Also murdered were his estranged wife, Debra S. Kelley, 53, their daughter, Emma Niederbrock, 16, and her friend
Melanie Grace Wells, 18, of Inwood, W.Va. Richard Samuel Alden McCroskey III, of Castro Valley, Calif., was arrested for the slaying of Niederbrock.
A California man, Richard Samuel Alden McCroskey III of Castro Valley, Calif., has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in Niederbrock’s death, grand larceny, robbery, and driving without a license. Further charges are expected relating to the deaths of three other persons found dead in the house. Their identities were confirmed as Debra S. Kelley, a professor at Longwood University in Farmville and Niederbrock’s estranged wife; their daughter, Emma Niederbrock; and Melanie Wells, a friend of Emma’s visiting from West Virginia.
McCroskey had a defense attorney appointed for him at the hearing today (Sept. 21). A preliminary hearing date of January 11 was set.
Niederbrock is an alumnus of Union Presbyterian Seminary (formerly Union-PSCE) in Richmond, Va., according to the seminary. He had been leading the Hixville Church for six years, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch newspaper.
