Montco woman gets life in prison for killing her parents

ABINGTON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – After several delays in the trial, the Rydal woman charged last year with killing and dismembering her parents has pleaded guilty.

Verity Beck pleaded guilty but mentally ill to both counts of first-degree murder Monday in a Montgomery County court and was sentenced to life in prison. She is receiving mental health treatment in prison, the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office said.

Beck's trial had been delayed twice. Her lawyers had planned an insanity defense.

Beck, 44, of the Rydal section of Abington Townships, was charged with first- and third-degree murder, abuse of a corpse and possession of a criminal weapon in connection with the deaths of her parents, Reid Beck, 73, and Miriam Beck, 72.

Authorities allege Beck shot her parents to death in their Jenkintown home on or after Jan. 7, 2023, and dismembered their bodies with a chainsaw.

The bodies were found at their parents' home in the 1100 block of Beverly Road during a wellness check after their son had not heard from them.

Verity Beck lived in the home with her parents, authorities said. No motive for the murders was ever given.