Man Confesses on Camera to Killing His Parents and Burying Their Bodies in Albany

An Albany man has admitted, in a shocking on-camera interview, to murdering his elderly parents and burying their remains in his backyard. During the interview, Lorenz Kraus, 53, said, “I buried them on their property,” referring to his parents, Franz and Theresia Kraus, who disappeared without trace in 2017.

When asked if he buried his parents in his backyard, Kraus confirmed, “Yes.” He described suffocating his father with his hand and strangling his mother with a rope, stating, “My father died, and my mother placed his head on his chest, then I finished her.” Kraus explained it took him several days to decide to bury their bodies.

The police discovered the bodies shortly after beginning excavation in the family’s yard, uncovering two remains on Wednesday and Thursday. Authorities initially investigated Kraus for potential financial crimes after a welfare check was requested by the Social Security Administration in May, as the couple was still collecting benefits despite their absence.

Kraus later spoke out, claiming he killed his parents out of concern for their suffering, citing his mother’s injury in crossing a road and his father’s incapacity after cataract surgery. He justified his actions as acts of mercy.

In the interview, Kraus also indicated he hoped the footage would be shared publicly on YouTube and made a bizarre claim about his desire to replace government officials with a trusteeship. He suggested that if the public opposed his plan, he would face prosecution under German law.

The Albany Police Chief confirmed that authorities are still working to confirm the identities of the remains, which they believe to be Franz and Theresia Kraus. Investigators are also examining the cause of their deaths. A neighbor reported the couple had moved abroad in 2020, and a relative had previously requested a welfare check at the home.