Authorities: 4 slain in Va. town died from blows to the head; suspect is aspiring rapper

4 Va. slaying victims died from blows to the head

FARMVILLE, Va. — Four people found slain in a small Virginia college town were killed by blows to the head, and the aspiring California rapper suspected of killing them will likely face more charges, authorities said Tuesday.

Richard Alden Samuel McCroskey III, 20, is already charged with killing one of the four — Mark Niederbrock, a pastor at a Presbyterian church in central Virginia.

At a news conference Tuesday, the other victims were identified as Longwood University professor Debra Kelley, 53; Emma Niederbrock, 16, the daughter of Kelley and Mark Niederbrock; and Melanie Wells, 18, of Berryville, W.Va.

The bodies were discovered over the weekend at Kelley’s home in Farmville, about 50 miles west of Richmond. Debra Kelley and Mark Niederbrock had been separated for about a year.

Prince Edward County Commonwealth’s Attorney Jim Ennis would not reveal what kind of weapon was used nor a possible motive. He confirmed that McCroskey was staying in Kelley’s home during his visit to Virginia and called the investigation “unparalleled” in the small college town.

He said there was no indication that anyone else was involved and would not give a timeline for when the victims died.

He said it would take a significant amount of time to get through all the forensic evidence.

“We are going coast to coast on this investigation,” Ennis said.

Additional homicide charges are anticipated at some point in the future, but not until more forensic evidence is processed.

Sarah McCroskey has said her brother was a meek and kind person who never fought back when picked on and wouldn’t do anything unless provoked.

“He was extremely passive, so just hearing that my brother is the main suspect just really blows my mind,” she said.

That low-key demeanor was described by police who had two run-ins with him in the days before his arrest Saturday. Authorities said he was calm, never acting in a strange or suspicious manner.

A day before the bodies were found, Richard McCroskey answered the door at the home and calmly told police looking for Wells that she was at the movies with a friend. Her mother had called city police asking them to check on her daughter.

When the worried mother called police again Friday, they went to the house and discovered the bodies.

Niederbrock and Kelley had taken their daughter and Wells to a concert in Michigan on Sept. 12, and the girls hung out with Richard McCroskey before and after the show, according to a friend.

In another encounter with police about 12 hours before McCroskey answered the door, he had been stopped and was ticketed for driving Niederbrock’s car without a license. The car hadn’t been reported stolen, and police said they didn’t realize until later that day they had let a suspected killer go free.

On Monday, a judge appointed an experienced capital murder defender, Cary Bowen of Richmond, to work with McCroskey during a brief videoconference. Bowen said later he had not yet spoken to McCroskey.

The judge set a preliminary hearing for Jan. 11, and Ennis said prosecutors needed the extra time to look over the evidence.

Police also are examining online postings from McCroskey, Emma Niederbrock and Wells. In some of the messages, Emma Niederbrock professed her love to McCroskey.

In songs posted online, McCroskey performed under the name Syko Sam and rapped about killing, maiming and mutilating people. In one song, he talked about being stopped by the police while on his way to get rid of the bodies of people he has killed.

As deputies escorted McCroskey to the police station Saturday after his arrest at the Richmond airport, McCroskey was asked by a reporter why he did it. He said, “Jesus told me to do it,” WRIC television reported.