Man Charged with Murder of Parents After Decades-Long Disappearance

A man from Albany, New York, has been arrested and charged with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of concealment of a human corpse for the killings of his parents, Franz and Theresia Kraus, which occurred between July and September 2017.

The couple had not been seen for some time, and a welfare check in May 2024 revealed they were no longer living at their home on Crestwood Court in the Whitehall section of Albany. Neighbors reported that the couple had been active, with Theresia regularly sweeping the driveway and Franz planting tomatoes, and that they appeared healthy until they vanished.

A relative had previously reported they had moved to Germany in 2020, but no missing persons report was filed at the time. In May 2024, after a follow-up welfare check showed the couple were not at their home, police began an investigation into possible financial fraud and the couple's disappearance.

On Tuesday, officers executed a search warrant at the home and discovered two bodies buried in the backyard. Cadaver dogs confirmed the presence of human remains on Wednesday and Thursday. The bodies were not formally identified at the time of discovery.

During a news interview conducted at a local TV station, Kraus admitted to killing his parents, claiming he did so as an act of mercy to prevent their suffering as they aged. He stated he strangled his father with his bare hands and then strangled his mother after she lay her head on her husband's chest for hours. He said he buried the bodies in the backyard and continued to collect their Social Security benefits, which he donated to people in the Philippines.

Kraus also shared a manifesto containing antisemitic and bigoted remarks, referring to Zionists, Governor Kathy Hochul, and recipients of Oxford’s Rhodes scholarship as 'domestic enemies' and requesting prosecution under German law. In 2020, Kraus ran as a Democrat in New Hampshire, promoting conspiracy theories and antisemitic views.

His lawyer, Rebekah Sokol, expressed serious concerns about the newscast, stating it resembled a police investigation and called for the public to pause judgment. Police arrested Kraus immediately after the interview concluded.

The case has shocked residents, who were unaware of the family’s disappearance and burial. Neighbors, such as Annmarie Calabrese, who has lived next door for over 40 years, said they were surprised by the abruptness of the couple’s disappearance and saddened by the isolation in which they lived.

The investigation into the case is ongoing, with authorities still discussing how to proceed without formal identification of the victims or evidence of the manner or time of death. The incident has raised serious concerns about familial violence, mental health, and the potential for radicalized ideologies to influence criminal behavior.

This tragic case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of community vigilance and the need for early intervention in cases of potential elder abuse or mental health crises.