Virginia McCullough, 36, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 36 years for the murder of her parents, John and Lois McCullough, in Chelmsford, Essex. In June 2019, she poisoned her father with sleeping pills and fatally stabbed her mother, subsequently concealing their bodies within the family home for four years. During this time, she continued to live in the house, using deceit to cover up her crimes while stealing nearly £150,000 from their accounts. Her actions were only discovered when their GP raised concerns over missed appointments, leading police to uncover the hidden bodies in September 2023. McCullough's crimes were described by police as a 'meticulous' campaign of deceit, motivated by financial gain and self-preservation.