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The Case of Jason Flom, John Grisham and Chip Harding with Jens Soering
📻 Episode #85
🎙️ Hosted by Jason Flom
📅 Feb 04, 2019
About This Episode
Jens Soering is serving two consecutive life terms for a case of double homicide, the murders of Derek and Nancy Haysom in 1985–a crime he did not commit. On June 8, 1986, Jens Soering, the son of a former German diplomat, falsely confessed to killing the Haysoms. Jens "took the rap" for his girlfriend, Elizabeth…
The Case
Jens Soering is serving two consecutive life terms for a case of double homicide, the murders of Derek and Nancy Haysom in 1985–a crime he did not commit. On June 8, 1986, Jens Soering, the son of a former German diplomat, falsely confessed to killing the Haysoms. Jens "took the rap" for his girlfriend, Elizabeth Haysom, to save her from the death penalty for killing her parents. At Jens’ trial, prosecutor Jim Updike told the jury that Soering's confession was corroborated by several drops of type O blood at the crime scene. Jens had type O, none of the other people involved in the crime did, so the blood had to be his. Updike repeated this claim 26 times. A comparison of lab reports showed that in fact DNA tests had eliminated Jens Soering as a possible source of the type O blood at the scene. The same blood that in 1990 suggested his guilt now proved his innocence. In 2017 two independent DNA scientists confirmed these findings, and they also found DNA evidence showing the presence of a second unknown man with type AB blood. The crime remains unsolved and Jens Soering has remained behind bars for over 32 years. In this gripping interview with Jens Soering, Jason Flom is joined by novelist John Grisham and Sheriff J.E. "Chip” Harding of Albemarle County, VA, both of whom have advocated on Soering’s behalf.
https://www.wrongfulconvictionpodcast.com/with-jason-flom
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In Their Own Words — transcript excerpts
Short excerpts from the episode's official published transcript, with timestamps — listen from these moments, or read the full transcript via the podcast's own platforms.
00:09:03“Speaker 1: You know, It's calling her the devil is a little oversimplified. Speaker 1: She was later diagnosed with a very severe personality disorder, Speaker 1: so you know, she actually had serious mental health issues. Speaker 1: And and of course she claimed that her mother had Speaker 1: sexually abused her with the knowledge and cooperation of her father,”
00:33:16“Speaker 9: wall illuminated like fourth Of, July so it gives us Speaker 9: the impression as investigators at least one of the participants Speaker 9: in this homicide took a, Shower so why would he Speaker 9: be covered in blood from head to? Toe it's, Impossible Speaker 9: and there are three or four more things That elizabeth”
00:55:00“Speaker 6: Guys i'm A New york, guy but you, KNOW i Speaker 6: recognize injustice WHEN i see, it AND i also recognize Speaker 6: in this case the added tragedy of human potential in Speaker 6: That end's and he AND i have talked about this at, Speaker 6: length the idea that Y ends could BE i, mean”
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Also on the podcast: #1 Jason Flom and Barry Scheck with Barry Gibbs · #10 Jason Flom on Christmas Behind Bars: A Special Episode with Amanda Knox, Jarrett Adams, and Jeffrey Deskovic · #17 Jason Flom and Barry Scheck with Jason Baldwin