British Woman Jailed for Killing Parents and Hiding Their Mummified Bodies in Their Home for Over Four Years

Virginia McCullough murdered her parents in 2019, keeping their mummified bodies hidden in the family home for four years

A British woman who murdered her parents and concealed their mummified remains in their home for more than four years has been sentenced to prison, as her sister publicly speaks out for the first time since the gruesome killings.

Virginia McCullough, 36, was sentenced on October 11, 2024, for the 2019 murders of her parents, John McCullough, 70, and Lois McCullough, 71. She was ordered to serve a minimum of 36 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole.

John and Lois McCullough had not been seen since August 2018

Authorities launched an investigation into the couple’s deaths in September 2023 after concerns were raised by their family doctor, who had not seen them for an extended period. When officers arrived at the McCullough residence in Chelmsford, Essex, they discovered the severely decomposed remains of both parents hidden inside the home.

According to police and prosecutors, John McCullough had been poisoned with prescription medication, while Lois McCullough had been fatally stabbed and struck with a hammer. Prosecutors revealed that Virginia constructed a makeshift tomb for her father in the bedroom, covering his remains with blankets and photos, while her mother’s body was wrapped in a sleeping bag and stored inside an upstairs wardrobe.

Essex police stated that Virginia actively deceived friends, relatives, doctors, and financial institutions for over four years to conceal her crimes. She isolated the home, particularly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, telling others her parents were sick, traveling, or unavailable. During this period, she lived in the home, continued spending her parents’ money, and accumulated significant debts in their names.

John, 70, and Lois McCullough, 71

Nicola Rice of the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed that Virginia "spent the next four years manipulating and lying to family members, medical staff, financial institutions, and the police."

Virginia’s sister, Louise Hopkins, has now spoken publicly, expressing a complex mix of emotions. While she stated she forgives her sister, she has no intention of visiting her in prison. “I have forgiven her for what she’s done. I am not drinking other people’s poison,” Hopkins said.

McCullough said she 'deserved to get what's coming' for her when she was arrested

Hopkins revealed that she became estranged from her parents in 2018 due to family tensions. She was invited to attend Virginia’s trial but chose not to, saying, “I’d made my peace that I’d left the family and didn’t want anything more to do with them.”

“I have bouts of thinking I must be to blame because I walked away from all that,” she added. “I’ve had various flashbacks, just feeling really guilty if I don’t talk about it. It chews me up and I feel physically ill.”

Despite the emotional toll, Louise emphasized her focus on moving forward with her life. “I forgive my sister, but I would not visit her. I have created a life of peace and tranquility for me and my children.”

The case has shocked the local community, with authorities describing it as one of the most disturbing domestic crime scenes in recent memory.

Louise Hopkins forgives her sister Virginia despite her gruesome crimes