ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — In an extraordinary turn of events, 53-year-old Lorenz Kraus confessed to the murder of his parents during a television interview this past Thursday, only to be arrested moments later as he exited the studio. Kraus revealed that he had buried his parents in his backyard eight years prior, a revelation that came as part of an investigation into the couple’s continued Social Security payments despite their long absence.

Kraus described his actions as 'mercy killings' for his ailing parents, saying, 'They knew that this was it for them, that they were perishing at your hand?' To which he confirmed, 'Yes, and it was so quick.'

Initially reluctant, Kraus later admitted to killing Franz and Theresia Kraus, stating that his parents were aware of their decline but did not explicitly request death. '
I did my duty to my parents,' Kraus insisted. '
My concern for their misery was paramount.'

After his confession, which followed a series of probing questions by news anchor Greg Floyd, Kraus was immediately apprehended and charged with two counts of murder. A public defender entered a not guilty plea on his behalf during a brief court appearance.

The interview opportunity came after Kraus reached out to local news agency CBS6, providing a two-page statement that prompted the station to verify his identity. Kraus's unsettling comments and behavior during the interview raised serious questions regarding the relationship between law enforcement and the media in such instances. Albany County Assistant Public Defender Rebekah Sokol is investigating possible legal implications of the confession.

The discovery of Kraus's parents' bodies in their home, found as part of a financial crimes investigation, indicates additional complexities surrounding the case, with further inquiries into how Kraus maintained access to their Social Security benefits even after their deaths. Authorities are still working to positively identify the remains of Franz, 92, and Theresia, 83.