1 in 5 mothers killed by their sons
Hidden Family Abuse: 1 in 5 Mothers Killed by Sons in the Past Year Highlights Child-to-Parent Abuse
Last week in Parliament, Jess Phillips read aloud the names of 108 women killed by men in the UK over the past year.
Among these tragic cases, a disturbing pattern emerged: between International Women’s Day 2025 and International Women’s Day 2026, almost one in five women killed by men were suspected to have been killed by their own sons.
While these cases are rare, they reflect a broader and often hidden issue, child-to-parent abuse (CPA) that affects many families in the UK.
Understanding Child-to-Parent Abuse
Child-to-parent abuse can include but is not limited to, physical abuse, threats, emotional abuse, property damage, financial exploitation, sexual abuse and coercive or controlling behaviour. Parents experiencing CPA often describe living in fear in their own homes. Many remain silent due to shame, stigma, or fear of being blamed for their child’s behaviour. Although the most extreme cases are rare, CPA is more common than people realise, and early recognition can prevent escalation and protect families.
Matricide and Family Tragedy
The killing of a mother by her child is known as matricide. Between International Women’s Day 2025 and International Women’s Day 2026, nearly 1 in 5 mothers killed by men in the UK were suspected to have been killed by their sons.
These tragedies often involve complex factors such as mental health challenges, substance misuse, trauma, or long-term family difficulties. Many of the mothers involved were still caring for their sons, even as relationships became unsafe.
PEGS recognises the profound grief and trauma faced by families affected by these tragedies.
“We cannot imagine the grief of families who have lost a mother in such circumstances. No parent should have to live in fear their child, and no family should have to navigate this alone. We are sending love to all who have been affected by the horrific act of matricide. At PEGS, we are here to listen, support, and help parental figures find safety, understanding, and hope, even in the most difficult of situations.”
Michelle John, Director, PEGS
How PEGS Supports Families
At PEGS, we work to bring CPA into the public conversation and support families in line with our four key aims:
- Raising Awareness: Ensuring CPA is recognised and understood in society.
- Providing Specialist Support: One-to-one guidance and safe, compassionate spaces for parents.
- Up skilling Professionals: Training teachers, social workers, police officers, and healthcare professionals to respond effectively.
- Influencing Policy and Systems: Advocating for CPA recognition in legislation, policy, and safeguarding frameworks.
By combining support, awareness, and advocacy, PEGS aims to prevent harm and help families rebuild safety and hope.
Moving Forward
The statistic that nearly 1 in 5 mothers killed by men were killed by their sons is shocking but it highlights an urgent reality: child-to-parent abuse is real, serious, and largely hidden.
Recognising the signs early, offering support to parents, and amplifying families’ voices can prevent tragedies and create safer homes. Upskilling professionals to recognise, respond and to help them to refer to specialist services is essential for creating change. If you would like to know more about our training , please do get in touch with our wonderful training team training@pegsupport.com
Parents experiencing CPA are not alone, if PEGS is right for you, we are here with you. If you would like to make a referral into our service you can do so by completing a self referral form below.
