Jens Söring, born in Bangkok, Thailand, is the son of a German diplomat Klaus Söring. Jens Söring moved to the US in 1977 and graduated from The Lovett School, Atlanta, Georgia, in 1984. He then matriculated at the University of Virginia and entered into a relationship with fellow student Elizabeth Haysom. In March 1985, Haysom's parents, Derek (born 1913) and Nancy Haysom (born 1931), were murdered at their home in Bedford County, Virginia. Six months after the murders Jens Söring and Elizabeth Haysom fled to Europe and Asia. They were arrested on cheque fraud charges in London, England, on April 30, 1986. Under questioning by British, American, West German and Virginia authorities, both confessed to the murders. At the trial Haysom pleaded guilty and then testified that Söring committed the murders and that she was an accessory to the crime. The jury found Jens Söring guilty and he was sentenced to two consecutive life terms. Elizabeth Haysom was sentenced to 90 years imprisonment.