This UK Woman Kept Parents Buried At Home For 4 Years After Killing Them

A woman in the UK murdered her parents in 2019 and hid the crime for five years by weaving a web of lies to cover it up. She has finally confessed to the crime. Virginia McCullough killed her parents, Lois and John McCullough - both in their 70s - and weaved a web of lies to cover up. She was living in the same house for five years where she buried her parents' bodies. Virginia appeared before Chelmsford Crown Court through prison video link and pleaded guilty to both murders. 

As per reports, Virginia's parents had regular appointments with doctors but when they failed to turn up for the clinic, their doctors smelled something fishy. Virginia, however, would tell the doctors that her parents were either sick or out on trips. However, the well-wishers of the elderly couple, including their relatives and doctors, were concerned about the couple's sudden disappearance. 

It was in 2023 that the couple's GPs reported the missing of the elderly. A police investigation began on September 15, 2023, at the address of the couple in Pump Hill, Chelmsford, Essex UK, and that is when they found human remains at the address. 

After an inquest into the death of Lois McCullough, it was found that she died due to stab wounds in her chest. The coroner of the Essex area, Michelle Brow, told the media in October 2023, that Lois' provisional cause of death was “stab wounds to the chest.” She also said that “human remains believed to be” John McCullough's were also found at the same place. However, an inquest into John's death is still pending. 

How Did Virginia Kill Her Parents?

Virginia confessed that she killed her parent between June 17 and June 20 2019. She first poisoned her father with the help of the medications prescribed to him, after which she stabbed her mother to death. To conceal the murder, Virginia buried her parents' bodies on the same property where they were living.

After her confession, the Chelmsford Crown Court 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.”

Virginia is to be sentenced on October 10 and 11 2024.