Netflix's four-part docuseries "Till Murder Do Us Part: Deadly Women" has revived one of America's most contentious murder cases, focusing on the brutal 1985 killings of Derek and Nancy Haysom in their Bedford County, Virginia home.

Jens Söring, a German citizen and former University of Virginia student, was convicted in connection with the murders. For decades, he has maintained his innocence while serving a lengthy prison sentence. According to his account, he confessed to the crimes alone to protect his then-girlfriend, Elizabeth Haysom—the couple's daughter—from facing the death penalty.

Elizabeth Haysom was also convicted in connection with the murders, typically reported in legal documents as an accessory or conspirator, though specific charges vary by jurisdiction.

## The Evidence That Convicted Söring

Prosecutors built their case on multiple pieces of evidence: Type O blood found at the scene matching Söring's blood type, a bloody sock print, and multiple confessions from the defendant himself. These factors proved decisive in securing his conviction.

However, the forensic landscape shifted in 2009 when state-ordered DNA testing allegedly eliminated Söring as the source of the Type O blood samples that had been used against him at trial. A forensic podiatrist consulted for the Netflix series later concluded that the sock print closely matched Söring's foot—though notably, neither Söring's nor Haysom's shoes matched the evidence prints recovered from the crime scene.

## Netflix's Two-Perpetrator Theory

The docuseries concludes with the suggestion that both Söring and Haysom were present at the Haysom home on the night of the murders. The Netflix investigation builds this theory on several pieces of evidence:

Elizabeth Haysom's fingerprints were found on a vodka bottle at the scene. Untested hair evidence remains at the crime scene. Merit cigarette butts were discovered outside the house. In one interview, Söring allegedly used the pronoun "our" when referring to a trip to Lynchburg, suggesting joint presence. Additionally, Nancy Haysom had reportedly stated that she expected both Elizabeth and Jens to visit over the murder weekend.

## Söring's Response

Jens Söring has publicly criticized the Netflix series, rejecting its two-perpetrator conclusion and calling the theory fundamentally flawed. His response underscores the polarized nature of this case: supporters of his innocence view the docuseries as a misrepresentation, while others see it as a legitimate examination of overlooked evidence.

Family members remain divided. Howard Haysom and commentator Annie Massie have been identified as believers in the two-perpetrator theory, indicating that even within the victim's own family, interpretations of the evidence diverge sharply.

The case continues to generate debate among legal observers, forensic specialists, and true-crime enthusiasts. With DNA testing having excluded Söring as the source of certain biological evidence decades after his conviction, and with questions remaining about untested forensic material, the Haysom murders remain a portrait of investigative complexity and the enduring challenge of determining guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

## Sources

https://wpde.com/news/nation-world/convicted-killer-jens-soering-reacts-to-netflix-docuseries-till-murder-do-us-part-derek-nancy-haysom-bedford-county-virginia-elizabeth-murders-confession-sock-shoe-prints-type-o-blood-alibi-washington-dc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78F22s7by90

https://thesoeringcase.substack.com/p/soring-on-netflix-this-concoction