Essex, October 12: Virginia McCullough, a 36-year-old woman, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 36 years for the brutal murders of her parents, John and Lois McCullough, in their home in Great Baddow, Essex. In June 2019, she poisoned her father, 70, by crushing prescription medications and mixing them into his alcoholic drinks. The following day, she violently killed her 71-year-old mother using a hammer and a kitchen knife.

After the murders, McCullough lived with her parents' bodies for four years, concealing her father in a makeshift tomb built with masonry blocks and covering it with blankets and pictures, reported The Guardian. Her mother's body was hidden in a wardrobe, wrapped in a sleeping bag. The horrific crimes came to light when her parents' GPs expressed concern over missed appointments, prompting police to force entry into the home on September 15, 2023. UK Shocker: Pregnant Woman Pushed Off Bench by 2 Schoolboys at Bus Stop Suffers Miscarriage.

Bodycam footage captured the moment of her arrest, where McCullough admitted to the crimes, stating, "Cheer up, at least you caught the bad guy." She later revealed details of the murders to the police, admitting she planned the killings and had accumulated large amounts of prescription drugs. UK Shocker: 14-Year-Old Girl Allegedly in Bad Mood Due to ‘Periods’ Stabs 2 Teachers, Student With Father’s Fishing Knife in Carmarthenshire.

During the investigation, it was discovered that McCullough had been engaging in online gambling, spending over £21,000 since 2018 and continuing to receive her parents' pensions, totaling nearly £136,000. The judge described her actions as a "gross violation of trust" and noted the substantial premeditation involved.

Statements from her siblings conveyed deep emotional pain, saying that the loss of their parents and the betrayal they felt from McCullough's actions.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 12, 2024 08:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).