The Eye Of Media

By Isabelle Wilson–

A stunning on-air declaration has resulted in the swift arrest of an upstate New York man who confessed to killing his elderly parents.

The Lorenz Kraus murder confession occurred during a televised interview with local news outlet CBS6 on Thursday, moments before police took him into custody outside the studio.

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Lorenz Kraus was charged with two counts of murder. Pic: Will Waldron/The Albany Times Union/AP

The 53-year-old suspect immediately faced two counts of murder, amplifying an already intense investigation into alleged financial fraud.

The unbelievable Lorenz Kraus murder confession follows the grisly discovery of two sets of human remains in the backyard of the family’s Albany residence.

Kraus contacted the television station, providing a two-page statement to local media outlets, which prompted the impromptu interview. News anchor Greg Floyd, unprepared for the chilling discussion, managed to elicit the shocking admission on air.

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Mr. Floyd pressed on until Kraus gave the clearest description of the eight-year-old crime. Initially hesitant, Kraus admitted, “I suffocated them both,” describing how he choked his father, Franz, and later killed his mother, Theresia.

Pic: Will Waldron/The Albany Times Union/AP

Kraus explained his motive for the horrific act, which he committed in 2017, as a desperate ‘duty to his parents.’ He claimed the 92-year-old Franz and 83-year-old Theresia were becoming increasingly frail; the health of his parents was declining. Kraus cited his mother’s recent fall and his father’s inability to drive after eye surgery, although he mentioned no terminal illness.

“My concern for their misery was paramount,” Kraus stated in the interview, describing the double homicide as a mercy killing. When asked if they knew they were “perishing at his hand,” Kraus chillingly replied, “Yes, and it was so quick.”

The bodies were discovered following a fraud inquiry, with authorities noting the elder Krauses were still receiving federal Social Security payments.

The arrest was sparked from a financial crime financial crime investigation into Kraus’ parents’ Social Security benefits, police said.

Authorities executed a search warrant of Franz and Theresia Kraus’ Albany home on Tuesday, police said. The investigation revealed that the couple had not been heard from in years and authorities suspected that their son “had been collecting their social security benefits and using the funds for his own personal use,” according to the police statement.

Police allege Kraus was systematically collecting and utilizing those government benefits for his personal expenses. Investigators from the Social Security Administration initiated the probe in May, ultimately leading police to search the family home and then start digging in the backyard.

This financial motivation adds a complex layer to the Lorenz Kraus murder confession narrative. The investigation remains ongoing as police and the District Attorney’s office gather physical evidence to complement the televised admission.

Legal Fallout and Community Reaction

The arrest occurred in the television station’s parking lot immediately following the conclusion of the interview. Kraus appeared in Albany City Criminal Court on Friday, where a public defender entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

Public defense attorneys have already raised concerns about the admissibility of the spontaneous TV confession in court.

Pic: Will Waldron/The Albany Times Union/AP

Neighbors reportedly assumed the elderly couple had simply moved back to Germany, illustrating the shocking secrecy surrounding the case for nearly a decade.

This high-profile case has captivated and horrified the local New York community, highlighting the profound issues surrounding elder care and financial exploitation. The Albany County District Attorney’s Office confirmed the Lorenz Kraus murder confession is a helpful part of the prosecution’s evidence.

Watch the chilling interview and arrest in the video below. This video features the moment of the suspect’s arrest following his televised confession.