A “horrorcore” rapper was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty Monday to killing his 16 year-old girlfriend, her parents and her friend in Central Virginia.
Richard McCroskey III, who had rapped under the name “Syko Sam,” admitted to killing Emma Niederbrock; her parents, Mark Niederbrock and Debra Kelley; and Emma’s 18-year-old friend Melanie Wells. Mark Niederbrock was a Presbyterian minister, and Kelly was a professor at Longwood University. Prosecutors said McCroskey bludgeoned the three females with a wood-splitting tool while they slept Sept. 18, 2009. McCroskey killed Mark Niederbrock when he checked on them.
More charges for serial stabber
Elias Abuelazam, the serial stabber man suspected in three attacks in Leesburg last month, faces five additional charges in Michigan, including one count of murder, in five separate Flint-area attacks.
Abuelazam, 33, is being held without bond at the Genesee County Jail in Michigan. He now faces six charges in all, five for assault with intent to commit murder.
Police said the blood of murder victim Arnold Minor was found in a green Chevy Blazer that he used to drive to Leesburg. Abuelazam also is a suspect in two stabbings and a hammer attack in Virginia. He has not yet been charged there yet.
DNA leads N.Y. police to Virginia in ’93 rape
Prosecutors say a New York City rape case that remained unsolved for almost 20 years has been linked to a Virginia prisoner through DNA.
Alberto Barriera, 46, pleaded not guilty Monday in a Manhattan court to raping and robbing a 16-year-old girl in December 1993.
Manhattan prosecutors say a DNA sample from the attack was matched with Barriera in March. Virginia authorities had put his DNA in a national system after he was convicted of drug charges there. Barriera is serving a little more than seven years for a sentencing in Virginia Beach.
-Scott McCabe
