Castro Valley's “Syko Sam” Obsessed with “Son of Sam”

New and chilling details are surfacing about the Castro Valley man who is accused of killing four people in Farmville, Virginia. Auhorities found their bodies in a quaint Dutch Colonial home in the rural college town about 50 miles southwest of Richmond last Friday.

Richard "Sammy" McCroskey III, an aspiring rapper in the little-known horrorcore genre, sits in a East Coast jail facing charges in the quadruple homicide.

Among the dead is 16-year-old Emma Niederbrock, who was romantically-linked to McCroskey.  Emma's parents, Mark Niederbrock and Debra Kelly and Emma's friend, Melanie Wells, were also killed. 

The motive for the killings remains unclear.

McCroskey's sister, Sarah, described him as a kind person who never fought back when people picked on him.

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

McCroskey's father played guitar in a band called S&M.  Sarah McCroskey says the family was not a "lovey-dovey ... 'Leave It To Beaver' kind of family."  She said she thought something might be wrong after she heard a voice mail her brother left at the family's house last Thursday that ended with "I love you guys."

McCroskey posted video of his Castro Valley, California bedroom just three weeks ago.  His walls are plastered with posters that celebrate bloody, gory imagery of music centered on killing, suicide and violence.  Family members said he spent most of his time in his room on his computer.

Alameda County authorities searched that home before dawn Monday, taking with them a computer and more than a dozen paper bags full of evidence.

McCroskey was known as "Syko Sam" to the Web world because of what is being described as an obsession with notorious serial killer "Son of Sam." His MySpace page features his raps about killing, maiming and mutilating people.  On his YouTube channel, McCroskey goes under the name "Lil Demon Dog."  That is another reference to serial killer David Berkowitz.

He also posted a video of himself after he flipped over a cross on the grave of a U.S. Marine. 

On Tuesday, a woman known as "Kinky Suicide" sent a message to McCroskey that read, "i dont know what to think... i thought u loved her... u said u loved me 2.. u would of killed Me too wouldent you?! you had the chance u had the oppertunitys Why them i dont understand!? this isnt like u!"

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.

McCroskey has not cooperated with police since his arrest on Saturday.  Police found him napping in the baggage area of an airport waiting to fly back home to the Bay Area.

Police said there was no indication anyone else was involved and would not say when the victims died.

A judge has set a preliminary hearing for Jan. 11, and Prince Edward County Commonwealth's Attorney James Ennis said prosecutors needed the extra time to look over the evidence.

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