Anna and Gracie Sharpe were killed in a calculated double homicide committed by John Sharpe on March 23 and 27, 2004 [AAP, 2005]. After arguing with his pregnant wife Anna, Sharpe reportedly shot two spears into her head, killing her instantly as she slept. He then contemplated killing his 19-month-old daughter Gracie for 30 minutes before shooting her in the head with the same spear gun he had used to kill Anna. Gracie, however, survived this initial attack, as she reportedly “screamed” in pain [Healey, 2004]. So, to put his anguish to rest, Sharpe retrieved the two spears from Anna's head and then shot them into Gracie's head too, before dismembering her body with a chainsaw and throwing it in a landfill [Hadfield, 2014]. He later returned to exhume Anna's body where he mutilated her corpse, scattering her limbs in the same spot where Sharpe had left Gracie. Although these murders were explicitly “singular” in terms of brutality, they were Sharpe's attempt to hide the crime by playing the victim, which requires deeper criminological attention [Hadfield, 2014]. The underlying etiology of Sharpe's behavior is difficult to pinpoint. There are, however, many proximate and cumulative factors believed to have contributed to the event. Namely, Sharpe was having marital problems with Anna at the time. In the confession, Sharpe attempted to rationalize Anna's death by blaming her “hot and cold” behavior, which led to a “loveless marriage” [Healey, 2006]. He also reportedly resented his autonomous behavior: “he would wear the pants in the family” [Healey, 2006]. This emasculated Sharpe in the relationship, threatening his control. To gain authority, Sharpe consequently killed Anna. ...... middle of paper ...... madness has overwhelmed me": killer John Myles Sharpe. Available: http://www.news.com.au/national/a-real-madness -washed -over-me/story-e6frfkp9-1111112151074. Last accessed 10 March 2014. Dr O'Connor, T. (2013). 1060lect06.htm. Last accessed March 19, 2014. Fagan, Jeffrey. (1993). The social control of spousal aggression . p187.Wiatrowski, M. (1978). Social control theory and delinquency. Available: http://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1856&context=open_access_etds&seiredir=1&referer=http%3A% 2F%2Fscholar.google.com.au%2Fscholar_url%3Fhl%3Den%26q% 3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fpdxscholar.Last accessed 19 March 2014.