Woman murdered elderly parents four years before remains found

A woman has admitted murdering her parents and living in a property with their dead bodies for four years.

Virginia McCullough, 36, appeared via video link at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday.

She admitted poisoning her father John McCullough, 74, before stabbing her mother, Lois McCullough, 76, in the summer of 2019.

The court heard the couple were murdered at some point between June 17 and June 20 of that year.

Essex Police said it received reports of concern for the wellbeing of two people in their 70s on September 13 last year.

After being arrested, McCullough confessed to police that she concealed their bodies within the family home and continued to live at the address.

Detectives later found human remains at the property in Pump Hill, Chelmsford.

McCullough admitted killing her father with prescription medication and stabbing her mother shortly afterwards.

To cover her tracks, she told persistent lies about their whereabouts, frequently telling doctors and relatives her parents were unwell, on holiday or away on lengthy trips.

Her actions were only uncovered after her parents’ GPs notified police of their concerns over missed appointments.

A local greengrocer told The Telegraph that McCullough was a “bit of a fantasist” who struggled with her mental health.

He said she would often discuss dramas with her neighbours with him and buy people milkshakes and cakes.

Speaking at the time of McCullough’s arrest, neighbours told The Telegraph they couldn’t remember seeing the parents since before Covid.

A neighbour described the couple as being “very aloof”.

They added: “I’m a very friendly person and when I came out of my house, if I said hello the man had his head down.

“He wasn’t really very responsive, he always had his head down and would cross the road as though he was in a hurry.

“The wife was a bit the same really. She’d be at the bus stop and I’d go by on my bike and wave to say hello and I might get a hello if I was lucky but often not.”

McCullough, who will be sentenced on October 10 and 11, wore a grey top when she appeared via video-link. She spoke to confirm her name, entered pleas of guilty to both counts and said she understood the judge’s comments.

Judge Christopher Morgan said: “You will understand that there is a single sentence that can be passed upon you in these circumstances. Consideration however has to be given to the minimum term.”

Detective Inspector Lydia George, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: “At the heart of this investigation are John and Lois – and their whole family.

“Virginia’s actions have had a significant and emotional impact on the family group and our thoughts today are first and foremost with them.

“We have worked very closely with them and supported them from the outset as we established the circumstances around John and Lois’ deaths and gathered the evidence which has led to today’s guilty pleas.”