Former Bedford Sheriff reacts to new developments in Jens Soering case

Carl Wells wonders why new testimony in the case wasn't reported when the Haysom murders happened 26 years ago
March 22, 2011|Tim Saunders | Reporter/Lynchburg Bureau Chie B!"#$R", %a& ' (e) detai*s are emerging in a *egendary *oca* murder case& +ens Soering )as con,icted o murder 20 years ago& The -erman nati,e )as a student at the .ni,ersity o %irginia in 1/01 )hen in,estigators say he dro,e to Bed ord and 2i**ed "eric2 and (ancy 3aysom, stabbing them at their Bed ord County home& The 3aysoms )ere parents o Soering4s gir* riend, !*i5abeth 3aysom& 6 7ury ound Soering gui*ty in 1//0 o carrying out the murders& 3e )as sentenced to t)o *i e terms& 6 Lynchburg8area man is no) coming or)ard )ith a story about the case )e ha,en4t heard be ore& 9t4s e,idence Soering is hoping )i** set him ree& Tony Buchanan is the ormer o)ner o a body shop on Route :;0 in Lynchburg& 3e says 3aysom brought a car to his business a e) months a ter her parents turned up dead&

9nside the car 8 a 2ni e and )hat appeared to be dry b*ood& There )as a*so mud and grass on the undercarriage& Buchanan says it *oo2ed *i2e the car had been sitting in the )oods or a )hi*e& <=hy did he )ait >0 years, a*most, to te** us something?< )onders Car* =e**s, )ho )as Bed ord County4s Sheri in 1/01 )hen the 3aysom murders happened& There4s some 2ey pieces o Buchanan4s story =e**s )ishes his o ice cou*d ha,e in,estigated urther& <Main*y that 2ni e,< said =e**s <@BuchananA c*aims there )as a 2ni e in there& 9 )ou*d ha,e *o,ed to ha,e seen that&< The 3aysoms )ere stabbed to death, but the murder )eapon )as ne,er ound& <=e cou*d ha,e used @the 2ni eA bac2 at the medica* eBaminer4s o ice and they cou*d ha,e compared it )ith the 2ni e )ounds on the bodies,< said =e**s& Both Soering and 3aysom )ere con,icted o carrying out the murders& .n*i2e Soering, 3aysom admitted her gui*t& 9n a statement to the 6ssociated Cress, she says Soering4s c*aims o innocence are a*se& <=e are eDua**y responsib*e or the murder o my parents,< said 3aysom <6nd )e both deser,e incarceration< =e**s agrees and says the right peop*e are behind bars&

<They 2ne) too much,< said =e**s o 3aysom and Soering& They to*d too many actua* things that happened, )hich matched )hat )e sa) at the crime scene& 9 ha,en4t had a bit o prob*em s*eeping )ith the act that they4re pu**ing time&< Buchanan made his statement at the urging o Soering4s attorneys& They4re trying to get -o,ernor Mc"onne** to send him bac2 to his nati,e -ermany or get his con,iction o,erturned& (o matter )hat, this ne) e,idence )i** not *ead to a ne) tria* or Soering& 3e has a*ready eBausted a** o his appea*s&