ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Va. (WINA) – Albemarle County Sheriff Chip Harding is once again pleading with Governor Terry McAuliffe to pardon Jens Soering, the former UVA student convicted of killing his girlfriend’s parents more than 30 years ago.
Derek and Nancy Haysom were brutally murdered in their Bedford County home in 1985. Their daughter, Elizabeth, pleaded guilty. She testified that Soering had killed her parents, with her only an accessory to the crime. Soering, the son of a German diplomat, pleaded not guilty, stating that he had made a false confession to protect Haysom, assuming he would have diplomatic immunity.
Blood samples played a major role in Soering’s conviction, but when Soering was tried in 1990, blood tests confirmed only blood type and gender. Blood samples that have not deteriorated have been tested again, and blood matching Soering’s type belonged to two unknown men.
“The standard in America is supposed to be, convict you beyond a reasonable doubt. There’s way beyond reasonable doubt in this case. This case isn’t even close,” Sheriff Harding said.
Harding was joined by two others at a news conference on Wednesday, September 27, including Thomas McClintock, one of America’s leading forensic DNA specialists.
“Does Jens Soering DNA profile match any of those? They absolutely do not,” said McClintock.
Retired Charlottesville police detective Richard Hudson has pored over evidence for more than 200 hours at no cost. He, too, says Soering is not guilty.
“I do not believe, based on all the work I did on this case and all the discussions and conversations and reports we’ve reviewed and worked with, that Jens Soering participated in the homicide of Derek and Nancy Haysom,” Hudson said.
Harding, McClintock, and Hudson are asking Governor McAuliffe to pardon Jens Soering and force Bedford County investigators to reopen the case. The Governor’s Office says Soering’s petition for pardon is under review and an announcement will be made when it’s complete.
