Killer daughter
Who was John McCullough and why did his daughter Virginia murder him?
John and his wife believed that their daughter was looking for work, while she spent their pensions
JOHN McCullough was a retired business studies lecturer who was murdered by his daughter Virginia McCollough.
His body was hidden in his home before McCollough was eventually arrested and handed a lifelong prison sentence.
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Retired life
John moved to the Clacton area with his wife Lois after retiring from his job.
Their daughter, Virginia McCollough, moved in with them and the three people were active members of their community.
John’s family shared that he enjoyed golf and snooker, where Lois had a love of history and the Royal family.
They both shared a love for the seaside, which inspired their move to Clacton, Essex.
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Their daughter, McCollough, was known to be an eccentric person by neighbours, but John and Lois were beloved by their new friends.
She had told her mother and father that she was looking for work while spending their pensions.
Then, in 2019, John and Lois disappeared.
McCollough claimed that they were on holiday or that they were sick.
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Later, she lied again by saying that they were sheltering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Horrifying murder
In actual fact, McCollough had poisoned her father and hidden his body in his home.
Lois had also been poisoned, but McCollough murdered her by hitting her in the head with a hammer before stabbing her.
John’s daughter then lived on her parents’ pension and made more money by selling their assets.
Moment woman who killed parents tells cops 'cheer up, you got the bad guy'
Eventually, a GP noticed that the elderly couple regularly missed their appointments and the doctor decided to raise a welfare report.
The police visited the family home, where John and Lois’ bodies were hidden, but McCollough explained away their absence.
The investigation became a murder inquiry which prompted a second search of the house.
Upon the discovery of John’s body in a mummified tomb and Lois’ body in an upstairs cupboard, McCollough confessed with a chilling joke.
She told the police to "cheer up, at least you've caught the bad guy".
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McCollough faces justice
On October 11, 2024, McCollough was sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 36 years, for the murder of her 70-year-old dad and her 71-year-old mother.
It was revealed that she had spent over £20,000 on online gambling from 2019 until she was caught in 2023.
A joint statement from John and Lois’ family read: "Mum and Dad always enjoyed the time they spent with us, family was their pride and joy.
“Our family has been left devastated and heartbroken at the deaths of our parents who were taken from us so cruelly.
“As we try to move forward with our lives, we will remember the happy times we enjoyed with them.
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“Our Mum and Dad are forever in our hearts and are loved and missed beyond any measure.
“We request privacy as we continue to grieve the loss of our dear parents.”
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