A New York man was arrested on Thursday after telling a news station that he killed his elderly parents in 2017 and buried their bodies in the backyard.

On Thursday, Lorenz Kraus, 53, went to WRGB and told anchor Greg Floyd that he killed his parents, Franz and Theresia Kraus, out of mercy. Kraus recounted first strangling his father with his hands, before strangling his mother with a rope when she rested her head on his father’s chest.

Kraus’ alleged confession came days after police executed a search warrant at an Albany residence related to financial crimes. The following day, excavation equipment was brought to the residence. WRGB reported that one body was discovered on Wednesday, and the other was found the next day.

Albany Police Chief Brendon Cox said investigators had interrogated Kraus, who reached out to WRBG after the police’s press conference. At the time, police were investigating Social Security payments that were being deposited for two people who vanished eight years ago.

Kraus explained to Floyd that he is confessing on tape so the public can judge for themselves.

“I did my duty to my parents,” Kraus commented. “My concern for their misery was paramount.”

In providing a confession, Kraus had the news station ask him about his political and economic beliefs. Kraus provided the media with a two-page document detailing his plan to have a board of trustees replace state and federal governments.

Kraus also wrote that he wanted immunity if he answered all questions, according to the Albany Times Union.

The news outlet reported that Kraus appeared on the 2020 presidential ballot in New Hampshire, vowing to dismantle the presidency and the “Deep State.” Kraus’ social media posts were said to be rife with antisemitism and videos about  the “Great Replacement” theory, a conspiracy theory that claims European populations are being outnumbered and substituted by nonwhite populations.

Kraus was arrested moments after leaving the news station. He has pleaded not guilty to murder and concealment of a human corpse.

[Feature Photo: WRGB]