Jens Soering sat in prison for decades after being convicted of murdering his girlfriend’s parents, who were found stabbed to death inside their rural Bedford County home in 1985. The case made headlines around the world, in part, because Soering, then a University of Virginia student who was the son of a German diplomat, initially confessed to the shocking crimes.

But he later recanted, claiming that he had only admitted guilt to try to protect his girlfriend, Elizabeth Haysom.

For years, Soering has sought a pardon. While no Virginia governor has ever granted one, he was released on parole in 2019. Now, seven years after being set free, Soering is asking the Court of Appeals of Virginia to officially clear his name.

His attorney, Elliott Harding, sat down with Catie Beck on the most recent episode of ‘Untold – A WTVR Podcast.’ They discussed the petition for a writ of actual innocence they recently filed, and why Harding is certain his client is an innocent man.

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