During a broadcast interview, Lorenz Kraus, 53, made a shocking confession about the murder of his elderly parents in Albany, New York. He revealed to a news anchor that he suffocated his father and mother before burying their remains in the backyard of their home. This horrific admission came just moments before police arrested him in the television station’s parking lot, according to WRGB-TV.
Kraus’s criminal activities came to light when the Social Security Administration visited his parents’ home on May 21. Theresia Kraus, 83, and Franz Kraus, 92, were receiving benefits at the time but were notably absent, prompting authorities to launch a fraud investigation. The investigation escalated, culminating in a search of the residence where corpses were unearthed. Albany Police Chief Brandon Cox stated, “While we are confident that those are the remains of Franz and Theresia Kraus, we still need to do some work and confirm that’s who that is.”
Initially, Kraus assured investigators that his parents were away, which led police to harbor suspicions. Chief Cox noted, “He had told us that they weren’t there, but certainly we had enough suspicion to say we need to find out where they were.” This suspicion eventually led to a detailed probe into Kraus’s statements.
In a chilling twist, Kraus shared the gruesome details of his actions during the interview. He admitted to using a pillow to suffocate his father, stating, “After he died, my mother put her head on his chest, and she was there for a few hours, and then I finished her.” Kraus confessed that he had waited several days before burying their bodies on the property.
Kraus reflected on his parents’ declining health as a factor in his decision, claiming they had never requested to be killed but had expressed a sense of despair about their well-being. “They were going downhill,” he remarked, offering a chilling rationalization for his actions. He stated that the murders took place in August 2017 and maintained a façade, telling neighbors that his parents had moved to Germany.
One neighbor, Kate Calabrese, recounted her confusion regarding the Krauses’ sudden disappearance: “And I thought, OK, because they are German, but then I thought about it more and was like, but they didn’t have any moving equipment with them. They were here one day, gone the next.” This comment underscores the disbelief felt by those around them as they ponder the unreality of such a situation.
Despite having confessed on television, Kraus entered a plea of not guilty during a recent court appearance. Reports indicate that he is currently being held without bail and is due back in court on October 1. The details surrounding this case continue to unfold, revealing the dark and tragic circumstances behind the acts committed against his own parents.
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