In a truly stunning moment of television, a 53-year-old American man confessed to murder on live national television. Lawrence Krause told a local CBS6 news station on Thursday that he killed his parents. He said he then buried Franz and Theresia Krause in their own backyard in Albany, New York. This happened eight years ago, according to his surprising confession.
Mr. Krause reached out to WRGB, a local news outlet, and participated in a 30-minute interview. He described his actions as “euthanasia.” He claimed his elderly parents were becoming weaker. He believed they were heading for a decline.
The news anchor pressed him for details. “Did they know this was their end? That they would die by your hand?” the anchor asked. Mr. Krause answered simply, “Yes. And it was quick.”
Initially, Mr. Krause seemed to hesitate. He would not directly admit to causing their deaths. But after several minutes of repeated questions, he finally confessed. He said his parents did not ask him to kill them. Yet, he insisted, “They knew they were deteriorating.” He added, “I did a son’s duty to his parents. Concern for their suffering was paramount.”
Mr. Krause offered some explanations for his actions. He claimed his mother had recently fallen while crossing the street. His father, he said, could no longer drive after cataract surgery. However, he did not mention any serious or life-threatening illnesses his parents might have had.
Undercover police officers were waiting outside the TV studio. They arrested Lawrence Krause as soon as he left the building. He faces two counts of murder. His lawyer entered a plea of not guilty during a preliminary court appearance on Friday.
The television station’s news director explained how the interview came about. Mr. Krause had sent a two-page email statement to several news outlets. It included his phone number. When the station called him back, Mr. Krause admitted he buried his parents in the garden. When asked if he killed them, he first said, “I’ll take the Fifth.” This refers to his right to remain silent. But then, unexpectedly, he agreed to come to the studio for an interview.
The news anchor revealed that Mr. Krause repeatedly refused to say how his parents died during the interview. But after about eight minutes of persistent questioning, he finally admitted it. He told the anchor that he had suffocated them.
The discovery of the bodies and the murder investigation started in a different way. Police were looking into a financial crime. They found that Mr. Krause was collecting his parents’ welfare benefits. He had been using that money for himself. Meanwhile, neighbors believed his parents had simply moved back to Germany.
Source: The Guardian