A man shockingly admitted to the murder of his elderly parents and revealed that he buried their bodies in the backyard of their residence during a television interview. Lorenz Kraus, 53, calmly disclosed to a reporter that he had buried his parents, Franz and Theresia Kraus, who had been missing since 2017. The bodies were discovered by the police, with the first set of human remains found the day before and another body unearthed later.
In the interview with CBS6, Kraus was questioned by news anchor Greg Flloyd about burying his parents in the backyard of his Albany home, to which he confirmed. Kraus hesitated and invoked his Fifth Amendment rights when asked about suffocating his parents but eventually admitted to the act. He described how he had killed his father by choking him with his hands and his mother by strangling her with a rope before deciding to bury them in the garden over several days.
The investigation into Kraus was initially related to financial crimes, but it gained momentum when a welfare check on his parents, who were still receiving benefits, led to the discovery of their disappearance. Kraus reached out to various news outlets after the bodies were found, leading to his on-camera confession.
Despite initially denying the killings, Kraus expressed remorse and emphasized the need for societal awareness of issues affecting older generations. He requested that the interview be shared on YouTube and affirmed his mental state during the statements. Kraus was apprehended as he left the CBS6 building following the interview.
In a peculiar statement to news outlets, Kraus made no direct mention of his parents but instead proposed replacing government structures with a board of trustees. He asserted that if his plan was not accepted, he would face prosecution under German law. The statement also included references to political figures like Donald Trump and Kathy Hochul, alongside conspiracy theories.
Albany Police Chief Brendan Cox stated that efforts were ongoing to confirm the identities of the bodies and determine the cause of death. Kraus appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to the murders. Subsequently, he was remanded in custody without bail.