Till Murder Do Us Part on Netflix: The Story Behind the Case of Jens Soering
Documentary series about the brutal murder of Nancy and Derek Haysom in Virginia and the years-long fight for exoneration
Quick Facts
What is the series about?
Till Murder Do Us Part: Soering vs. Haysom is a four-part documentary series that sheds light on one of the most talked-about criminal cases in Virginia's history. The series follows the young couple, German diplomat's son Jens Soering and Canadian heiress Elizabeth Haysom, who in 1985 became the center of a brutal murder investigation. The documentary combines archival footage, new interviews with Jens Soering, and reconstructions of the events before, during, and after the violent murders of Elizabeth's parents.
The real case
The real case began on March 30, 1985, when the bodies of Nancy and Derek Haysom were found in their home in Boonsboro, near Lynchburg. Both victims had been stabbed multiple times and had their throats cut. Suspicion quickly fell on their daughter Elizabeth and her boyfriend, Jens Soering, both of whom were studying at the University of Virginia. The couple fled the USA and traveled through several countries before being arrested in London in 1986. During interrogations, Jens Soering initially confessed to the murders but later retracted his confession, explaining that he was merely trying to save Elizabeth from the electric chair, believing that he, as a diplomat's son, had immunity.
Timeline of the case
The investigation and subsequent trials spanned decades. In 1990, Jens Soering was sentenced to two life sentences, while Elizabeth Haysom received 90 years in prison for complicity. Jens Soering has maintained his innocence since the verdict, claiming that he was not present in the house at the time of the crime. New DNA tests have later shown that male DNA found at the crime scene does not match Soering, which has reignited the debate over a possible miscarriage of justice. In 2019, U.S. authorities decided to release both on parole, after which Soering was sent back to Germany.
