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In Albany, the attorney for Lorenz Kraus is attempting to suppress a televised confession in which Kraus admitted to murdering his parents in 2017. Kraus confessed during an interview with CBS6 anchor Greg Floyd, describing how he killed his parents, Franz and Theresia Kraus, and buried them in the backyard of their Crestwood Court home. His attorney, Rebekah Sokol, has filed an omnibus defense motion to challenge the admissibility of the confession as evidence.
The legal argument may focus on whether the interview constituted a government-driven interrogation, requiring Miranda warnings, or if the confession was involuntary under constitutional standards. Kraus, who was arrested moments after the interview, has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including first-degree murder, concealment of a human corpse, grand larceny, and identity theft.
Prosecutors allege Kraus suffocated his father and strangled his mother, later burying their bodies. The investigation began when the Social Security Administration flagged continued benefit payments despite losing contact with the couple. Human remains were recovered from the backyard following a search warrant execution.
Kraus' case has drawn national attention due to the unusual circumstances of his confession and arrest. Despite facing life in prison, Kraus has continued to speak publicly about the case, maintaining his actions were "mercy killings." He is scheduled to appear in court next month.