Discusses 21 cases of violent parental loss. A review of the children’s medical records revealed that a majority were from lower socioeconomic families & were of preschool age. They were diagnosed as being overanxious, having dysthymic or conduct disorders & they seemed to be at greater risk developmentally if their current caretakers had conflicted feelings toward them & their dead parent. It was not clear whether violence was an important variable predisposing the child to psychiatric illness.