This paper recognizes murder as a major cause of mortality among adolescents and young adults and addresses the need for research examining the effects of murder on the victim's surviving family members. The information contained in this report was obtained from surveys completed by 237 members of the Parents of Murdered Children support group. The scope of the problem of murder in our society is presented and a brief summary of the victim characteristics and murder scenarios common to this investigation is provided. The primary focus of this report is on the psychological sequelae typically experienced by parents whose children have been murdered. It is noted that the symptoms and reactions of these parents failed to conform fully to currently existent models of grief and mourning, but more closely approximated symptoms cited as criteria for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Ten symptoms and reactions of PTSD reported by the parents are listed and examples are given for each symptom. The socioenvironmental factors which serve to compound the traumas and impede the recovery of these surviving parents are also discussed. (NRB)