>> THEY WERE ELEGANT, REFINED,
BUT THEIR MURDER WAS SAVAGE.
>> THE BRUTALITY, THE INHUMANITY
JUST INDESCRIBABLE.
>> IT LOOKED LIKE THE WORK OF A
SINISTER STRANGER.
>> MR. HAYSOM HAD A "V" CUT IN
HIS CHIN, SO HAD THE POSSIBILITY
OF A SATANIC RITUAL.
>> THEN, SOME EVIDENCE BEGAN
POINTING CLOSER TO HOME.
>> A DAUGHTER FILLED WITH HATE.
>> "WE CAN GET RID OF THEM
SOON."
>> HER BOYFRIEND CONSUMED BY
LOVE.
>> I THOUGHT I WAS BEING A HERO.
>> A HERO?
>> YES. I THOUGHT I WAS BEING A
HERO WHO WAS SAVING HIS
GIRLFRIEND'S LIFE.
>> THEY WERE YOUNG AND IN LOVE.
WERE THEY KILLERS OR JUST
MISUNDERSTOOD?
>> I DID NOT DO IT.
I WAS AN 18-YEAR-OLD,
EMOTIONALLY UNDERDEVELOPED
IDIOT.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
>> I'M PAULA ZAHN.
TONIGHT, WE'RE ON THE CASE IN
BEDFORD COUNTY, VIRGINIA, JUST
OUTSIDE OF LYNCHBURG, WHERE THE
GRUESOME DOUBLE MURDER OF A
WELL-RESPECTED COUPLE SHOCKED
EVEN DETECTIVES AND GRIPPED A
QUIET COMMUNITY WITH FEAR.
APRIL 3, 1985.
THE POLICE SCANNER IN THE WSET
NEWSROOM SUDDENLY ERUPTED WITH
CHATTER.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER JEFF TAYLOR
WAS SHOCKED BY WHAT HE HEARD.
>> WE HEARD THERE HAD BEEN A
MURDER OUT ON HOCKENROCK ROAD.
AND WHEN I FOUND OUT THE
ADDRESS, I KNEW IMMEDIATELY IT
WAS THE HAYSOMS.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ]
>> DEREK AND NANCY HAYSOM WERE
WELL-KNOWN, RESPECTED, AND
MEMBERS OF THE LYNCHBURG,
VIRGINIA, SOCIAL SCENE.
TO TAYLOR, THEY WERE ALSO GOOD
FRIENDS.
HE HAD BEEN TO THEIR HOUSE SO
MANY TIMES AND KNEW IT SO WELL,
POLICE ASKED FOR HIS HELP.
>> TALKED TO THE SHERIFF THERE,
AND HE SAID, "COME ON IN.
I WANT YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AND
SEE WHAT'S GOING ON."
>> WHICH IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL.
USUALLY, REPORTERS ARE NOT
INVITED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT TO
COME LOOK AT THE MURDER SCENE.
>> VERY TRUE.
BUT THE SHERIFF AND I WERE
PRETTY GOOD FRIENDS, AND WE'D
KNOWN EACH OTHER A LONG TIME,
AND HE KNEW I'D BE HONEST WITH
HIM ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH
THE HAYSOMS.
>> CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT YOU SAW
WHEN YOU WERE LED INTO THEIR
HOME.
>> IT WAS AN AWFUL, BLOODY MESS.
IT WAS A UNBELIEVABLE MURDER
SCENE.
>> DEREK HAYSOM LAY IN THE
LIVING-ROOM DOORWAY, STABBED 36
TIMES.
HIS THROAT WAS SLIT.
HIS WIFE NANCY WAS IN THE
KITCHEN, ALSO REPEATEDLY STABBED
AND NEARLY DECAPITATED.
>> I WASN'T SURE WHAT TO REALLY
EXPECT, BUT I DIDN'T EXPECT WHAT
I SAW.
THE BRUTALITY, THE INHUMANITY OF
THAT KIND OF A CRIME, IT'S JUST
INDESCRIBABLE.
>> THE BODIES HAD BEEN
DISCOVERED BY A FAMILY FRIEND,
PROMPTED BY A CALL FROM THE
HAYSOMS' DAUGHTER, ELIZABETH,
WHO WAS AWAY AT COLLEGE.
SHE HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO REACH
HER PARENTS.
INVESTIGATORS DETERMINED THAT
THE HAYSOMS HAD BEEN DEAD FOR
SEVERAL DAYS AND THAT THEY HAD
FIERCELY FOUGHT FOR THEIR LIVES.
>> MR. HAYSOM WAS A BIG MAN, AND
HE FOUGHT BACK FOR THE BEST HE
COULD.
SOME OF THE WOUNDS WERE
SUPERFICIAL WOUNDS, WHICH I FEEL
THAT THE PERPETRATOR WAS JUST
STABBING TO KEEP MR. HAYSOM OFF
OF HIM.
>> THE HAYSOMS LIVED IN A
GRACIOUS HOME IN AN AFFLUENT
NEIGHBORHOOD.
WHO WOULD KILL SUCH A PROMINENT
COUPLE?
AT FIRST, INVESTIGATORS THOUGHT
THAT THE CRIME COULD HAVE BEEN A
ROBBERY GONE HORRIBLY WRONG.
>> WE COULDN'T DETECT ANYTHING
THIS WAS STOLEN.
WE COULD NOT LOCATE A FORCED
ENTRY INTO THE RESIDENCE, SO WE
WERE ABLE TO ELIMINATE A
BURGLARY.
>> CRIME-SCENE INVESTIGATORS
COLLECTED MORE THAN A HUNDRED
PIECES OF EVIDENCE, INCLUDING A
SEAT CUSHION WITH WHAT LOOKED
LIKE A BLOODY HANDPRINT AND A
BLOODY SOCK PRINT ON THE
HARDWOOD FLOOR.
NEWS OF THE MURDER SPREAD
QUICKLY THROUGH THE TIGHT-KNIT
COMMUNITY OF BEDFORD COUNTY.
>> PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
WERE SCARED TO DEATH.
>> ANXIETY FUELED BY AN ANALYSIS
OF PHOTOS BY FORENSIC EXPERTS AT
THE CRIME LAB.
THEY SAID THE EVIDENCE REVEALED
SIGNS OF A RITUAL KILLING.
>> THEY STARTED CLOSING IN ON
CERTAIN CLUES THAT THEY THOUGHT
THAT IT COULD BE A SATANIC
MURDER.
>> THE CRIME-SCENE PHOTOS SHOWED
THREE CHAIRS IN THE DINING ROOM
POINTED TOWARDS THE NORTH.
BLOOD WAS DELIBERATELY SMEARED
AROUND THE CONTOURS OF THE
BODIES.
THERE APPEARED TO BE A LETTER
"V" WITH A TINY "6" INSIDE IT
WRITTEN IN BLOOD ON THE FLOOR.
>> MR. HAYSOM HAD A "V" CUT IN
HIS CHIN.
>> AND THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER
LITTLE THINGS THAT THEY SAW THAT
WOULD LEND THEMSELVES TO THE
POSSIBILITY OF SATANIC RITUAL.
>> THERE WAS SOME PROMINENT
PEOPLE WHOSE CHILDREN WAS
INVOLVED IN SOME OF THIS STUFF
OUT ON THE RIVERMONT AREA OF
LYNCHBURG.
AGAIN, THERE WAS A GROUP IN
ROANOKE THAT WOULD MEET ON THE
PARKWAY.
>> AS DETECTIVE REID LOOKED INTO
THE CALL TANGLE, HE HEARD ABOUT
WILD MIDNIGHT PARTIES WHERE
SQUIRRELS WERE BOILED ALIVE,
THEIR BLOOD USED TO PAINT
PENTAGRAMS ON CULT MEMBERS'
BODIES.
RUMORS ABOUT THE BIZARRE,
VIOLENT RITUALS GRIPPED THE
PEOPLE OF BEDFORD COUNTY.
>> IT JUST LED TO CONSTANT
RUMORS AND SPECULATION.
THAT JUST FURTHER KIND OF
INFLAMED THE COMMUNITY.
>> THERE WERE ALL THESE
CONJECTURES ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING
ON AND WHO WAS DOING IT.
>> POLICE WERE UNDER PRESSURE
TO DELIVER THE HAYSOMS'
MURDERER, BUT THEY DIDN'T LIMIT
THE INVESTIGATION TO A SATANIC
CULT.
THEY HAD ALSO TAKEN A
COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT THE
HAYSOM'S BACKGROUND.
>> WE INTERVIEWED PEOPLE THAT
HAD DONE GARDENING WORK,
NEIGHBORS, ACQUAINTANCES, PEOPLE
THAT THEY PLAYED BRIDGE WITH,
FAMILY MEMBERS.
>> DETECTIVES LEARNED THAT THE
HAYSOMS HAD MOVED TO THEIR
SECLUDED HOME ONLY A FEW YEARS
BEFORE.
>> THIS WAS THEIR RETIREMENT
PLACE.
THIS IS WHERE THEY PLAN TO LIVE
A LONG AND PROSPEROUS, OLD-AGE
LIFE, AND IT JUST DIDN'T WORK
OUT THAT WAY.
>> DEREK HAD BEEN A C.E.O. OF A
STEEL COMPANY IN CANADA.
>> HIS WIFE, NANCY, HAD GROWN UP
IN NEARBY LYNCHBURG.
>> NANCY HAYSOM WAS A RELATIVE
OF LADY ASTOR.
DEREK HAYSOM WAS THE LEE IACOCCA
OF NOVA SCOTIA.
AND SO THESE WERE PEOPLE THAT
HAD JUST COME TO THE AREA THAT
WERE NEW, WERE, YOU KNOW, THE
DARLINGS OF THE SOCIAL SCENE.
>> DEREK, 72 YEARS OLD, LOVED
CARS, A GOOD BRIDGE GAME, AND
STAYING FIT.
NANCY, 53, FOCUSED ON THE LOCAL
ART COMMUNITY.
THEY HAD FIVE GROWN CHILDREN
FROM PREVIOUS MARRIAGES.
ONLY ONE OF THEM LIVED IN THE
STATES.
BUT THE DAUGHTER THEY HAD
TOGETHER, ELIZABETH, WAS IN HER
FIRST YEAR AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA, NOT FAR
FROM BEDFORD.
DETECTIVES QUESTION HER.
>> SHE TALKED ABOUT HER FATHER'S
PROFESSION IN NOVA SCOTIA AND
THE FACT THAT HE HAD HAD SOME
DEALINGS WITH SOME OF THE UNIONS
UP IN NOVA SCOTIA AND THE
POSSIBILITY THAT HE HAD MADE
SOMEBODY MAD UP THERE.
>> THE HOMICIDE SQUAD STARTED
DIGGING.
IT TURNED OUT DEREK HAYSOM'S
SUCCESSFUL CAREER IN THE STEEL
INDUSTRY HAD BEEN PLAGUED BY
TURMOIL.
>> HE HAD BEEN IN RHODESIA,
WHICH HAD BECOME ZIMBABWE, AND
THERE HAD BEEN ALL THESE THINGS
THAT HAD BEEN GOING ON,
RETALIATION KILLINGS DOWN IN
THAT COUNTRY, AND HE HAD BEEN
THERE.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS DEREK
LEFT AND WENT TO NOVA SCOTIA --
BECAUSE HE WANTED HIS FAMILY
SAFE.
>> IN NOVA SCOTIA, OTHER
BUSINESS SCANDALS FOLLOWED
HAYSOM.
>> WE PRETTY MUCH CAME TO THE
REALIZATION THAT THIS WAS NOT A
RANDOM ACT, THAT THE HAYSOMS,
MR. AND MS. HAYSOM, WAS
TARGETED.
>> HAD THE HAYSOMS BEEN VICTIMS
OF A PROFESSIONAL HIT, AN
ASSASSINATION, OR WAS THE
KILLING PART OF A CULT RITUAL?
THE HOMICIDE SQUAD HAD A LOT ON
ITS PLATE.
THE INVESTIGATION WAS ABOUT TO
GET ITS FIRST BIG BREAK AND A
PRIME SUSPECT.
>> SHE'S ADMITTED SHE HATED,
AND YES, SHE WOULD LIKE TO KILL
THE HAYSOMS.
>> INVESTIGATORS IN
BEDFORD COUNTY, VIRGINIA, WERE
INTERVIEWING HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
ABOUT THE MURDERS OF DEREK AND
NANCY HAYSOM.
THEY HAD LOOKED AT DEREK'S
BUSINESS ENEMIES ABROAD AND EVEN
CONSIDERED THE POSSIBILITY OF A
SATANIC CULT KILLING.
IN SEDATE BEDFORD COUNTY, THE
POSSIBILITY OF A CULT KILLING
WAS TERRIFYING.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
BUT NOT EVERYONE WAS BUYING INTO
THAT THEORY.
OUTSIDE OF THE INVESTIGATORS,
YOU WERE ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE
TO HAVE SEEN THE MURDER SCENE.
WHAT DID YOU THINK?
HAD YOU SEEN ANY OF THAT?
>> NOT REALLY.
IT LOOKED LIKE A BLOODY MURDER
SCENE THAT SOMEBODY HAD TRIED TO
CLEAN UP AND REALIZED THEY
COULDN'T.
>> BUT THERE WAS NOTHING YOU
SAW AT THE CRIME SCENE THAT
WOULD HAVE MADE YOU BELIEVE
THAT YOU WERE LOOKING AT A
SATANIC SYMBOL.
>> NOTHING. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
IT WAS JUST A BRUTAL,
HATE-FILLED MURDER.
AND THAT'S WHAT IT SEEMED LIKE
TO ME.
BUT PEOPLE WERE SCARED, AND
RUMORS WERE RUNNING RAMPANT, AND
PEOPLE WERE FRIGHTENED.
>> THE THEORY OF A CULT KILLING
WAS INTRIGUING, BUT DIDN'T
PRODUCE ANY SOLID LEADS, SO
INVESTIGATORS RULED IT OUT.
OTHER POSSIBILITIES WERE ALSO
ELIMINATED.
POLICE FOUND NO EVIDENCE TO
SUGGEST THE MURDERS WERE THE
RESULT OF DEREK HAYSOM'S
BUSINESS DEALINGS OR OF A
BURGLARY GONE WRONG.
BUT THROUGHOUT ALL THE BIZARRE
TWISTS AND TURNS IN THE CASE,
INVESTIGATORS NEVER LOST SIDE OF
THE OLD MAXIM TO FOCUS THE
INVESTIGATION CLOSE TO HOME.
>> IF YOU'RE IN A FIELD OF
PONIES, DON'T LOOK FOR A
UNICORN, BECAUSE JUST MAKE IT
SIMPLE.
BECAUSE 9 OUT OF 10 TIMES, IT'S
GOING TO BE AN ACQUAINTANCE OR A
FAMILY MEMBER.
>> A NEW LEAD WAS ABOUT TO POINT
THE INVESTIGATION IN JUST THAT
DIRECTION.
POLICE GOT A TIP ABOUT THE
JILTED FIANCéE OF ONE OF THE
HAYSOMS' SONS.
>> SHE HAD DATED THE YOUNGEST
SON, JULIAN, AND APPARENTLY,
SHE FELT A LOT OF JULIAN.
WHEN THEIR RELATIONSHIP BROKE
UP, SHE FELT THAT MR. AND MRS.
HAYSOM WAS THE CAUSE OF IT.
>> A FRIEND OF THE YOUNG WOMAN
ADDED FUEL TO THE FIRE WITH AN
INTERESTING STORY.
>> I HAD GOTTEN INFORMATION FROM
AN INDIVIDUAL.
SHE HAD BROUGHT SOME KNIVES TO
HIM TO KEEP.
SHE SAID THAT DEMONS WERE
POSSESSING HER, AND SHE FELT
LIKE THAT IF SHE HAD THE KNIVES
AROUND, SHE WOULD DO SOMETHING
THAT SHE SHOULDN'T DO.
>> THE TRAIL SUDDENLY TURNED
RED-HOT.
WHEN REID QUESTIONED HER, SHE
ADMITTED HER HATRED OF THE
HAYSOMS, BLAMING THEM FOR
RUINING HER ENGAGEMENT TO
JULIAN.
>> I TOOK HER DOWN FOR A
POLYGRAPH.
TWO QUESTIONS WAS ASKED -- "DID
YOU KILL MR. AND MRS. HAYSOM?"
THE SECOND QUESTION, "WAS YOU
THERE WHEN THEY WERE KILLED?"
WELL, WHEN SHE ANSWERED BOTH OF
THOSE QUESTIONS, SHE SHOWED
DECEPTION.
>> REID KNEW HIS SUSPECT WAS
FROM A PROMINENT FAMILY AND
HEARD SHE WAS EMOTIONALLY
FRAGILE.
SO HE WORKED CAREFULLY PUTTING
THE PIECES TOGETHER QUIETLY
BEHIND THE SCENES.
THERE WERE SOCK PRINTS AT THE
CRIME SCENE THAT EXPERTS BELIEVE
TO BE A WOMAN'S, AND THE JILTED
FIANCéE FIT A PROFILE OF THE
MURDERER GENERATED BY TWO FBI
SPECIALISTS.
>> WE CALL THEM IN TO DO THE
PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILING ON IT,
AND FROM VIEWING THE CRIME SCENE
AND WHAT EVIDENCE WE HAD, THE
WAY THEY DO THEIR EVALUATIONS,
THAT'S WHAT THEY CAME UP WITH --
FEMALE, AN ACQUAINTANCE WITH THE
FAMILY.
>> DETECTIVES CONTINUED BUILDING
THEIR CASE, BUT THEN THE YOUNG
WOMAN SURPRISED EVERYONE,
INCLUDING HER OWN LAWYER, BY
ASKING FOR ANOTHER POLYGRAPH
TEST.
>> SHE WAS PRETTY ADAMANT SHE
WANTED TO CLEAR HERSELF, 'CAUSE
SHE SAID SHE WAS INNOCENT.
SO I CARRIED HER BACK IN JULY
FOR A SECOND POLYGRAPH, WHICH
SHE PASSED.
>> SHE ALSO VOLUNTARILY
SUBMITTED FINGERPRINTS,
FOOTPRINTS, AND BLOOD SAMPLES.
NOTHING WAS A MATCH TO ANY OF
THE EVIDENCE FOUND AT THE CRIME
SCENE.
>> SO THAT PRETTY MUCH
ELIMINATED HER.
>> A PROMISING LEAD WAS GONE.
DETECTIVES WERE FRUSTRATED AND
BACK TO SQUARE ONE.
BUT THERE WAS ANOTHER YOUNG
WOMAN WHO HAD RAISED A FEW
EYEBROWS DURING HER INTERVIEW
WITH THE INVESTIGATORS -- THE
HAYSOMS' DAUGHTER, ELIZABETH.
TV REPORTER JEFF TAYLOR WAS
THERE IN HIS CAPACITY AS A
HAYSOM FAMILY FRIEND.
HE EXPECTED TO SEE A SHATTERED
YOUNG WOMAN, BUT GIVEN THE
CIRCUMSTANCES, SHE SEEMED ODDLY
AT EASE, EVEN CAVALIER.
>> IT WAS A VERY STRANGE
MEETING.
IT WAS A VERY STRANGE --
>> HOW SO?
>> IT WASN'T LIKE HER PARENTS
HAD JUST BEEN MURDERED.
IT WAS LIKE, "I'M SORRY WE HAD
TO GET TOGETHER UNDER THESE
CIRCUMSTANCES.
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.
YOU LOOK GREAT.
HOW'S THE FAMILY?"
AND I'M LIKE, "YOU KNOW, YOUR
PARENTS HAVE JUST BEEN
MURDERED."
I MEAN, IT JUST SEEMED AWKWARD
AND ODD.
>> NOT ONLY HAD ELIZABETH'S
DEMEANOR SEEMED ODD, IT SEEMED
SUSPICIOUS.
INVESTIGATORS QUESTIONED HER
ABOUT WHERE SHE SAID SHE WAS ON
THE WEEKEND OF THE MURDERS.
>> SHE STATED THAT HER AND HER
BOYFRIEND, JENS SOERING, WHO WAS
GERMAN, HAD RENTED A CAR IN
CHARLOTTESVILLE AND DROVE TO
WASHINGTON D.C. AND SPENT THE
WEEKEND IN WASHINGTON, D.C.,
SIGHTSEEING.
>> BUT WHEN INVESTIGATOR REID
TRACKED DOWN THE RENTAL CAR,
THERE WERE 669 MILES ON IT FROM
THAT WEEKEND.
A ROUND TRIP FROM
CHARLOTTESVILLE TO WASHINGTON IS
ONLY 240 MILES.
>> AND I TALKED TO ELIZABETH
ABOUT IT, AND SHE ACKNOWLEDGED
THE FACT THAT THEY HAD GOTTEN
LOST, WHICH JUST DIDN'T MAKE
SENSE, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW
YOU COULD GET THAT LOST OVER A
WEEKEND.
>> ELIZABETH DIDN'T SEEM
EVASIVE, AND SHE AGREED TO
PROVIDE BLOOD AND FINGERPRINTS
TO THE TEAM WITHOUT HESITATION.
SO THEY DECIDED TO FOLLOW UP
WITH HER GERMAN BOYFRIEND, JENS,
TO HEAR WHAT HE HAD TO SAY ABOUT
THAT WEEKEND.
>> JENS MADE HIMSELF SCARCE.
HE JUST WOULDN'T RETURN OUR
CALLS OR TALK TO US.
THAT'S WHY IT MADE IT THAT MUCH
MORE NECESSARY TO TALK TO HIM.
>> BY NOT MAKING HIMSELF
AVAILABLE TO POLICE,
JENS SOERING HAD MADE HIMSELF AN
IMPORTANT TARGET OF THE
INVESTIGATION.
THINGS WERE HEATING UP, AND
POLICE WOULD HAVE THEIR HANDS
FULL WITH A CLEVER AND CAGEY
YOUNG COUPLE.
COMING UP, A GAME OF CAT AND
MOUSE BETWEEN POLICE AND THE
COLLEGE COUPLE.
>> WE HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS.
THEY HAVE BEEN AROUND THE WORLD,
AND THEY CAN'T FIND THEIR WAY
FROM CHARLOTTESVILLE TO
WASHINGTON D.C.?
>> PROMISING LEADS IN THE
INVESTIGATION OF DEREK AND
NANCY HAYSOM'S MURDER HAD NOT
LED TO ANY ARRESTS, BUT
DETECTIVES HAD MORE QUESTIONS
FOR THE HAYSOMS' YOUNGEST
DAUGHTER, ELIZABETH, AND THEY
STILL HADN'T SPOKEN WITH HER
GERMAN BOYFRIEND, JENS.
INVESTIGATORS FINALLY TRACKED
DOWN THE ELUSIVE JENS SOERING.
THE FIRST THING THEY WANTED TO
KNOW WAS HIS EXPLANATION FOR THE
EXTRA MILEAGE ON THE CAR HE AND
ELIZABETH RENTED THE WEEKEND OF
THE MURDER.
>> THAT'S WHEN WE QUESTIONED
HIM ON THE 429 EXTRA MILES ON
THE VEHICLE.
>> HE WENT BACK THROUGH THE
WEEKEND WITH THE RENTAL CAR,
GETTING LOST.
PRETTY MUCH ECHOED WHAT
ELIZABETH HAD TOLD US EARLIER.
>> MY THINKING IS THAT WE HAVE
TWO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WORLDLY,
HAVE BEEN AROUND THE WORLD --
ONE'S FROM GERMANY -- AND THEY
CAN'T FIND THEIR WAY FROM
CHARLOTTESVILLE TO WASHINGTON,
D.C., GOING STRAIGHT UP 29?
>> THE RENTAL-CAR MILEAGE WASN'T
THE ONLY THING THAT MADE JENS A
PERSON OF INTEREST.
WHEN HE ATTENDED THE HAYSOMS'
FUNERAL, HE HAD A BRUISE ON HIS
FACE AND BANDAGES ON HIS
FINGERS.
INVESTIGATORS HAD ALREADY
DETERMINED THAT DEREK HAYSOM HAD
STRUGGLED WITH HIS ATTACKER.
JENS' INJURIES SEEMED VERY
SUSPICIOUS, SO GARDNER AND REID
ASKED FOR BLOOD AND PRINT
SAMPLES, BUT JENS REFUSED.
>> HE WAS USING THE EXCUSE THAT
HIS FATHER WAS A GERMAN DIPLOMAT
AND THAT IF THE STATE DEPARTMENT
FOUND OUT THAT A GERMAN
DIPLOMAT'S SON WAS BEING
SUSPECTED OF MURDER THAT HE AND
HIS FAMILY WOULD BE DEPORTED.
>> WAS JENS SOERING REALLY
PROTECTING HIS FAMILY, OR DID HE
HAVE SOMETHING TO HIDE?
DETECTIVES TRIED TO FIND OUT
MORE ABOUT THE TEENAGER FROM
WEST GERMANY.
IF YOU WOULD, DESCRIBE YOURSELF
IN 1985.
WHAT KIND OF KID WERE YOU?
>> WHAT AMERICANS WOULD CALL A
NERD, YOU KNOW?
I WAS VERY MUCH FOCUSED ON MY
SCHOOLWORK.
BASICALLY, I WAS AN ACADEMICALLY
ORIENTED PERSON.
I WAS INTELLECTUALLY PRECOCIOUS,
EMOTIONALLY UNDERDEVELOPED.
GREW UP VERY, VERY SHELTERED.
>> JENS ARRIVED AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA WITH A
FULL FOUR-YEAR SCHOLARSHIP.
>> JENS SOERING LOOKED VERY
YOUNG FOR HIS AGE -- SORT OF A
BOWL HAIRCUT, BIG, THICK
GLASSES.
>> AMY LEMLEY WAS A SOPHOMORE AT
THE TIME.
LIKE JENS, SHE WAS AN
ECHOLS SCHOLAR, ONE OF THE MOST
PRESTIGIOUS ACADEMIC HONORS ON
CAMPUS.
IT WAS THROUGH THIS ELITE GROUP
THAT THEY BOTH HAD MET
ELIZABETH HAYSOM.
>> ELIZABETH ENJOYED BEING THE
CENTER OF ATTENTION.
BY FAR, SHE WAS THE MOST UNUSUAL
PERSON IN HER DORMITORY.
THE VERY FACTS OF HER LIFE,
HAVING LIVED ABROAD, TRAVELED AS
AN 18-, 19-YEAR-OLD ACROSS
EUROPE BY HERSELF -- ALL OF THIS
STUFF MADE HER QUITE AN
INTERESTING CHARACTER.
>> SHE WAS BY FAR THE MOST
POPULAR GIRL IN THE DORM.
SHE WAS TWO YEARS OLDER THAN
EVERYBODY ELSE.
SHE WAS, YOU KNOW, WILD AND
ECCENTRIC AND, YOU KNOW,
EVERYBODY WAS AFTER HER.
>> INVESTIGATORS LEARNED JENS
AND ELIZABETH DEVELOPED A
FRIENDSHIP WHICH BLOSSOMED INTO
A ROMANCE BASED IN PART ON AN
INTENSE INTELLECTUAL AND
EMOTIONAL BOND, BUT ALSO ON A
BURNING DESIRE TO GET AWAY FROM
THEIR PARENTS.
>> I THINK THAT FOR EACH, THE
DESIRE FOR INDEPENDENCE FROM
THEIR PARENTS RESONATED, AND
THEY WOULD WRITE LETTERS BACK
AND FORTH TO EACH OTHER TALKING
ABOUT THAT.
>> IN HER LETTERS TO JENS,
ELIZABETH EXPRESSED FRUSTRATION
AND RESENTMENT AT HOW
CONTROLLING HER PARENTS COULD
BE.
SHE WAS REBELLIOUS, USING DRUGS
AND EXPLORING HER SEXUALITY.
IN JENS, SHE HAD FOUND A KINDRED
SPIRIT, SOMEONE WHO SHARED HER
INTENSE FEELINGS AND WAS HEAD
OVER HEELS IN LOVE WITH HER.
HOW INTOXICATING WAS IT TO BE IN
LOVE WITH HER?
>> HOW INTOXICATING IT WAS FOR
ME?
WELL, IT WAS MY FIRST SEXUAL
RELATIONSHIP, AND FOR AN
18-YEAR-OLD BOY, YOU KNOW,
THAT'S ABOUT AS INTOXICATING AS
IT GETS.
AND HER ROOMMATE CALLED US THE
RABBITS, WHICH I GUESS
SUMMARIZES OUR RELATIONSHIP IN A
LOT OF WAYS.
IT WAS JUST A REALLY INTENSE
FRESHMAN LOVE AFFAIR.
>> AND NOW THE YOUNG LOVERS WERE
SUSPECTS IN A MURDER CASE.
WHEN INVESTIGATORS MET WITH
JENS, HE FINALLY AGREED TO
PROVIDE THEM WITH BLOOD AND
PRINT SAMPLES AND MADE AN
APPOINTMENT FOR OCTOBER 9 -- AN
APPOINTMENT HE WOULDN'T KEEP.
>> THE FOLLOWING WEEK, WE
LEARNED THAT ELIZABETH AND JENS
HAD LEFT THE COUNTRY.
>> THE COUPLE WAS ON THE RUN,
AND THE COMMUNITY WAS SHOCKED BY
THE IMPLICATION.
>> ONE CAN'T HELP THINK WHEN
PEOPLE RUN, PEOPLE THAT THE
POLICE WANT TO TALK TO MORE
ABOUT AN UNBELIEVABLY BAD,
BRUTAL MURDER, THAT THERE'S SOME
GUILT INVOLVED IN THAT.
>> COMING UP, WILL ELIZABETH'S
WORDS COME BACK TO HAUNT HER?
IN HER LETTERS TO YOU, SHE WOULD
SAY...
>> THAT SHE HATED HER PARENTS --
>> HATES HER PARENTS.
SHE WISHED THEY WOULD BE DEAD.
>> THAT'S WHAT TEENAGERS SAY,
OKAY?
IT'S NOT NICE, BUT THAT'S THE
TRUTH.
>> MORE THAN FIVE MONTHS AFTER
THE MURDERS OF DEREK AND
NANCY HAYSOM, INVESTIGATORS HAD
BEGUN TO FOCUS ON THEIR DAUGHTER
ELIZABETH AND HER BOYFRIEND
JENS.
THEY HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
COUPLE'S ALIBI, BUT INSTEAD OF
FACING INVESTIGATORS, THE COUPLE
TOOK OFF, FLEEING THE COUNTRY ON
SEPARATE FLIGHTS.
RIGHT FROM THE START,
INVESTIGATORS WERE SUSPICIOUS OF
JENS SOERING.
HE SEEMED ELUSIVE AND HAD
REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY BLOOD
SAMPLES OR PRINTS.
AND WHEN HE FLED THE COUNTRY, IT
COULDN'T HAVE MADE HIM LOOK MORE
GUILTY TO DETECTIVES.
THE TWO OF YOU HAD TO KNOW THE
LAW WAS GONNA CATCH UP WITH YOU.
>> WHICH IS WHY WE WENT ON THE
RUN.
OUR ASSUMPTION WAS THAT
BASICALLY THE POLICE WERE, YOU
KNOW, IMMEDIATELY GONNA ARREST
US.
WE THOUGHT THIS WAS GONNA HAPPEN
WITHIN LIKE A DAY OR TWO.
>> BUT BEFORE POLICE COULD MAKE
THEIR MOVE, THE COUPLE WAS GONE.
AND NOW THEY WERE THE PRIME
SUSPECTS IN A MURDER CASE.
>> WE MADE SOME CONTACTS WITH
INTERPOL TO LET THEM KNOW IF
THEY WERE FOUND IN EUROPE OR
WHEREVER IN THE WORLD TO LET US
KNOW.
AND THAT WAS ABOUT ALL WE COULD
DO AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME,
'CAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY IDEA
WHERE THEY WERE.
>> BY THEN, THE LAB HAD
PROCESSED THE BLOOD FOUND AT THE
HAYSOM HOUSE.
THESE WERE THE DAYS BEFORE DNA
TESTING WAS AVAILABLE, SO
INVESTIGATORS COULD ONLY TEST
FOR BLOOD TYPE.
THE RESULTS SHOWED LARGE AMOUNTS
OF DEREK AND NANCY'S RARE BLOOD
TYPES, "A" AND A.B.
BUT THEY ALSO UNCOVERED ONE SPOT
OF "B" BLOOD, ELIZABETH'S BLOOD
TYPE.
AND THERE WERE FIVE SAMPLES OF
"O" BLOOD, THE MOST COMMON BLOOD
TYPE OF ALL.
>> "O"-TYPE BLOOD COULD HAVE
BEEN ANYBODY'S WITH "O"-TYPE
BLOOD.
THEY JUST DIDN'T MATCH THE
FAMILY.
>> INVESTIGATORS WERE CONFIDENT
THE TYPE "O"-BLOOD WAS LEFT BY
THE MURDERER.
DID THAT BLOOD BELONG TO JENS,
AND DID THE BLOODY SOCK PRINTS
AT THE SCENE MATCH HIS?
POLICE DIDN'T HAVE ANY IDEA,
BECAUSE THEY NEVER GOT A SAMPLE
OF HIS BLOOD OR HIS FOOTPRINT.
JENS' LACK OF COOPERATION HAD
HANDCUFFED POLICE.
BUT MORE THAN FIVE MONTHS AFTER
HE AND ELIZABETH DISAPPEARED,
THE INVESTIGATION GOT THE BREAK
IT NEEDED.
IT CAME FROM AN OUT-OF-THE-BLUE
PHONE CALL FROM A BRITISH
DETECTIVE.
>> HIS FIRST QUESTION WAS IF
ELIZABETH HAYSOM'S PARENTS WERE
DEAD.
AND I SAID, "YES, THEY ARE."
AND HE ASKED ME, "WERE THEY
MURDERED?"
AND I SAID, "YES, THEY WERE."
AND HE SAYS, "I BELIEVE WE HAVE
THE MURDERERS IN JAIL."
>> JENS AND ELIZABETH HAD BEEN
ARRESTED IN LONDON FOR CHECK
FRAUD.
AFTER A SEARCH OF THE APARTMENT
WHERE THE COUPLE HAD BEEN
STAYING, BRITISH DETECTIVES
FOUND A DIARY AND A STASH OF
LETTERS.
THE EXCHANGES BETWEEN THEM
HINTED AT A FAR MORE SERIOUS
CRIME.
OTHER EXCHANGES APPEARED TO SHOW
THE FORMATION OF A CALCULATED
PLAN.
JENS NEVER FINISHED THAT
THOUGHT.
BUT A CRYPTIC ENTRY BY
ELIZABETH SEEMED TO LINK JENS
DIRECTLY TO THE CRIME SCENE.
>> "THE CASE IS ABOUT TO BE
SOLVED
PERHAPS FINGERPRINTS ON COFFEE
MUG USED BY JENS IN BEDFORD
INTERVIEW GAVE HIM AWAY."
>> THEIR OWN WORDS SEEMED TO
SPELL OUT ELIZABETH AND JENS'
WILLINGNESS TO COMMIT MURDER.
>> IT WAS REALLY HARD, FOR
EXAMPLE, TO HEAR AN ENTRY FROM
THE DIARIES AND NOT SAY, "WELL,
MY GOD, HOW COULD ANYONE BELIEVE
THEY DIDN'T DO IT?"
I MEAN, IT WAS THEIR OWN WORDS
WERE MORE THAN COMPELLING.
>> IN HER LETTERS TO YOU, SHE
WOULD SAY...
>> THAT SHE HATED HER PARENTS
AND SHE WANTED THEM DEAD.
>> HATES HER PARENTS.
SHE WISHED THEY WOULD BE DEAD.
>> SHE DID SAY SHE HATED HER
PARENTS AND THAT SHE WISHED THEY
WERE DEAD, BUT HERE'S THE THING,
OKAY, AND THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT, OF COURSE, NOBODY WANTS TO
REALLY FACE.
THAT'S WHAT TEENAGERS SAY, OKAY?
IT'S NOT NICE, BUT THAT'S THE
TRUTH.
>> INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE THE
INCRIMINATING LETTERS SHOWED
BEYOND ANY DOUBT THE MOTIVE FOR
THE MURDERS.
THEY WANTED TO INTERROGATE THE
COUPLE RIGHT AWAY.
GARDNER JUMPED ON A PLANE FOR
ENGLAND, WHERE HE QUESTIONED
ELIZABETH.
>> TALKED TO ELIZABETH WITH HER
SOLICITOR PRESENT.
SHE TALKED ABOUT HOW MUCH SHE
LOVED HER PARENTS.
>> THEN HE USED THE CONFISCATED
DIARIES AND LETTERS AS LEVERAGE.
>> WE BROKE OUT THE LETTERS, AND
THEN SHE STARTED REFUSING TO
ANSWER.
>> DETECTIVES TURNED UP THE
HEAT, INTERVIEWING THEM OVER AND
OVER AGAIN UNTIL THEY BEGAN TO
CRACK.
THE TECHNIQUE SEEMED TO WORK IN
BREAKING DOWN THE COUPLE.
>> I THINK THERE WAS A TOTAL
OF SIX INTERVIEWS WITH JENS AND
MAYBE FIVE WITH ELIZABETH WHILE
WE WERE IN LONDON.
>> THE PRESSURE MOUNTED.
JENS ASKED FOR A PRIVATE MEETING
WITH DETECTIVE GARDNER.
>> HE SENT WORD THAT HE WANTED
TO TALK TO ME ALONE, AND THAT'S
WHEN HE AND I WENT INTO THE ROOM
AND HE TOLD ME THAT HE WAS GONNA
TELL ME THE TRUTH.
>> AND JENS SOERING'S VERSION OF
THE TRUTH WAS STUNNING.
HE CONFESSED TO MURDERING DEREK
AND NANCY HAYSOM.
THEY CONFRONTED ELIZABETH ABOUT
HER BOYFRIEND'S STORY.
>> THAT'S WHEN SHE CONFESSED
OF HER INVOLVEMENT OF THE
MURDERS.
>> INVESTIGATORS GOT A DETAILED
ACCOUNT.
IT WASN'T A SPUR-OF-THE-MOMENT
CRIME OF PASSION.
ELIZABETH DESCRIBED A METICULOUS
PLAN, WHICH INCLUDED HER STAYING
IN WASHINGTON D.C., TO SET UP AN
ALIBI FOR JENS' MURDEROUS TRIP
TO LYNCHBURG.
THE REMARKABLY COLD AND
CALCULATED PLAN TO KILL HER OWN
PARENTS AMAZED INVESTIGATORS.
>> A CRIME OF THIS KIND OF
BRUTALITY YOU JUST DON'T
ASSOCIATE WITH A FAMILY MURDER.
>> ACCORDING TO HER CONFESSION,
ELIZABETH PURCHASED TWO TICKETS
FOR VARIOUS MOVIES IN
WASHINGTON, D.C., ON SATURDAY,
APRIL 30, 1985.
SHE TOOK NOTES ON THE THEATER'S
ARCHITECTURE SO JENS WOULD HAVE
DETAILS TO DESCRIBE THEM
ACCURATELY.
SHE ALSO ORDERED FROM ROOM
SERVICE AND EVEN CASHED A CHECK
IN JENS' NAME, ALL OF IT
DESIGNED TO LEAVE A CLEAR TRAIL
THAT THEY HAD BOTH BEEN IN
WASHINGTON WHILE JENS WENT TO
LYNCHBURG AND KILLED HER
PARENTS.
DURING HIS CONFESSION, JENS
CONFIRMED ELIZABETH'S STORY.
HE SAID HE COMMITTED THE MURDERS
HIMSELF, DESCRIBING THEM IN
GRISLY DETAIL.
HE SAID HE CONFRONTED DEREK WITH
A KNIFE AND STABBED HIM
REPEATEDLY.
WHEN NANCY TRIED TO DEFEND HER
HUSBAND, JENS SLIT HER THROAT,
EVEN AS DEREK TRIED TO FEND HIM
OFF.
DURING THE STRUGGLE, JENS SAID
HE CUT TWO FINGERS ON HIS OWN
LEFT HAND AND SUFFERED A BRUISE
ABOVE HIS EYE.
>> HE SAYS THAT MR. HAYSOM HIT
HIM IN THE FACE AND THEN KNOCKED
HIS GLASSES OFF, AND THE
STRUGGLE WAS ON, AND MR. HAYSOM
REFUSED TO DIE AND THAT HE
FOUGHT LIKE A BIG BEAR.
>> DEREK EVENTUALLY COLLAPSED IN
THE DOORWAY OF THE LIVING ROOM.
NANCY DIED IN THE KITCHEN.
IT LOOKED LIKE THE VIOLENT
IMPULSES WRITTEN ABOUT IN
ELIZABETH'S DIARY HAD BECOME A
GRISLY REALITY.
>> ELIZABETH WANTED THEM GONE.
SHE FOUND AN INDIVIDUAL WHO SHE
COULD MANIPULATE AND USE TO DO
HER DEEDS FOR HER.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, JENS -- HE
WAS JUST MADLY IN LOVE WITH A
GIRL WHO THOUGHT THAT REALLY
CARED FOR HIM.
>> TWO BRILLIANT COLLEGE
STUDENTS WITH BRIGHT FUTURES
WERE CHARGED WITH MURDER.
NOW AUTHORITIES WANTED TO BRING
THEM TO THE U.S. TO FACE JUSTICE
FOR THEIR CRIMES.
ELIZABETH DIDN'T FIGHT
EXTRADITION, NOR THE CHARGES.
IN AUGUST 1987, SHE STOOD BEFORE
A JUDGE IN A BEDFORD COUNTY
COURTROOM.
>> ELIZABETH WAS QUIET, SEEMED
CONTRITE, WAS COOPERATIVE DURING
HER COURT PROCEEDINGS.
SHE PLEADED GUILTY AS AN
ACCESSORY BEFORE THE FACT, SO
THERE WAS NOT A JURY TRIAL.
>> ELIZABETH WAS GIVEN TWO
45-YEAR SENTENCES FOR HER ROLE
IN EACH OF HER PARENTS' MURDERS.
THE SENTENCES WOULD BE SERVED
CONSECUTIVELY.
>> WHAT WAS IT LIKE WHEN YOU
VISITED ELIZABETH IN JAIL?
>> SHE WANTED EVERYTHING TO END
AND BE OVER WITH AND HAVE A
RESOLUTION AND GO ON AND ACCEPT
WHATEVER WAS GONNA HAPPEN AND
DEAL WITH IT AT THAT POINT.
>> AND PART OF DEALING WITH THAT
WAS TO PROMISE TO TESTIFY
AGAINST JENS SOERING IF
PROSECUTORS COULD GET HIM BACK
TO VIRGINIA.
AND THAT WOULDN'T BE EASY.
COMING UP, A STAR-CROSSED LOVER
RECANTS HIS CONFESSION.
>> I THOUGHT I WAS BEING A HERO.
>> A HERO?
>> YES. I THOUGHT I WAS BEING A
HERO WHO WAS SAVING HIS
GIRLFRIEND'S LIFE.
>> WHY?
>> I LOVED HER.
>> WANT MORE "ON THE CASE"?
GO TO...
AND VIEW MORE EXCLUSIVE
INTERVIEWS AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES
VIDEO.
FIVE YEARS AFTER THE MURDERS OF
DEREK AND NANCY HAYSOM, THEIR
DAUGHTER ELIZABETH CONFESSED TO
PLOTTING THE CRIME.
HER BOYFRIEND, JENS, HAD
CONFESSED TO COMMITTING THE
MURDERS.
BUT AS THE SON OF A GERMAN
DIPLOMAT, JENS BELIEVED HE COULD
ARRANGE HIS EXTRADITION BACK TO
HIS NATIVE GERMANY, SPARING HIM
A TRIAL IN U.S. COURTS AND A
POSSIBLE DEATH PENALTY.
FROM HIS PRISON CELL IN ENGLAND,
JENS SOERING'S LEGAL STRATEGY
WAS BASED ON A SIMPLE PREMISE.
HE WOULD FACE A MUCH LIGHTER
SENTENCE IF HIS CASE WAS HEARD
IN GERMANY.
>> AMERICANS HAVE FILED AN
EXTRADITION REQUEST FOR CAPITAL
MURDER SO I WOULD FACE THE
ELECTRIC CHAIR.
THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT WAS TRYING
TO EXTRADITE ME TO GERMANY,
WHERE I WOULD FACE A NONCAPITAL
TRIAL.
>> AFTER FOUR YEARS OF LEGAL
MANEUVERING, A DEAL WAS STRUCK.
ENGLAND WOULD SEND JENS SOERING
BACK TO VIRGINIA.
IN EXCHANGE, THE DEATH PENALTY
WAS TAKEN OFF THE TABLE.
WHEN HE LEARNED HIS CASE WOULD
BE HANDLED BY THE U.S. JUSTICE
SYSTEM, JENS MADE A STARTLING
REVERSAL AND RECANTED HIS
CONFESSION.
HE SAID HE HAD ADMITTED TO THE
CRIME IN AN ATTEMPT TO SAVE THE
WOMAN HE LOVED.
>> I THOUGHT I WAS BEING A HERO.
>> A HERO?
>> YES. I THOUGHT I WAS BEING A
HERO WHO WAS SAVING HIS
GIRLFRIEND'S LIFE.
I THOUGHT I WAS ESSENTIALLY
VOLUNTEERING TO GO TO PRISON FOR
ROUGHLY 10 YEARS IN MY OWN HOME
COUNTRY OF GERMANY AND THAT
WOULD SAVE ELIZABETH FROM BEING
ELECTROCUTED.
I LOVED HER.
>> YOU'RE A SMART GUY.
YOU HAD TO UNDERSTAND THERE WAS
A RISK THIS WAS GONNA BACKFIRE
ON YOU.
>> ACTUALLY, AT THE TIME, I WAS
AN 18-YEAR-OLD, EMOTIONALLY
UNDERDEVELOPED IDIOT.
>> AND NOW JENS SOERING'S
KNIGHT-IN-SHINING-ARMOR DEFENSE
WOULD BE HEARD BY AN AMERICAN
JURY.
HIS TRIAL BEGAN ON JUNE 1, 1990.
THE PROSECUTION LAID OUT ITS
CASE.
THERE WAS THE EXTRA MILEAGE
LOGGED ON THE RENTAL CAR THE
WEEKEND OF THE MURDER...
TYPE "O" BLOOD FOUND AT THE
SCENE THAT MATCHED SOERING'S...
AND THEN THERE WAS THE BLOODY
SOCK PRINT, WHICH PROSECUTORS
SAID WAS A PERFECT MATCH TO HIS.
>> AND YOU PULL THAT OUT, AND IT
MATCHES, AND IT FITS LIKE A
GLOVE.
>> PROSECUTORS DESCRIBE THE
MURDERS AS A VIOLENT STRUGGLE
BETWEEN THE HAYSOMS AND THEIR
ATTACKER...
AND THEY ARGUE THAT THE INJURIES
SEEN ON JENS' HANDS AND FACE AT
THE HAYSOMS' FUNERAL WERE SIGNS
OF THAT STRUGGLE.
BUT THE MOST DRAMATIC PART OF
THE PROSECUTION'S CASE WAS WHEN
ITS STAR WITNESS TOOK THE
STAND -- THE WOMAN JENS LOVED,
ELIZABETH HAYSOM.
ELIZABETH SAYS HER ROLE WAS TO
ESTABLISH AN ALIBI IN WASHINGTON
WHILE JENS KILLED HER PARENTS IN
VIRGINIA.
>> YOU SET UP THE ALIBI IN THE
CAR, RIGHT?
>> WE DISCUSSED WHAT THE ALIBI
WOULD BE, AND THAT WAS FOR ME TO
GO TO THESE VARIOUS MOVIES TO
TAKE NOTES.
>> ELIZABETH DESCRIBED HER TIME
IN WASHINGTON IN GREAT DETAIL.
>> JENS DROPPED ME OFF AT THE
MOVIE.
I WENT AROUND THE CORNER, AND I
BOUGHT A DRINK, AND I SCORED
SOME DOPE.
I GOT A TAXI, AND I WENT TO THE
SECOND MOVIE THAT WE HAD AGREED
THAT I WOULD GO TO.
>> JENS TRIED TO REFUTE
ELIZABETH'S TESTIMONY POINT BY
POINT, AND HE HAD A PARTICULARLY
GOOD EXPLANATION FOR THAT VERY
INCRIMINATING DIARY ENTRY WHERE
ELIZABETH SUGGESTED THAT A
FINGERPRINT LEFT BY JENS ON A
COFFEE MUG DURING HIS
INTERROGATION MIGHT HAVE LINKED
HIM DIRECTLY TO THE CRIME SCENE.
WHY WOULD SHE WRITE SOMETHING SO
SPECIFIC AND SOMETHING SO
DAMNING?
>> SPECIFICALLY TO INCRIMINATE
ME IF I DID NOT KEEP MY PROMISE
TO HER TO TAKE THE BLAME, THAT
SHE WOULD HAVE SOME KIND OF
INSURANCE POLICY.
>> WHEN HE ORIGINALLY CONFESSED,
JENS HAD DESCRIBED THE ACTUAL
MURDERS IN GREAT DETAIL.
HE SAYS HE CREATED THAT STORY
WITH THE HELP OF THE REAL
KILLER, ELIZABETH.
WHAT DID ELIZABETH TELL YOU
HAPPENED THE NIGHT THAT HER
PARENTS WERE MURDERED?
>> SHE REALLY DIDN'T TELL ME,
OKAY?
THE WAY WE DEVELOPED THIS LIE
WAS FOR ME TO IMAGINE WHAT I
WOULD HAVE DONE IF I HAD
COMMITTED THIS CRIME, AND EVERY
TIME THE STORY DIDN'T FIT THE
FACTS, SHE WOULD TELL ME WHAT I
SHOULD SAY INSTEAD.
>> WHICH SOUNDS ABSOLUTELY
RIDICULOUS TO ME.
IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE THAT IF
SOMEONE HAS JUST COMMITTED A
MURDER, THAT THEY'D SIT DOWN
WITH YOU AND THAT YOU ALL WOULD
SORT OF PLAY-ACT THROUGH SOME
PLAUSIBLE EXPLANATIONS OF WHAT
HAD HAPPENED.
>> THAT'S WHAT WE DID.
THAT'S WHAT WE DID.
OUR PRIORITY WAS GET THE STORY
STRAIGHT TO SAVE HER LIFE, AND
THAT'S WHAT WE DID.
>> IN THE END, JENS SOERING
NEEDED THE JURY TO BELIEVE THAT
HE HAD BEEN MANIPULATED THE
WHOLE TIME BY THE REAL KILLER,
ELIZABETH HAYSOM.
>> SHE WANTED YOU TO KILL THEM.
>> NO, SHE DIDN'T.
>> BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T KILL THEM
HERSELF.
>> [ CHUCKLES ]
I THINK ELIZABETH'S QUITE
CAPABLE OF THAT.
>> WELL, IF SHE COULD KILL THEM
HERSELF, SHE DIDN'T NEED YOU,
DID SHE?
>> SHE NEEDED ME TO BE THE
PATSY.
SHE NEEDED ME TO BE THE PATSY.
>> THE TESTIMONY LASTED FOR 11
DAYS, BUT IT TOOK THE JURY JUST
FOUR HOURS TO AGREE ON A
VERDICT.
JENS SOERING, GUILTY OF TWO
COUNTS OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.
JENS WAS GIVEN TWO LIFE
SENTENCES.
NOW, MORE THAN TWO DECADES
LATER, HE CONTINUES TO PROCLAIM
HIS INNOCENCE FROM BEHIND BARS
AND SAYS NEW EVIDENCE PROVES HIS
VERSION OF THE STORY.
WHO DO YOU BLAME FOR YOUR
INCARCERATION?
>> MYSELF.
I HAD AN OPTION TO TELL THE
TRUTH WHEN I WAS -- INITIALLY
HAD AN OPTION TO CALL THE POLICE
ON THE NIGHT THAT ELIZABETH
CONFESSED THE CRIME TO ME, AND
THAT'S WHAT I SHOULD HAVE DONE.
>> REPRESENTED BY ATTORNEY
GAIL MARSHALL, JENS FILED AN
APPEAL IN 1995.
>> THIS WAS A TERRIBLE TRIAL.
THIS WAS A VERY UNFAIR TRIAL.
I BECAME MORALLY CERTAIN THAT HE
HAD NOT COMMITTED THE CRIME.
>> MOST TROUBLING TO MARSHALL,
THAT BLOODY SOCK PRINT.
>> IT TURNS OUT THAT THERE IS
ABSOLUTELY NO WAY YOU CAN MAKE
AN IDENTIFICATION OF SOMEBODY
FROM A SOCK PRINT.
AND THE EXPERT -- SO-CALLED
EXPERT WHO TESTIFIED WAS AN
EXPERT IN TIRE PRINTS.
>> AT TRIAL, JENS' LAWYER HAD
NEVER CHALLENGED THE SOCK-PRINT
TESTIMONY, EVEN THOUGH THE
POLICE REPORT SAID THE SIZE OF
THE PRINT MATCHED A SIZE 5 TO 6
MAN'S SHOE, AND JENS SOERING
WEARS A SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER
SIZE 8 1/2.
>> WE HAD ONE STATEMENT FROM A
JUROR WHO SAID IF IT HADN'T BEEN
FOR THE SOCK-PRINT EVIDENCE, I
WOULD HAVE NEVER HAVE VOTED FOR
A CONVICTION.
>> JENS' APPEAL WAS DENIED.
THE COURT DIDN'T BELIEVE ANY NEW
ARGUMENT PROVED THAT THE
CRIMINAL TRIAL HAD BEEN
UNDERMINED.
NOW HE'S PINNING HIS HOPES ON
RECENT DNA TESTING NOT IN USE AT
THE TIME OF THE MURDERS, WHICH
WAS DONE ON EVIDENCE FOUND AT
THE CRIME SCENE MORE THAN TWO
DECADES AGO.
>> THE POLICE FOUND OLD
BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF FORENSIC SCIENCE'S
FILES, TESTED THEM, AND FOUND
OUT THAT THERE WERE 42 SAMPLES
FROM THE CRIME SCENE, OKAY, NONE
WHICH COULD BE LINKED TO ME AND
11 OF WHICH DIRECTLY EXCLUDED
ME.
>> OKAY, BEFORE YOU GO FURTHER,
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT RECORDS
ALSO SHOW -- THAT 24 OF THEM,
HALF, COULDN'T EVEN BE PROCESSED
FOR DNA, AND SEVEN 7 DIDN'T
CONTAIN ENOUGH INFORMATION FOR
COMPARISON.
>> CORRECT.
>> SO THAT LEAVES JUST 11 VIABLE
SAMPLES THAT CLEAR NOT ONLY YOU,
BUT ELIZABETH.
>> 11 VIABLE SAMPLES IS MORE
THAN TWICE AS MANY THAN IN MOST
OTHER OF THESE CASES.
>> WHILE THE TESTABLE SAMPLES
SHOW NO DNA LINKING EITHER
ELIZABETH OR JENS TO THE CRIME
SCENE, THE LESS SOPHISTICATED
ORIGINAL TESTING OF BLOOD FROM
THESE SAMPLES DID SHOW A
BLOOD-TYPE MATCH TO JENS.
THERE WERE ALSO FIVE SAMPLES OF
TYPE "O" BLOOD FOUND AT THE
SCENE, WHICH IS YOUR BLOOD TYPE.
>> CORRECT. AND 43% --
>> THEY COULD NOT BE PROCESSED
FOR DNA, BUT YOU CAN'T DISMISS
THOSE EITHER.
>> NO, RIGHT.
THAT'S THE INTERESTING THING
ABOUT THIS CASE.
>> WHILE ELIZABETH HAYSOM
APPEARS RESIGNED TO SPENDING THE
REST OF HER LIFE BEHIND BARS,
JENS SOERING CONTINUES TO FIGHT
FOR HIS RETURN TO HIS NATIVE
GERMANY, BUT HE KNOWS THE ODDS
ARE AGAINST HIM.
DO YOU REALLY HAVE FAITH THAT
YOU'RE GONNA WALK OUT OF HERE
SOMEDAY?
>> I HAVE ABSOLUTELY ZERO FAITH
IN THE COURT SYSTEM.
THEY HAVE BITTERLY DISAPPOINTED
ME, AND I HAVE NO FAITH IN THE
COURT SYSTEM WHATSOEVER.
>> FOR THE FRIENDS OF DEREK AND
NANCY HAYSOM, JENS SOERING, THE
BITTER MAN WHO CONFESSED TO
MURDER AND WAS LATER CONVICTED
BY A JURY, GOT EXACTLY WHAT HE
DESERVED.
DO YOU THINK JENS WILL BE
PAROLED AND BE ALLOWED TO GO
BACK TO GERMANY?
>> ALL I CAN SAY IS I HOPE NOT.
>> YOU'D BE VERY ANGRY IF THAT
HAPPENED.
>> I WOULD BE VERY UNHAPPY,
YES.
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE, THE
INVESTIGATORS, I THINK THE JUDGE
IN THE CASE WHOM I KNOW, AND A
LOT OF OTHER FOLKS WOULD BE VERY
UNHAPPY IF THAT OCCURRED,
BECAUSE I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW,
JUSTICE IS BEING SERVED IN OUR
OPINION.
>> JENS SOERING CONTINUES TO
PUBLICLY PLEAD HIS CASE FOR
PAROLE, BUT THE FINAL DECISION
RESTS IN THE HANDS OF THE
GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA.
I'M PAULA ZAHN.
JOIN US NEXT TIME WHEN WE'RE
BACK "ON THE CASE."