Jens' Story

12/31/19 • 26 min

2 Listeners

The weekend Derek and Nancy Haysom were brutally murdered in their home in Bedford County, their youngest daughter Elizabeth and her boyfriend, Jens Soering, had rented a car and driven to Washington, DC. After the killings, Elizabeth maintained Jens drove the 200 miles from Washington to Bedford County to confront her parents about their disapproval of their relationship and ended up stabbing them to death. But Jens has a very different story to tell. From behind bars at the Buckingham Correctional Center in Virginia, Jens gives his version of events that night in March 1985 and the days and months after the crime. He explains why he falsely confessed to murdering the Haysoms and how a DNA discovery supports his innocence. An attorney working pro bono for Jens discusses his 1990 trial in Bedford and several issues related to the Haysom murder investigation.
To support the investigative efforts of Small Town Big Crime, please visit https://www.patreon.com/SmallTownBigCrime
Written and Reported by Rachel Ryan and Courteney Stuart
Sound production by Jaclyn Piermarini
Sound engineering by Taylor Thomas

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Previous Episode

The Trial

In 1985 Jens Soering and Elizabeth Haysom were bright, promising students at the University of Virginia when Haysom's parents were found brutally murdered in their Bedford County home. The young couple became the prime suspects in the crime and fled the country. They were arrested in London several months later, and British detectives found some disturbing letters. Haysom pleaded guilty to being an accessory before the fact in her parents' murders and testified against Soering, saying he committed the murders because her parents didn't approve of their relationship. Forensic evidence presented at the trial sealed Soering's fate, and he was sentenced to two life sentences for the murders. But not everyone was convinced Soering could have committed the crimes.
To support the investigative efforts of Small Town Big Crime, please visit https://www.patreon.com/SmallTownBigCrime
Written and Reported by Rachel Ryan and Courteney Stuart
Sound production by Jaclyn Piermarini
Sound engineering by Taylor Thomas

Support the show

Next Episode

The Blood

Type O Blood was found at the crime scene and was an important piece of evidence in convicting Jens Soering in the 1985 murders of Derek and Nancy Haysom. But newly tested DNA evidence suggests Soering wasn't at the crime scene, and the Type O blood belonged to an unidentified male. More testing revealed a second unknown male left blood at the scene. DNA experts don't believe Soering could have been at the Haysoms' home when they were murdered. A small town sheriff named Chip Harding starts investigating and finds additional evidence that provides clues to who may have killed the Haysoms. A music mogul in New York City named Jason Flom advocates for Soering's innocence.
To support the investigative efforts of Small Town Big Crime, please visit https://www.patreon.com/SmallTownBigCrime
Written and Reported by Rachel Ryan and Courteney Stuart
Sound production by Jaclyn Piermarini
Sound engineering by Taylor Thomas

Support the show