Richard McCroskey is a killer who is known for The Farmville Murders which took place in Virginia and left four people dead
According to court documents Richard McCroskey who is sometimes called Sam “Syko Sam” McCroskey was involved in a online relationship with sixteen year old Emma Niederbrock that was beginning to fizzle out. McCroskey who was a struggling Horrorcore Rapper would murder Mark Niederbrock, Debra S. Kelley, their daughter Emma Niederbrock and friend Melanie Wells.
The group had attended a concert and when Melanie mom was unable to contact her daughter she would phone the police who performed a wellness check at the Niederbrock residence and discovered the four bodies. The four victims had been hit with a maul while they were sleeping.
Richard McCroskey would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to life in prison
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Personal Information
Richard Samuel McCroskey III
Age/Race/Sex
34/White/Male
Location Wallens Ridge State Prison
Inmate I.D.# 1434584
Release Date Multiple Life Sentences
Richard McCroskey Case
An aspiring rapper who embraced a style of music known as “horrorcore” pleaded guilty Monday to killing his 16-year-old girlfriend, her parents and her friend.
Richard “Sam” McCroskey was sentenced to life in prison Monday as part of his agreement to plead guilty to two counts of capital murder and two counts of first-degree murder.
His attorney, Cary Bowen, said after the hearing that the prospect of the death penalty was a major factor.
“Four bodies are pretty compelling evidence,” Bowen said. “This is the kind of stuff that citizens any place in this country are terrified it could happen to them. This is the kind of case death penalties arise from.”
McCroskey, from Castro Valley, Calif., arrived at the Prince Edward County Circuit Court shackled and heavily guarded. He showed little emotion during the hearing and offered simple “yes” and “no” answers to questions from the judge.
McCroskey pleaded guilty to killing his girlfriend, 16-year-old Emma Niederbrock; her parents, Presbyterian minister Mark Niederbrock and Longwood University professor Debra Kelley; and Emma’s 18-year-old friend, Melanie Wells of Inwood, W.Va.
Family members of the victims sobbed softly during the hearing. They left without speaking to reporters, but issued a written statement: “We have endured a tragedy of unspeakable proportions. We are relieved that justice has been done.”
Prosecutor James R. Ennis revealed that the women were bludgeoned with a wood-splitting tool while they slept on Sept. 18, 2009. Mark Niederbrock was killed with the tool when he came to check on them. Ennis declined to speculate on a motive.
McCroskey and Emma Niederbrock shared an interest in “horrorcore” music, which sets lyrics about rape, murder and mutilation to hip-hop beats. Bowen said the music had nothing to do with the killings.
McCroskey, a Web site designer and music promoter, had been rapping under the name “Syko Sam.” He flew to Virginia to visit Emma, and her parents drove them and Wells to a horrorcore music festival in Michigan Sept. 12. Police found their bodies six days later after Wells’ parents became worried that she didn’t return home.