AbstractThe present study examined a comparatively large sample of 72 adolescents charged with murder who were referred for pretrial evaluation in the State of Michigan over a 9‐year period. Subjects are compared with a control group of 35 adolescents charged with nonviolent larceny offenses. Information regarding the adolescents' demographic and social background, and the circumstances of the offense, are presented. Recognition of the diverse motives and circumstances of adolescent homicide may help to explain discrepant characterizations of them presented in the literatur