Woman murdered her mum and dad then lived with their bodies for 4 years

For four years, Virginia McCullough lived in a tranquil cul-de-sac in Great Baddow, Essex, informing neighbours that her elderly parents were poorly, travelling, or simply staying indoors. ‌

Yet behind the entrance of their detached family residence lay the horrific reality that both her parents had died, their corpses hidden in what officers subsequently termed a "homemade mausoleum". ‌

McCullough, 36, received a life sentence at Chelmsford Crown Court with a minimum term of 36 years after pleading guilty to murdering her parents, John and Lois McCullough. ‌

The slayings, committed in June 2019, remained undiscovered until September 2023, when police found the remains within the property during a missing persons inquiry.

The court was told McCullough fatally poisoned her 70-ye