An “intelligent manipulator” has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the cold-blooded murder of her parents, whom she killed and concealed in makeshift tombs for four years.
Virginia McCullough, 36, of Chelmsford, Essex, poisoned her 70-year-old father, John McCullough, with prescription drugs and fatally stabbed her mother, Lois McCullough, 71, the following day.
After the murders, McCullough lied about her parents’ whereabouts, continued to spend their pensions, and amassed debts in their names. She evaded suspicion by telling relatives and medical staff that her parents were unwell or away on long trips.
Concerns were raised when a family GP noticed that Mr. McCullough had missed appointments and failed to collect medication. Following a missing persons report, police launched a murder investigation in September 2023. McCullough eventually confessed when officers forced entry to the family home.
Sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court, McCullough received a life sentence with a minimum term of 36 years. The judge condemned her actions as a “gross violation of trust” and noted her substantial motive was to prevent her parents from discovering her financial fraud.
Detective Superintendent Rob Kirby described her as a calculated, manipulative individual who murdered her parents for personal gain.
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