ALBANY, N.Y. — In a stunning twist of events, a man named Lorenz Kraus, 53, has confessed to the murders of his parents, Franz and Theresia Kraus, during a live interview this week. The aftermath of his confession has left many in shock, as Kraus was arrested shortly after leaving the studio, where he articulated his belief that his actions were a 'mercy killing' for his ailing parents who had been missing for years.
The revelation came to light when police, investigating financial discrepancies, uncovered the remains of the couple buried in the backyard of their home in Albany, N.Y. Despite their deaths occurring eight years ago, authorities found that their Social Security payments were still being collected by Kraus, leading to speculation about prolonged exploitation.
Kraus first reached out to local news outlet CBS6, expressing a desire to share his story. In a half-hour interview, he hesitated initially before admitting, 'I did my duty to my parents.' However, he clarified that while they didn’t explicitly request death, they were aware of their deteriorating conditions.
Following the interview, Kraus was charged with two counts of murder after a public defender entered a not guilty plea on his behalf during a brief court appearance.
The director of the TV station, Stone Grissom, described how Kraus had sent a two-page statement before agreeing to the interview, mentioning his parents' burial. The situation raises legal questions about the nature of the interview and its implications for Kraus’ upcoming trial, as defense attorneys may challenge the admissibility of his comments during the broadcast.
As the investigation continues, authorities are awaiting positive identification of the bodies found, believed to be those of the Kraus couple, while the community grapples with the shocking events that unfold from within their neighborhood.
The revelation came to light when police, investigating financial discrepancies, uncovered the remains of the couple buried in the backyard of their home in Albany, N.Y. Despite their deaths occurring eight years ago, authorities found that their Social Security payments were still being collected by Kraus, leading to speculation about prolonged exploitation.
Kraus first reached out to local news outlet CBS6, expressing a desire to share his story. In a half-hour interview, he hesitated initially before admitting, 'I did my duty to my parents.' However, he clarified that while they didn’t explicitly request death, they were aware of their deteriorating conditions.
Following the interview, Kraus was charged with two counts of murder after a public defender entered a not guilty plea on his behalf during a brief court appearance.
The director of the TV station, Stone Grissom, described how Kraus had sent a two-page statement before agreeing to the interview, mentioning his parents' burial. The situation raises legal questions about the nature of the interview and its implications for Kraus’ upcoming trial, as defense attorneys may challenge the admissibility of his comments during the broadcast.
As the investigation continues, authorities are awaiting positive identification of the bodies found, believed to be those of the Kraus couple, while the community grapples with the shocking events that unfold from within their neighborhood.
