In October, a 13-year-old girl in Taylor, Michigan, fatally stabbed her 7-year-old sister while babysitting her. According to Joseph Buczek of CBS News, the incident began with an argument over a note left in the bathroom. After the confrontation, the teen waited in the bathroom for her sister to return, stabbing her over 10 times before calling 911. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy stated that the girl is being charged as a juvenile with adult designation for felony murder and first-degree child abuse, a hybrid approach that allows for sentencing flexability. “Given her young age, the State would have seven years to diagnose, treat, and rehabilitate her until her mandatory release at age 21. Hopefully then she would not be a danger to others,” Worthy said.

This case is just one of several recent instances of familial homicide committed by adolescents. Experts point to a combination of psychological trauma, environmental stressors, and systemic failures as underlying factors driving these extreme acts.

Parricide, the act of killing of a parent or other close relative, is a particularly disturbing form of homicide, especially when committed by adolescents. Many perpetrators experience long-term abuse, parental neglect, or strained interfamilial relationships, that leave them feeling trapped and powerless, which may lead to extreme acts of violence in order to escape, sometimes heightened by undiagnosed or untreated psychological conditions.

“Research shows that trauma in a family environment is what contributes to adolescent violence. It’s a lack of access to treatment and communicating about trauma as well,” stated Dr. Sylvia Johnson, CEO of the Michigan Center for Traumatic Stress. Understanding adolescent parricide requires considering these pressures and addressing the need for early mental health intervention and conflict management.

Carly Gregg, a 15-year-old from Mississippi, was sentenced in September to life in prison for killing her mother, Ashley Smylie. According to Andrea Cavallier of The Independent, Gregg shot her mother last year after her mother had caught her with marijuana. Gregg had been struggling with severe mental health issues including mood swings, eating disorders, self harm, and hearing voices. A forensic psychiatrist reviewed Gregg’s journals, which contained a concerning list of beliefs. Despite her defense arguing psychosis, a jury determined she knew right from wrong and found her guilty, sentencing her to life in prison with no possibility of parole.

NBC News reported in October a 15-year-old boy in Washington state allegedly killed his parents and three siblings before attempting to blame the murders on his younger brother. One surviving sibling provided detailed accounts of the killings, which investigators say highlighted premeditation. The teen is now facing multiple counts of murder and attempted murder charges.

Dr. Johnson links the rise in such cases to broader societal trauma such as COVID-19. “That was a societal trauma that impacted everyone and everyone internalized. It created a lot of isolation for adolescents, and it also created an environment where they couldn’t escape their home environment,” she said.

Adolescents process stress differently than adults, Dr. Johnson explained. Typical stress, such as a math exam, is resolved after the event, but traumatic stress lingers and requires intervention. Warning signs like hypervigilance, withdrawal, and visceral reactions often go unnoticed or are dismissed as typical teenage behavior. “We see adolescence as kind of moody, but when we look in between the lines, sometimes it’s not that simple. By knowing what we’re looking at and being able to interpret what’s happening, that could shift that piece of getting them connected to the right people,” Johnson said.

Adolescent violence is often a cry for help that went unheard. To prevent tragedies like those in Michigan, Mississippi, and Washington, Dr. Johnson emphasizes the importance of early intervention and advocates for families to reach out to school counselors and social workers. “The adolescent brain is not anywhere near fully developed,” Johnson said. “There’s a lot of things we can do to intervene before it gets to that point. While some crimes are absolutely horrific, if there’s not a piece of rehabilitation in that, the likelihood is reoffending.”