A woman who killed her parents and lived with their bodies for 4 years was sentenced to 36 years in prison.

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36-year-old Virginia McCullough lived with the bodies of her parents for 4 years after killing them in their home in Essex in June 2019. McCullough, who was tried at Chelmsford Crown Court, was sentenced to at least 36 years in prison.

According to the prosecution, McCullough poisoned her 70-year-old father John with medication and killed her 71-year-old mother Lois with a hammer and a knife. She placed her father's body in the bedroom as a "temporary grave" and wrapped her mother's body in a sleeping bag, hiding it in the wardrobe.

The murders came to light when the family doctor became suspicious, prompting the police to enter the home. McCullough lied to those around her for years, saying her parents were ill or traveling.

During a search of the house, the police found the murder weapons. When McCullough was arrested, she confessed to her crime and said, "It would be right for me to serve my sentence."

The investigation revealed that McCullough was a gambling addict and had used her parents' pension funds. The judge noted that the murders were committed "after months of thought and planning."

McCullough's siblings stated in court that they were "devastated and distraught."