The case, investigated by Essex Police’s Serious Crime Directorate, began in September 2023 after concerns were raised by a GP about the welfare of McCullough’s elderly parents, aged 70 and 71. The couple had lived in Great Baddow, Essex, with McCullough, but their sudden absence prompted the GP to contact authorities.
Upon visiting the family home in Pump Hill, officers became suspicious and soon discovered human remains, later confirmed to be those of John and Lois. It was determined that the murders occurred in the summer of 2019. Post-mortem examinations revealed that John had been poisoned with prescription medication, while Lois had been struck with a hammer and fatally stabbed.
McCullough had gone to great lengths to hide the bodies and avoid detection. Throughout the Covid pandemic, she isolated herself and her parents, cancelling family visits and frequently lying to doctors and relatives, claiming her parents were unwell, on holiday, or away on long trips.
The investigation escalated when McCullough continued to provide false information to police, telling them her parents were traveling and would return in October. Her story quickly unraveled, and a murder investigation was launched. Upon searching the home, McCullough immediately confessed to the killings, leading officers to discover further evidence of her manipulation and financial abuse.
Documents found at the property revealed that McCullough had accumulated significant debts on her parents’ credit cards and continued to spend their pensions after their deaths. She had used lies and deceit to conceal her worsening financial situation, assuring her parents that her job prospects were improving, while secretly plunging them into further debt.
At Chelmsford Crown Court on 4 June, McCullough pleaded guilty to two counts of murder. Her conviction and subsequent sentence reflect the severity of the crimes and the lengths she went to conceal her actions and exploit her parents for financial gain.
McCullough will now serve life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 36 years.