Cops spoke to 'killer' daughter 'while her parents' bodies lay upstairs'

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Cops spoke to 'killer' daughter 'while her parents' bodies lay upstairs'
Cops spoke to 'killer' daughter 'while her parents' bodies lay upstairs'

COPS spoke to a daughter now accused of murder while her parents' bodies were left upstairs, it was revealed today.

The remains of John and Lois McCullough were discovered last Friday after their GP became concerned they had not been in contact and alerted police.

Virginia McCullough has been accused of murdering her parents qhiddkiqzkituprw
Virginia McCullough has been accused of murdering her parents
The remains of John and Lois McCullough were discovered last Friday
The remains of John and Lois McCullough were discovered last FridayCredit: Steve Bell
Virginia McCullough is charged with murdering her parents five years ago
Virginia McCullough is charged with murdering her parents five years agoCredit: PA

A female Essex cop visited the address and interviewed their daughter Virginia McCullough, now charged with murdering her parents five years ago, after she alleged she was assaulted.

Mr McCullough, 75, a former lecturer at Chelmsford College of Further Education, and his wife, 74, were last seen alive in August 2018.

Artist Ms McCullough, 35, was arrested after her parents' bodies were found in a top-floor bedroom at the three-storey end-of-terrace house where they lived in Chelmsford, Essex.

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She appeared at Chelmsford magistrates' court on Monday charged with two counts of murder and was remanded in custody to appear at Basildon crown court the next day.

Police previously attended her home address on August 18 after she alleged she was assaulted in her back garden.

It is understood the female officer interviewed Ms McCullough in a first-floor living room – unaware of the bodies upstairs.

There was no indication of anything wrong at the time and no search of the property was carried out as there was no obvious evidence any crime had taken place in the building.

A review has been carried out by Essex Police over the prior contact with Ms McCullough and concluded the female officer did not do anything wrong.

Consequently, the Independent Office for Police Conduct has not been informed.

An Essex Police spokesman said: "We have not made a referral to the IOPC in relation to this case, as it does not fit the criteria for either a mandatory or voluntary referral."

Post-mortem examinations are being carried out to establish how Mr and Mrs McCullough died.

The family of John McCullough and Lois McCullough said: "We are deeply shocked by their deaths and ask for privacy at this difficult time."

Essex Police said specialist officers are supporting the family.

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Her parents' bodies were found at the house where they lived in Chelmsford
Her parents' bodies were found at the house where they lived in ChelmsfordCredit: PA

Mike Sullivan

London, Essex, Police, Parenting advice, missing person, Crime, Courts

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