Aspiring rapper pleads guilty to killing 4 in Va.

FARMVILLE, Va. (AP) — 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.