Elizabeth Haysom

Early Life and Family Background

Elizabeth Haysom was born in Southern Rhodesia in 1964 to an American mother, Nancy Astor Benedict Haysom, an artist, and a South African-born father, Derek William Reginald Haysom, who later became a naturalized Canadian citizen. Derek Haysom was a prominent steel executive who served as president of two Nova Scotia crown corporations, Sydney Steel and Metropolitan Area Growth Investments, establishing the family's significant Canadian connection. The couple had a combined five children from previous marriages. Elizabeth attended elite boarding schools in Switzerland and England, specifically Wycombe Abbey, before enrolling at the University of Virginia in the United States.

The Murders of Derek and Nancy Haysom

On the morning of April 3, 1985, the bodies of Derek and Nancy Haysom were discovered in their home in the Boonsboro area of Bedford County, Virginia, just outside Lynchburg. The couple had been viciously attacked, slashed and stabbed to death in a manner that left them nearly decapitated. Their bodies had lain undiscovered for several days after the murder. During the estimated timeline of the killings, Elizabeth Haysom had rented a car. She and Jens Söring used this vehicle to drive to Washington, D.C., in an effort to establish an alibi for the time of the murders.

Investigation, Flight, and Arrest

Haysom and Söring were not initially considered suspects, and Haysom herself organized the details of her parents' funerals. The investigation turned towards the couple when authorities examined the rental car records. The mileage accrued far exceeded what would have been required for a single round trip to Washington, D.C., suggesting additional, unaccounted-for travel. As Virginia police focused their attention on them, Haysom and Söring fled the United States. They travelled to a number of countries over the subsequent six months before settling in England, where they were arrested by authorities on April 30, 1986.

Legal Proceedings and Conflicting Narratives

In 1987, a 23-year-old Elizabeth Haysom pleaded guilty to two counts of being an accessory to murder before the fact. She was sentenced to 90 years in prison, composed of two consecutive 45-year terms. Jens Söring pleaded not guilty but was convicted of first-degree murder in a 1990 trial and received two consecutive life sentences. During her incarceration, Haysom claimed in a 2016 interview that Söring killed her parents in a rage after learning that her mother had sexually abused her. Söring, however, had long contended that Haysom was the actual killer, acting over the abuse, though Haysom initially denied any abuse occurred. The sentencing judge, William Sweeney, a friend of the Haysom family, stated in court that he believed many of Elizabeth's accusations against her parents were 'the product of fantasy'.

Investigative details later emerged that complicated the official narrative. Police had found nude photographs of Elizabeth in the Haysom home, which a former detective acknowledged were linked to her claims of abuse by her mother. In recent years, Elizabeth's niece, Sheena Haysom, has alleged in a public video that a different male family member was both the abuser and a participant in the murders, claiming Elizabeth herself took part in the killings. An FBI profiler and a family member also theorized Elizabeth was directly involved, though this was not pursued at trial. Former detective Chip Harding later suggested the investigation suffered from tunnel vision after Söring's confession.

Incarceration and Parole

Elizabeth Haysom served her sentence at the Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women in Troy, Virginia. She first became eligible for parole in 1995 and submitted requests every three years thereafter. Her sentence was subject to mandatory parole, meaning she would have been automatically released in 2032 after serving 45 years. On November 25, 2019, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announced that both Haysom and Söring would be granted parole but not pardoned. The chair of the Virginia Parole Board, Adrianne L. Bennett, stated the decision was justified partly by their young ages at the time of the crime. The parole was condemned by U.S. Representative Ben Cline as a cost-cutting measure not based on merit. Haysom, having Canadian citizenship through her father, was deported to Canada on January 22, 2020, while Söring was deported to Germany.

Post-Conviction Developments and DNA Evidence

After their convictions, Jens Söring maintained his innocence and sought to overturn his verdict based on evolving forensic science. The prosecution's original case relied heavily on blood type evidence, asserting that type O blood found at the crime scene, which did not match the victims, must have come from Söring. Advances in DNA testing later indicated that the type O blood belonged to an unidentified male, not Söring. This DNA evidence from an unlikely source has provided new ammunition for Söring's long-running quest to prove his innocence, though it has not resulted in an official exoneration. These scientific disputes have added a layer of enduring controversy to a case already rife with conflicting stories.

Media Depictions and Cultural Impact

The Haysom murders have been the subject of extensive true crime media coverage for decades. The case has been profiled on numerous American television programs including 20/20, The New Detectives, City Confidential, and Snapped: Killer Couples. A feature documentary film, Killing for Love (also titled The Promise), premiered in 2016. Most recently, the case was revisited in the four-episode Netflix limited series Till Murder Do Us Part: Soering vs. Haysom, released in November 2023. These productions often focus on the twisted relationship between Haysom and Söring, the brutal nature of the crime, and the unanswered questions surrounding the events of 1985, ensuring the case remains in the public consciousness.

Questions about Elizabeth Haysom

How long did Elizabeth Haysom serve in prison?

Elizabeth Haysom served 32 years of her 90-year sentence. She was incarcerated from her conviction in 1987 until her release on parole on November 25, 2019. She was first eligible for parole in 1995 and applied every three years thereafter. Had she not been paroled, she would have been subject to mandatory release in 2032 after serving 45 years of her sentence.

Where is Elizabeth Haysom now?

Following her parole in November 2019, Elizabeth Haysom was deported from the United States on January 22, 2020. Due to her Canadian citizenship, which she held through her father, she was deported to Canada. Her accomplice and former boyfriend, Jens Söring, was deported to his home country of Germany. Their current specific locations within those countries are not a matter of public record.

What was the motive for the murders of the Haysom parents?

The stated motive has shifted over time and depends on the source. During legal proceedings, Elizabeth Haysom claimed her mother had sexually abused her, and that Jens Söring killed her parents in a rage upon learning of this. Söring has claimed Haysom herself was the killer, acting over the abuse. The sentencing judge dismissed the abuse claims as fantasy. More recently, Haysom's niece has alleged a different male family member was the abuser and was involved in the murders, suggesting a more complex family dynamic as the motive.

Has new evidence emerged in the case?

Yes, new forensic evidence has emerged, primarily related to DNA. The prosecution's original case relied on blood typing, asserting type O blood at the scene belonged to Jens Söring. Advanced DNA testing later showed the type O blood came from an unidentified male, not Söring. This has been a central point in Söring's efforts to prove his innocence. Additionally, allegations from family members about different perpetrators and abuse have surfaced in recent years, though they have not led to new charges or overturned the original convictions.

Why is Elizabeth Haysom's case notable in Canada?

The case holds Canadian significance primarily through Elizabeth Haysom's father, Derek Haysom. He was a naturalized Canadian citizen and a prominent steel executive who served as president of two Nova Scotia crown corporations, Sydney Steel and Metropolitan Area Growth Investments. This established a direct link to Canadian industry and Nova Scotia. Furthermore, Elizabeth's Canadian citizenship is why she was deported to Canada after her parole, making the conclusion of her U.S. legal saga a matter of Canadian jurisdictional reception.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Nosy Mag desk. Last updated 2026-10-20.