In a cold and calculated double murder, Virginia McCullough, 36, has been sentenced to life in prison for the deaths of her parents, John and Lois McCullough. The sentencing, which took place at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday, October 11, 2024, marks the conclusion of a complex investigation led by Essex Police’s Serious Crime Directorate.
McCullough will serve a minimum of 36 years before being eligible for parole. The murders, which occurred in the summer of 2019, came to light in September 2023 when the victims’ GP raised concerns about their prolonged absence from medical appointments.
Upon investigation, police discovered human remains at the family home in Pump Hill, Great Baddow. Post-mortem examinations revealed that both parents had been poisoned with prescription medication. While John succumbed to the poisoning, Lois was also struck with a hammer and fatally stabbed.
Detective Superintendent Rob Kirby described McCullough as “an intelligent manipulator” who committed the murders “in cold blood.” The investigation uncovered a web of deceit spanning years, with McCullough accumulating significant debts in her parents’ names and continuing to spend their pensions after their deaths.
“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,” said DS Kirby.
The case has left the extended family devastated. In a statement, they remembered John as a caring and hardworking man with a passion for education, and Lois as kind and thoughtful, devoted to her grandchildren.
Nicola Rice, a Specialist Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, stated, “This was a truly disturbing case, which has left behind it a trail of devastation.”
