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A judge has set a May 15th court date that will determine if Lorenz Kraus's televised confession to murdering his parents will be admissible at his upcoming trial.
Kraus, 53, made headlines in September when he admitted during a television interview with WRGB-Channel 6 that he killed his parents, Franz and Theresia Kraus, and buried their remains in the backyard of their Albany home in 2017. He was arrested the following day outside the TV studio.
According to reporting from the Times Union, Kraus has continued to speak publicly about the case despite facing potential life imprisonment. He even sent a handwritten letter to the newspaper in November reasserting his belief that he had "done his duty" by ending his parents' lives as they faced health issues related to aging.
"I wouldn't characterize it as loving," Kraus told WRGB anchor Greg Floyd about his relationship with his parents, who would have been 84 and 75 at the time of their deaths.
Prosecutors believe the killings occurred between July and September 2017. After the murders, Kraus told neighbors his parents had moved to Germany, while allegedly raiding their bank and retirement accounts.
The remains of Franz and Theresia were discovered buried in the backyard of their Crestwood Court home in Albany. Despite the overwhelming evidence against him, including his televised confession, Kraus has pleaded not guilty to first and second-degree murder charges, as well as larceny and identity theft.
Albany County Court Judge William T. Little will rule on the admissibility of Kraus's statements ahead of any potential trial. Kraus remains in custody without bail as he awaits the May hearing.