Quickly exit this site by pressing the Escape key Leave this site
We use some essential cookies to make our website work. We’d like to set additional cookies so we can remember your preferences and understand how you use our site.
You can manage your preferences and cookie settings at any time by clicking on “Customise Cookies” below. For more information on how we use cookies, please see our Cookies notice.
Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can update your cookie settings at any time on the cookies page.
Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can update your cookie settings at any time on the cookies page.
Sorry, there was a technical problem. Please try again.
This site is a beta, which means it's a work in progress and we'll be adding more to it over the next few weeks. Your feedback helps us make things better, so please let us know what you think.
A woman who murdered her parents before concealing their bodies within their home has been jailed for life thanks to the work of Essex Police’s specialist detectives.
Virginia McCullough, 36, will spend at least 36 years in prison before she can be considered for parole.
The sentence, passed down at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday 11 October, follows a lengthy and tireless investigation led by our Serious Crime Directorate.
We launched a missing persons investigation following concerns for McCullough’s parents John, aged 70 at the time of his death, and Lois, aged 71 at the time of her death.
The couple lived at an address in Pump Hill, Great Baddow, with McCullough.
The investigation began in September 2023, after the couple’s GP raised concerns.
Officers visited the couple’s home, became suspicious and located human remains which were confirmed to be that of John and Lois.
It was established the murders had taken place at some stage in the summer of 2019.
Post-mortem examinations revealed both had been poisoned with prescription medication.
John died as a result of the poisoning while Lois had been struck with a hammer and fatally stabbed.
McCullough went to substantial lengths to conceal the bodies of her parents and took great effort to keep family and friends away from the property throughout the Covid pandemic and subsequent years.
She told persistent lies about their whereabouts, cancelling family arrangements and frequently telling doctors and relatives her parents were unwell, on holiday or away on lengthy trips.
The scene at the address shortly after a murder investigation was launched
The scene at the address shortly after the murder investigation was launched
Essex Police were contacted in September 2023 by Essex County Council’s safeguarding team.
The team told officers that a GP at Lois and John’s registered practice had raised a concern for their welfare, having not seen them for some time.
The GP explained John had failed to collect medication and attend scheduled appointments.
It was further revealed McCullough frequently cancelled appointments, using a range of excuses to explain her father’s absence.
At that stage, a missing persons investigation was launched, and our officers began their enquiries.
McCullough lied to officers when initially contacted, claiming her parents were travelling and would be returning in October.
Due to our suspicions, a murder investigation was launched and we used our powers to enter and search the Pump Hill property.
McCullough was the sole occupant and instantly confessed to officers that her parents’ bodies were in the house and that she had killed them.
It was later established by evidence painstakingly uncovered at the property that McCullough had long manipulated and abused her parents’ good will for financial gain.
Documents found at the property showed she had run up large debts on credit cards in her parents’ names.
After their deaths, she continued to spend their pensions.
The documents uncovered at the address built a picture of a woman who was trying desperately to keep her parents from discovering the depth of the financial black hole she continued to dig, while giving them false assurances about her employment and future prospects.
At Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday 4 June, McCullough admitted two counts of murder.
Detective Superintendent Rob Kirby said:
“Virginia McCullough murdered her parents in cold blood.
“Her actions were considered, meticulous and carried out in such a way as to conceal what she had done for as long as possible.
“These were the actions of someone who had taken time to plan and carry out the murder of her parents in the interest of self-preservation and personal gain, before living within meters of the bodies of her two victims for a number of years.
“Throughout the course of our investigation, we have built a picture of the vast levels of deceit, betrayal and fraud she engaged in. It was on a shocking and monumental scale.
“McCullough lied about almost every aspect of her life, maintaining a charade to deceive everyone close to her and clearly taking advantage of her parents’ good will.
“She is an intelligent manipulator who chose to kill her parents callously, without a thought for them or those who continue to suffer as a result of their loss.
“The details of this case shock and horrify even the most experienced of murder detectives, let alone any right-thinking member of the public.
“It therefore follows that the wider family of John and Lois, understandably, could never have guessed or anticipated that McCullough would be capable of undertaking these murders before committing herself to this level of deceit.
“They have been left utterly devastated by the circumstances of this case and they continue to feel the loss of John and Lois each and every day.
“This process, from the finding of John and Lois’ remains, to the unravelling of McCullough’s web of lies, has taken a huge toll on the wider family network.
“With this sentence and with all that we have uncovered throughout our investigation, we hope they can now start to find a way forward with their lives.
“The family have continued to struggle with the intense media interest in this case and I would repeat, in the strongest possible terms, their wish for their privacy to be respected as they continue to grieve their loss.”
Nicola Rice, a Specialist Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, said:
“McCullough callously and viciously killed both of her parents before concealing their bodies in makeshift tombs within their home address.
“She spent the next four years manipulating and lying to family members, medical staff, financial institutions, and the police, spending her parent's money and accruing large debts in their name.
“Working with the police we built a strong prosecution case to show the level of McCullough’s deceit both before and after the killings, which helped deliver a guilty plea, thereby sparing the victims’ loved ones the pain of a trial.
“This was a truly disturbing case, which has left behind it a trail of devastation, and I can only hope that the sentence passed today will help those who loved and cared for Lois and John begin to heal.”
In a joint statement, the family of John and Lois said:
“We would like to say a huge thank you to Essex Police, and in particular the Major Investigation Team for their tireless work in trying to achieve the best possible justice for our beloved parents.
“We would also like to thank other specialist services for their invaluable contribution to this investigation, and to everyone who has supported our family over the last year.
“Our Dad was caring and hardworking and he had a passion for education and writing. He worked tirelessly in his career in university education, which spanned many years.
“Dad enjoyed lots of hobbies, with particular favourites being golf and snooker.
“As we think of Dad, we remember the numerous jokes he used to tell us and the laughs he gave us.
“Our Mum was kind, caring and thoughtful. Mum delighted in her grandchildren.
“She had friends from around the world through her penfriend hobby, many of whom she had written to for several decades. Mum had a passion for history, and maintained a keen interest in the royal family.
“Mum and Dad loved their trips to the seaside together, where they enjoyed many walks and visited lots of different attractions.
“Their love for the seaside was so great, they were hoping to move to the coast in their retirement years.
"Mum and Dad always enjoyed the time they spent with us, family was their pride and joy.
“Our family has been left devastated and heartbroken at the deaths of our parents who were taken from us so cruelly.
“As we try to move forward with our lives, we will remember the happy times we enjoyed with them.
“Our Mum and Dad are forever in our hearts, and are loved and missed beyond any measure.
“We request privacy as we continue to grieve the loss of our dear parents.”
At Essex Police we put victims at the heart of everything we do. The Victims’ Code explains the rights that everyone can expect to receive as a victim of crime, and helps us define what we must do for all victims from their initial contact with our force until the conclusion of their case.
Find out more about the code and to understand the rights of a victim of crime, on our support for victims and witnesses of crime page.
To report a crime, please use our digital 101 service. In an emergency call 999.
We're offering more ways for our communities to stay up to date with our work across Essex.
Our e-newsletter, Dispatch, delivers news, information, and advice from Essex Police.
Dispatch is a ‘one stop shop’ for local police news – direct from the source.
Sign up is completely free and you can unsubscribe at any time.