are as positive as this guy is, it makes this journey a lot less scary and more exciting. We are so proud of you and love you so much."

For Scott, the most telling risk factor for familicide is "suicidality" — defined by the American Psychological Association as "the risk of suicide, usually indicated by suicidal ideation or intent, especially as evident in the presence of a well-elaborated suicidal plan."

"About 30 per cent of domestic homicides in Ontario over the last 10 years are homicide-suicides," Scott said 

It's known that OPP attended the Walsh family residence on June 20 in response to a call to check on the well-being of an individual there. Police haven't disclosed if there were any previous wellness checks related to the address.

Scott believes the field of mental health still has a long way to go in addressing the connection between suicidality and family violence. She noted that in her training as a clinical psychologist, she was taught suicide risk assessment — but not taught much about assessing potential danger to that person's family.

"We just don't train our mental health professionals to do that," Scott said. "It hasn't permeated the field."

Community must look beyond curated online images, says researcher

Asked if it's possible that an occurrence of familicide can be more related to mental health crisis rather than domestic abuse, Scott said the issues aren't separate.

"I'm not sure we can disentangle, or should disentangle (them). Obviously, in this case, there was domestic homicide — so there was domestic violence, as well as serious mental health challenges," Scott argued.

"I think one of the most important things to do is to think about who is in your community... What kinds of challenges are people dealing with behind closed doors, and off of an online presence that's curated to provide the very best picture?"

"How do we make sure that we're open to having those kinds of conversations?"

Jaffe believes education on domestic violence should begin at the grade-school level. "Teaching healthy relationships, making sure that's built into the curriculum. All students benefit from this knowledge," he said.

"I think we need to be more consistent and comprehensive in what we're doing, both for prevention and early intervention."

For anyone affected by family or intimate partner violence, there is support available through crisis lines and local support services. ​​If you're in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911.

If you or someone you know is struggling, here's where to get help:

• Canada's Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call or text 988.
• Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868. Text 686868. Live chat counselling on the website.
• Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention: Find a 24-hour crisis centre.
• This guide from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health outlines how to talk about suicide with someone you're worried about.
• Those in the Windsor-Essex area of Ontario can also call Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare's 24-hour crisis line: 519-973-4435.