Lorenz Kraus, 53, a former fringe Democratic presidential candidate, admitted in a televised interview that he killed his parents nearly ten years ago and buried their bodies in the backyard of their Albany, New York home. The confession aired on CBS6 during an interview with anchor Greg Floyd, just one day after police recovered the remains of Franz and Theresia Kraus.

The investigation began as a financial crimes probe after officials discovered that Kraus had been collecting Social Security benefits intended for his parents, who had not been seen or heard from in years. The case escalated dramatically when police uncovered human remains buried at the Kraus family residence.

Kraus, who appeared on the 2020 New Hampshire Democratic primary ballot, ran on an extreme and widely dismissed platform that included abolishing the presidency and promoting antisemitic conspiracy theories. In the CBS6 interview, he claimed the killings were “mercy killings,” citing his parents’ declining health. He stated his mother had recently fallen and his father suffered from vision issues, though he admitted neither parent had explicitly asked him to act.

Authorities arrested Kraus shortly after the interview aired, charging him with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of concealing a human corpse. He has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody, with a court hearing scheduled for later in the week.

Legal experts say Kraus’s televised confession could complicate the case. Defense attorneys may seek to suppress the interview or request a change of venue, arguing the public nature of the confession could bias a jury.