Netflix’s new limited series, Till Murder Do Us Part: Soering vs. Haysom thoroughly explores the murderous romance between Jens Soering and Elizabeth Haysom. Netflix will air the upcoming series on Wednesday, November 1, at 3:01 a.m. EST.
Authorities convicted Soering and Haysom of orchestrating the 1985 double murder of her parents, Derek and Nancy Haysom, in Bedford County, Virginia. London authorities arrested them for shoplifting and check fraud, and during questioning, they confessed to the horrifying murders, receiving sentences. Law enforcement authorities arrested the duo on April 30, 1986. Both the them are still alive.
Soering and Haysom had troubled childhood and hated their respective parents
Jens Soering, who was born on August 1, 1966, in Bangkok, moved to the United States in 1977. He then enrolled at the University of Virginia, where he developed a relationship with Elizabeth Haysom, another fellow student.
Over the next several months, they exchanged several handwritten letters, passionately expressing their love and affection for each other in some of them. Reports suggest that Elizabeth poured her heart out to Jens, recounting the hours spent discussing the assault she endured and expressing her frustration with her parents’ indifference. She revealed how they had opted to send her overseas to school instead of addressing the painful situation.
Furthermore, she divulged details about her attempts to run away on multiple occasions. Even though Haysom’s parents didn’t like Soering, she had already made up her mind that she wanted to be with Soering. In 1985, the deeply in love couple traveled to Washington, spent the weekend there, and then returned to Charlottesville. Allegations arose that they had made the trip to falsify an alibi.
Jens Soering and Elizabeth Haysome put their plan to action
On March 30, 1985, Soering reportedly visited Haysom’s parents at their Virginia home and killed both of them. As per The Crime Wire, Jens Soering slashed Derek deeply with a pocket knife and repeatedly stabbed Nancy. The discovery of their bodies did not happen immediately after the murder. However, the investigation uncovered some disturbing details as it progressed.
Haysom and Soering were not the initial suspects in the Haysoms’ murders. In April 1986, six months post-murder, authorities arrested Soering and Haysom in England for $9,000 in fake check-related crimes. Police contacted US law enforcement after discovering Haysom’s letters to Soering, discussing her parents’ murder.
Soering confessed to the murders and law enforcement brought him back to Virginia. Meanwhile, Haysom pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of accessory to murder. However, as soon as the trial began in the United States, Soering proclaimed his innocence and entered a not-guilty plea. According to him, he had stayed back in Washington D.C. while Haysom had driven back to Virginia to murder her parents. He also reportedly admitted that he confessed to the murder because he wanted to save his girlfriend from the electric chair.
The trial concluded with the court finding Jens Soering and Elizabeth Haysom guilty in the gruesome double-murder case. Authorities sentenced Soering to two life sentences, and Haysom received a total of 90 years – 45 years for each count of murder.
The authorities paroled Elizabeth Haysom and Jens Soering in November 2019. Haysom was deported back to Canada and kept a low profile since her release. On the other hand, Soering was deported to Germany and has been living there since then.
