Albany, N.Y. – In a startling turn of events, 53-year-old Lorenz Kraus confessed to the murders of his parents during an on-air interview with CBS6, revealing that he buried their bodies in the backyard of their upstate New York home eight years ago. His confession transpired against the backdrop of a police investigation, which had uncovered the two bodies from the home after discovering that Kraus had continued to collect Social Security payments for his parents despite their long absence.
During the live broadcast, Kraus framed the killings as acts of mercy for his ailing parents, aged 92 and 83. When pressed by anchor Greg Floyd about whether his parents consented to their deaths, Kraus stated, They knew they were going downhill, elaborating that he felt his actions were a duty borne out of love for their suffering.
The shocking admission led to his immediate arrest following the interview, with Kraus facing two counts of murder. In his brief court appearance, a public defender entered a not guilty plea on his behalf, while Kraus remained silent during the proceedings.
News director Stone Grissom revealed that the interview initiated after Kraus sent a two-page statement to multiple media outlets, leading to his verification of identity over a phone call. Initially evasive regarding killing his parents, Kraus ultimately confessed during live questioning. The interview, which had minimal preparation from the anchor, also involved security measures including a plainclothes police officer present during the recording.
Public defender Rebekah Sokol indicated concerns about the legality of the media's role in securing the confession, raising questions about its admissibility in court. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths—including financial crimes—continues as authorities work to positively identify the remains.
