A man who had been quietly collecting Social Security benefits in his deceased parents’ names for nearly a decade made a shocking on-camera confession this week, admitting to killing them and burying their bodies in their backyard in upstate New York.

53-year-old Lorenz Kraus was taken into custody immediately after leaving a television interview with local CBS affiliate WRGB, where he voluntarily revealed disturbing details about the deaths of his parents, Franz and Theresia Kraus, who were last seen around eight years ago.

TV Interview Leads to Arrest

The televised conversation aired Thursday evening and was arranged after Kraus reached out to local media. According to Stone Grissom, WRGB’s news director, Kraus had emailed a two-page written statement to various outlets, which included his phone number and admissions about burying his parents on their property.

Grissom contacted Kraus by phone and was told that the elderly couple had died and were buried in the yard. When asked directly if he had killed them, Kraus reportedly said, “I plead the Fifth.” Grissom invited him to the studio under the condition that they’d publish his statement. Kraus arrived at the station within the hour.

Before the interview began, Grissom personally checked to ensure Kraus wasn’t carrying any weapons. A plainclothes police officer was stationed in the building’s lobby throughout the interaction.

“Did You Kill Them?” — “Yes”

The half-hour interview, conducted by veteran anchor Greg Floyd, quickly turned unsettling. Though Kraus initially avoided clear admissions, he eventually confirmed that he had suffocated both his parents.

“They knew that this was it for them, that they were perishing at your hand?” Floyd asked.

“Yes,” Kraus responded. “And it was so quick.”

Kraus went on to claim that he killed his parents as an act of mercy, citing their deteriorating health. He said his mother had recently fallen crossing a street, and his father had lost the ability to drive after undergoing cataract surgery. He insisted that, while they did not ask to die, they were aware of what was happening.

“I did my duty to my parents,” Kraus said. “My concern for their misery was paramount.”

Backyard Dig Uncovers Remains

The investigation into Kraus began earlier this year after the Social Security Administration raised concerns that his parents were still receiving benefits, despite being out of contact for years. A tip received in May prompted authorities to begin checking the Kraus home in Albany.

Police began excavation on the property on Wednesday and found one set of human remains. A second set was discovered the next day. Although formal identification is pending, officials believe the remains are those of Franz and Theresia Kraus, who were 92 and 83 years old, respectively.

Suspect Pleads Not Guilty

Following his arrest, Kraus appeared in court Friday, where a public defender entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf. He did not speak during the hearing. Kraus is currently being held without bail and faces two counts of murder and additional charges for concealing human remains and benefits fraud.

Albany County Assistant Public Defender Rebekah Sokol raised concerns about the circumstances of the televised confession, questioning whether Kraus’ statements could be admissible in court.

“If the media was essentially an agent of police in this matter, that could raise questions about whether (Kraus’) comments in the interview would be legally admissible at trial,” she said.

“I Followed What He Was Saying”

Floyd said the interview came together quickly and without a prepared script. With only minutes to get ready, he relied on instinct and responded to Kraus in real-time.

“I did not prepare for this because it was thrust upon us with virtually no notice,” he said. “I just followed the script that he laid out. I followed what he was saying and reacted to that.”

Floyd admitted the interview was unlike anything he’d encountered in over four decades of journalism. He said he continues to reflect on the elderly couple’s lives.

“Maybe it’s kept me a little grounded because going through that was a tough thing to go through,” Floyd said. “And then you think, ‘Well, okay, did we at least do justice for these two people who lost their lives?’”

Years of Deception, Obscure Public Life

Prior to his arrest, Kraus had a curious public image. According to The Times Union, he graduated valedictorian from Siena University in 1994 with a degree in political science, and later earned an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2009.

His political activities included a longshot presidential campaign and ties to conspiracy theories and antisemitic ideologies, making him a fringe figure before the shocking revelations of this week.

Investigators noted that, despite the brutal nature of the crime, no one had reported Franz and Theresia missing. Neighbors assumed the couple had returned to Germany, their country of origin and where they had survived the hardships of World War II.

Prosecutors: Interview Only One Piece of Case

Local prosecutors say the televised confession is just part of the case against Kraus. District Attorney Lee Kindlon confirmed that, while the interview is useful, it won’t be the only evidence used.

He emphasised the importance of physical evidence and additional witness testimony as the legal process moves forward.

What Comes Next

As investigators continue piecing together the timeline and motivation behind the killings, the case is likely to raise both legal and ethical questions — particularly about the role of media in uncovering confessions and whether such statements can stand up in court.

Meanwhile, a quiet Albany neighborhood is reeling from the revelation that two elderly residents were buried for years just steps from where neighbors lived completely unaware.