Richard McCroskey

Case record: Richard McCroskey

Status and sentencing

Richard McCroskey pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to life in prison on September 20, 2010.

The offence

The Farmville murders occurred in Farmville, Virginia in September 2009. They involved the quadruple bludgeoning homicide of Mark Neiderbrock, his estranged wife Debra S. Kelley, their daughter Emma Neiderbrock, and her friend Melanie Wells.

The killings took place at Debra Kelley’s home in Farmville, where Kelley lived with her daughter Emma Neiderbrock.

The bodies were found just after 3:00 p.m. on September 17, 2009. The victims were bludgeoned to death with a hammer and maul. Three bodies were found in a downstairs bedroom and one was found in a room upstairs.

Relationship and motive context

Emma Neiderbrock shared a relationship with Richard McCroskey, described as a troubled aspiring rapper. Police said McCroskey’s anger over his relationship with Emma Neiderbrock led to the killings.

Prince Edwards County Prosecuting Attorney James Ennis said McCroskey was angered by text messages Emma sent while they were in Michigan. Ennis said McCroskey returned to Virginia and became increasingly distraught about the relationship. Ennis said McCroskey had an expectation that he and Emma were seeing each other exclusively, and he was unhappy with how things were going.

Timeline

• September 6, 2009 — McCroskey flew to Virginia to see Emma Neiderbrock.
• September 14, 2009 (late evening) / September 15, 2009 (early morning) — McCroskey drank beer, smoked marijuana, and might have taken painkillers before attacking the three female victims in the house as they were sleeping.
• September 15, 2009 — Ennis said McCroskey killed Wells first, then Kelley, and finally Emma, with each death occurring within a short period of time around 3 a.m.
• September 17, 2009 — Bodies were found just after 3:00 p.m.; Mark Niederbrock arrived at the home about 5 p.m. and was attacked in a living room; McCroskey later moved bodies and attempted to clean up.
• September 18, 2009 — McCroskey was apprehended at Richmond International Airport as he slept in the baggage claim area while about to fly back to California.
• September 20, 2010 — McCroskey pleaded guilty to the four murders and was sentenced to life in prison.
• September 21, 2010 — A report described McCroskey’s guilty plea and life sentence.
• September 22, 2009 — A later account described additional revelations and related material.

Who was killed

Four people were killed:

• Mark Neiderbrock
• Debra Kelley (estranged wife, 53 years old)
• Emma Neiderbrock (16 years old)
• Melanie Wells (18 years old)

Mark Neiderbrock was described as a pastor at a Presbyterian church in Hixburg in northern Appomattox County. He had been heading Walker’s Presbyterian Church for the past six years. He was born in Illinois and was an Eagle Scout and graduate of the University of Illinois. Before he entered the ministry, he worked as a graphic designer.

Neiderbrock and his wife Debra Kelley had been divorced for about nine months.

Dr. Debra S. Kelley was described as a 53-year-old associate professor of sociology and criminal justice studies at Longwood University since 1994. She had started Longwood’s chapter of Lambda Alpha Epsilon, a criminal justice fraternity, and was described as often having students over for cookouts. She lived with her daughter Emma Neiderbrock at the house in Farmville where the murders occurred.

According to a colleague, Kelley was disturbed by her daughter’s obsession with horrorcore and they were in counseling.

Emma Neiderbrock was described as Mark Neiderbrock’s and Debra Kelley’s 16-year-old daughter. She was described as the girlfriend of Richard McCroskey. She had been home-schooled since middle school. She was described as interested in the occult and macabre music, as well as the Backstreet Boys and soccer.

McCroskey and Emma Neiderbrock were described as meeting about a year before the murders at a concert near San Diego.

Melanie Wells was described as the 18-year-old daughter of Thomas G. Wells Jr. and Kathleen Wells, of Inwood, West Virginia. Her family moved to West Virginia from Louisville, Kentucky, just before she was to enter high school. Wells dropped out and was studying for her high school equivalency diploma. She attended Musselman High School. She was described as staying with Emma Neiderbrock and Emma’s mother.

The concert and days before the killings

Days before the killings, Emma Neiderbrock and Melanie Wells joined McCroskey in Michigan for a horrorcore concert. The concert was described as the Strictly for the Wicked Festival.

According to police, Emma’s parents, Debra Kelley and Mark Niederbrock, had taken Emma Neiderbrock, Melanie Wells, and McCroskey to the concert. Kelley was described as having taken her daughter to the concert hoping to keep an eye on her.

What happened at the house

Ennis said the victims were sleeping when McCroskey attacked them.

Ennis said McCroskey first killed Wells, who was on a sofa in a first-floor den, then Kelley in an upstairs room, and finally Emma in her downstairs bedroom. Ennis said each victim was struck multiple times with the maul.

Ennis said:

"No one awoke," Ennis said, adding that the victims had no defensive wounds.

Mark Niederbrock arrived at the home on September 17 about 5 p.m. Ennis said McCroskey attacked Mark Niederbrock with the maul in a living room.

McCroskey later moved Mark Niederbrock’s and Wells’ bodies into Emma’s room. Ennis said McCroskey attempted to clean up the bloody den.

At some point, Ennis said McCroskey used a digital camera to record a video of himself. Ennis said that in the video, McCroskey indicated he knew he had to pay for what he had done and contemplated suicide.

Evidence and investigation details

Police concluded the victims died from blunt force trauma to the head.

Police occult expert Don Rimer, described as being brought in because of symbols found in the music the teens listened, described the murder scene as a slaughter house.

The police took McCroskey’s computer, house phones, and more than a dozen paper bags full of evidence from his home.

Police described McCroskey as not initially cooperating with police after his arrest.

Police Sgt. Andy Ellington said McCroskey told him:

"Jesus told me to do it."

A press release was issued to the public at the time of the murders.

An e-mail was sent to Longwood University students. The following Monday, the Attorney General and Farmville County Police Department held a press conference where the bodies were identified.

Arrest and flight

Before discovering the murders, Melanie Wells’ mother called city police asking them to check on her daughter. Each time Melanie Wells’ mother called the Kelley home and spoke with Richard McCroskey, McCroskey gave her a different story.

When police arrived at the Kelley home, McCroskey answered the door and told police Wells was at the movies with a friend. Police left. When Melanie Wells’ mother called police again, police went to the house and discovered the bodies.

By that time, McCroskey had fled, stealing and wrecking Mark Niederbrock’s 2000 Honda.

During this time, McCroskey made a call to confess he had just killed the victims.

McCroskey was apprehended at Richmond International Airport on September 18. Police found him sleeping in the baggage claim area about to fly back to California.

Police described that a deputy issued him a summons for driving without a license during the period before the murders were discovered, but did not arrest him.

Prince Edward Sheriff’s Sgt. Stuart Raybold said at the time there was no reason for the deputy to be suspicious.

Charges and plea

Initially, McCroskey was charged with first degree murder, robbery, and grand larceny (stealing the car). Later, he was charged with six counts of capital murder, because he was alleged to have killed multiple people within three years.

At one point, he was charged with six counts of capital murder.

On September 20, 2010, McCroskey pleaded guilty to the four murders. Although facing the death penalty, he was sentenced to life in prison.

A plea agreement described McCroskey as pleading guilty to two counts of capital murder and two counts of first degree murder. A judge recommended life in prison for all four counts. McCroskey waived his right to an appeal.

County Attorney James Ennis said the victims’ families supported his decision to reach a plea agreement instead of going to trial and seeking the death penalty.

People

Victims and related persons

• Mark Neiderbrock — pastor at Walker’s Presbyterian Church; father of 16-year-old Emma Neiderbrock; husband/estranged husband of Debra Kelley.
• Debra S. Kelley — 53-year-old associate professor at Longwood University since 1994; estranged wife of Mark Neiderbrock; mother of Emma Neiderbrock.
• Emma Neiderbrock — 16-year-old daughter of Mark Neiderbrock and Debra Kelley; girlfriend of Richard McCroskey; boyfriend relationship described as involving anger and text messages; home-schooled since middle school.
• Melanie Wells — 18-year-old daughter of Thomas G. Wells Jr. and Kathleen Wells; friend of Emma Neiderbrock.

Legal and law-enforcement figures

• James Ennis — Prince Edwards County Prosecuting Attorney; made statements about the motive and order of killings.
• Don Rimer — police occult expert who described the scene as a slaughter house.
• Andy Ellington — Police Sgt. from Farmville, VA; reported McCroskey’s statement: "Jesus told me to do it."
• Wade Stimpson — Farmville police Capt.; gave details about identification and the arrest process.
• Stuart Raybold — Prince Edward Sheriff’s Sgt.; commented on the reason for not arresting McCroskey at first.
• Cary Bowen — described as McCroskey’s attorney; commented on the plea and his client’s reaction.
• Michael Phelan — a Farmville resident who described personal connections and discussion with Debra Kelley.
• Landon MacEachran — described as having gone to grade school with Kelley’s daughter Emma.

Other details

McCroskey’s age and background

Richard McCroskey was described as 20 years old. He was described as from Castro Valley, California, and as an aspiring horrorcore rapper and graphic designer.

The account described McCroskey as living with his father and 21-year-old sister in Castro Valley, California. His father was described as a rock guitarist who introduced him to Insane Clown Posse, Metallica, and Primus.

In high school, McCroskey was described as being teased and bullied because of his weight and red hair. Neighbors described him as a loner. His sister Sarah recalled him as mild-mannered and kind, and said he never fought back or defended himself unless provoked.

His MySpace page was described as featuring songs he authored with violent lyrics, dealing with subjects including mutilation, death, and the thrill of murder.

McCroskey dropped out of Tennyson High School in Hayward, then attended Hayward High School for a time before dropping out again.

About five months prior to the murders, he was described as devastated when his father asked their mother to move out.

He was described as excited for a planned trip to Virginia to see girlfriend Emma Neiderbrock, whom he had dated online for almost a year and spoken with almost daily by phone. He flew to Virginia on September 6.

MySpace posts and themes

A report described a September seventh post from Emma Neiderbrock’s username (described as her username) saying:

"The next time you check your MySpace, you'll be at my house. I love you so much."

Another post described the account activity: McCroskey last logged into his account “lildemondog” on Friday while Emma Niederbrock’s account activity ended September 14.

The HuffingtonPost account included quoted lyrics from McCroskey’s song “My Dark Side,” stating:

"You're not the first, just to let you know. I've killed many people and I kill them real slow. It's the best feeling, watching their last breath. Stabbing and stabbing till there's nothing left,"

The HuffingtonPost account included a quote attributed to Emma Neiderbrock’s message to McCroskey:

"The next time you check your myspace, YOULL BE AT MY HOUSE!"

Contemplation, attempts, and video

Ennis said McCroskey contemplated suicide in a recorded video that he recorded using a digital camera.

An account described McCroskey as spending a day and a half with the bodies of his girlfriend Emma, her mother Longwood professor Debra Kelley, and Emma’s friend from West Virginia Melanie Wells.

Cary Bowen said:

"I think it's both a relief and he's thinking about the rest of his life,"

Another quote attributed to Bowen described McCroskey as contemplating what he had done and not knowing what to do about it:

"I think he was contemplating he was contemplating the severity of what he had done and just not knowing what to do about it,"

Prison and current location

McCroskey was serving his sentence at Red Onion State Prison in Pound, Virginia.