In an astonishing turn of events, Lorenz Kraus, 53, a former fringe Democratic presidential candidate, confessed during a televised interview with CBS6 anchor Greg Floyd to the murder of his parents, Franz and Theresia Kraus, almost a decade ago. The admission came to light on Thursday, the day after the police unearthed the remains in the backyard of the Kraus family home in Albany.
The case came to the forefront during a financial crimes investigation when officials discovered Kraus had been unlawfully collecting his parents' Social Security benefits. The Krauses had vanished from public view years prior, raising suspicions about their welfare. What began as a potential fraud case quickly escalated after authorities located the remains at the family residence.
Kraus's political history casts a peculiar backdrop to the case. He was a candidate in the 2020 New Hampshire Democratic primary, where his unconventional platform included the dissolution of the presidency, propagation of antisemitic conspiracy theories, and a proposal to divide the United States into four regions to combat what he referred to as the "Deep State."
During the interview, Kraus referred to the killings as "mercy killings," justifying his actions as responses to his parents' deteriorating health conditions. He claimed his actions stemmed from a sense of duty and concern, stating, "I did my duty to my parents. My concern for their misery was paramount." Kraus chillingly recounted how he killed his father first and then his mother, who he said, spent hours lying on his father's chest before he ended her life as well. He admitted that neither parent had explicitly requested him to take such drastic measures but believed they understood their worsening health situations.
Despite Kraus's portrayal of his actions as compassionate, authorities arrested him shortly after the interview and charged him with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of concealment of a human corpse. At a court appearance on Friday, his public defender entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. Kraus, who remained silent, is currently held in custody with a subsequent hearing scheduled for Wednesday.
The confession, which has garnered significant attention online, may have implications for the legal proceedings. Legal expert Attorney Greg Rinckey expressed concerns to CNY Central about the potential bias among future jurors due to the widespread exposure of the interview. He highlighted the possibility of motions to change the venue or suppress the confession to avoid prejudicing the jury. "If that confession is suppressed, now you need evidence that ties him to the crime," Rinckey noted, underscoring the importance of the medical examiner's findings.
CBS6 News Director Stone Grissom detailed that the interview was set up after Kraus sent an email with his contact information to the station. Grissom reached out, and Kraus agreed to the interview, which was conducted with law enforcement present to ensure safety. Anchor Greg Floyd described the experience as unprecedented in his 45-year career.
Neighbors had believed the couple had relocated to Germany, and the community was left in the dark about the couple's fate until the police's arrival at their home. The discovery of the bodies in a densely populated residential area has left both the community and legal observers reeling from the extraordinary nature of the case. The investigation into Social Security fraud has inadvertently revealed a horrific double homicide, prompting discussions on the ethics of televised confessions and the enigmatic past of a man now facing grave murder charges.
