Murder For My Love - Lynchburg, Virginia - Small Town Murder

Transcript

A (0:01)

This week in Lynchburg, Virginia, a powerful couple is massacred in their home, leading to a huge investigation, including FBI profilers. But the real murder plot turns out to be very simple. Or is it? Welcome to Small Town Murder. Hello, everybody, and welcome back to Small Town Murder. Yay. Oh, yay indeed, Jimmy. Yay indeed. My name is James Petregallo. I'm here with my co host.

B (0:40)

I am Jimmy Wisman.

A (0:41)

Thank you folks so much for joining us today on another crazy edition of Small Town Murder. We have a really, really wild, twisty one where at the end you might go, I don't know what happened. Or maybe I do. It's crazy stuff. I can't wait to get into it here. Before we do, definitely head over to shut up and give me mur. No tickets to buy right now. The tickets for Philly and D.C. are sold out. But we are announcing our slate of 2026 live shows very soon. So keep an eye out there@shutupandgivemerder.com Also, listen to our other shows for sure. Crime and sports. You don't have to like sports, we promise. It's just really funny. We like to make fun of somebody who screwed up when they don't have to. That's all it is. So do that. And also your stupid opinions where we make fun of the funniest reviews around the Internet of everything you can imagine.

B (1:31)

Again, people that didn't have to.

A (1:32)

Didn't have to. They did not have to get themselves in our crosshairs. Yet here they are. So it's a lot of fun. And also when you're done with all that, get yourself Patreon. Do yourself a favor. Patreon.com CrimeInSports is where you get all of the bonus material. It's a lot. Anybody $5 a month or above a cup of coffee. Honestly, that's all it is. For the cost of a cup of coffee, you're going to get not only, first of all, hundreds of back episodes of bonus stuff you've never heard before. You get that as soon as you subscribe, you can binge that. Then you get new ones every other week. One crime in sports, one small town murder, and you get it all. You get it all. This week for crime and Sports, we're going to talk about team relocations again, part two. A lot of fun stuff coming. We'll make fun of the whole Cleveland debacle and everything like that. Then why doesn't Seattle have a basketball team? Things of that nature. Then for Small town Murder, we are gonna talk about The American prison system, where it started, where it is now, what was the intent and where did we end up? And it's a wild evolution over the years. So a lot of funny stuff there. We'll get into all of that. Patreon.com CrimeInSports now, in addition to all of that content, you're also gonna get all of our shows. Crime in Sports, your stupid opinion, and both weekly shows of Small Town murder, all ad free with your Patreon as well. Ad free. Ad free. No ads.

Summary

Small Town Murder: “Murder For My Love – Lynchburg, Virginia”

Podcast: Small Town Murder
Hosts: James Pietragallo & Jimmie Whisman
Date: November 20, 2025
Episode Theme:
James and Jimmie dive into the infamous “Haysom Murders” that shook a well-to-do family and the rural community near Lynchburg, Virginia in 1985. With deep research, signature banter, and a wild ride through international intrigue, class disparities, and true crime tropes turned upside down, the hosts revisit a brutal crime, the obsessive young couple at its heart, and the decades-long controversy over guilt and innocence.

1. Episode Overview

This episode unpacks the chilling double murder of Derek and Nancy Haysom—a cosmopolitan, wealthy couple—in rural Boonesborough, near Lynchburg, VA. The case became infamous due to its bloody nature, complicated suspects, and the global flight of two young, intelligent lovers: their daughter, Elizabeth Haysom, and her boyfriend, Jens Soering. The hosts offer detailed background, gallows humor, and a thoughtful look at the evidence and enduring doubts over who actually wielded the knife.

2. Key Discussion Points & Insights

A. About Lynchburg, Virginia

Lynchburg is an “independent city,” meaning it’s not part of any county, a rarity that causes jurisdictional headaches later in the case.
Hosts riff on the region's reviews—everything from “ever increasing violence” (debated with actual stats) to playground and food complaints.
Median home price, cost of living, violent crime stats, and local events are all joked about to set the scene for a “sleepy, hilly” town paradoxically rocked by gruesome murder.

B. The Haysom Family

Derek Haysom: Born in South Africa, distinguished steel executive, dabbled in botany (notably, apple hybrids), described as “gregarious in public, authoritarian at home.”
Nancy Haysom: Goddaughter to Lady Astor, socialite, American-raised, stylish, fond of gin.
Both parents are established, private, and live comfortably in a house called “Loose Chippings” (fancy, not flashy).

C. Elizabeth Haysom’s Background

Born in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Canadian citizen, raised internationally, bright but troubled (self-harm, eating disorders, claims of sexual abuse by her mother).
Attended elite boarding schools in Europe, often at odds with parents, especially over academic direction (wanted to study history, parents pushed engineering).
Developed resentment and distance from her parents, which purportedly informed later events.

D. Enter Jens Soering

German, son of a diplomat, raised around the world (Bangkok, USA, Brussels), brilliant (multi-lingual, top student, scholarship winner).
Met Liz at University of Virginia, both outsiders, connected instantly over their intellect and shared sense of alienation.
Relationship dynamic: Liz, charismatic and troubled; Jens, adoring and (possibly) easily manipulated.

E. A Relationship Turns Poisonous

Intense, codependent love letters—escalating from romantic (and pretentious) to dark, discussing murder (“I would kill for you… burn the world down…” [59:22]).
Liz repeatedly claims abuse by parents (emotional and physical), and introduces bizarre elements like voodoo rituals and nude photos allegedly linked to her father.
“Sweet boy. The time is coming. I have been preparing you… make them suffer as they've made me suffer.”
—Letter from Elizabeth to Jens, [120:24]

F. The Murders (March 30, 1985)

Liz and Jens establish a solid-seeming Washington D.C. alibi, checking into a hotel, making themselves visible.
Evidence (mileage, receipts, staff testimony) later suggests Jens could have driven to Lynchburg and back while Liz maintained the alibi.
Scene at Loose Chippings:
- Derek (stabbed ~36 times; decapitation-level neck wound; “like a slaughterhouse” [29:44])
- Nancy (stabbed; nearly decapitated; found seated at the table set for tea/snacks [86:45]).
No sign of forced entry. The crime is intensely personal and extremely violent—overkill indicative of rage.
Forensic confusion: sock prints, four types of blood found (A, AB, B, O), but only two victims; missing jewelry and wallet.

G. The Investigations and Suspicions

Jurisdiction issues muddle initial responses; FBI and state involvement ramp up stakes.
FBI profile originally suggests “a female known to the family.”
Talk of “cult killings” and Satanic Panic elements, given 1980s context and weird crime scene (V’s, blood patterns, candle wax).
Elizabeth and Jens interrogated; alibi seems “too perfect.”
Letters between the two (eventually found under Liz’s bed) reference planning the murder, including details matching the crime scene (specific date, staged robbery, injuring the victims severely).

H. The Lovers on the Run

Feeling the heat, Liz and Jens flee to Europe, using fake names and running an elaborate international check-fraud scheme for cash.
Eventually arrested in England after a botched scam, questioned about the Haysom murders—Liz immediately blames Jens; Jens confesses to spare Liz.

I. Confessions, Allegations, and Trial

Jens confesses multiple times—details align with the crime scene (“I killed them. She didn’t know. Here’s how it happened…” [141:38-143:12]).
Later recants, claiming he only confessed to save Liz (as a German, believed he’d only serve time in Germany and would be protected from the death penalty; misunderstands diplomatic immunity).
Both extradited to the US:
- Liz pleads guilty as accessory before the fact, blames Jens, sentenced to 90 years (parole eligibility after 45).
- Jens goes to trial, claims innocence, argues Liz was the real killer; prosecuted with a bench trial (judge is friend of victim’s family), ultimately convicted, given two consecutive life sentences.
Both legal and forensic controversies arise—questions about confessions, evidence, and blood samples never fully matching either.

J. Ongoing Controversy, Releases, and Life After Prison

Over decades, numerous appeals, DNA tests, and documentaries (including on Netflix) cast doubt on Jens’s guilt—new DNA at the scene doesn’t match either Jens or Liz, but also doesn’t exonerate them.
Both Liz and Jens eventually win parole (2019) after over three decades, each deported: Liz to Canada, Jens to Germany, never allowed to return to the US.
Both have written extensively, maintain differing accounts of the crime, and live obscure lives—Jens in Germany (writing, reform advocacy), Liz reportedly working at a garden center in Canada.

3. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the Violent Scene

“I’ve seen some shit, but this—this was something else.” —Chuck Reed [29:21]
“The rug squished with blood when you stepped on it.” —James [30:41]

On the Couple’s Dynamic

“Met the most extraordinary girl today… She quotes Nietzsche and Joyce from memory. She understands suffering in a way these American children never could. I think I’m in love.”
—Jens’s diary [55:42]
“My darling, I would die for you—no, that’s not enough. I would kill for you. I would burn the world down if it meant we could rule over the ashes together.” —Jens to Elizabeth [59:22]
“Sweet boy. You say you would kill for me, but would you? Would you really? My parents think you’re weak. Prove them wrong.” —Elizabeth to Jens [59:53]

On the Investigation

“Four blood types in evidence. Two dead people. The Hasams A and AB… there was B blood on a rag and O blood in the master suite.” —James [97:15]
“I think we can also say there’s no affirmative indication of anybody other than the victims being present at the crime scene as well.” —DNA expert on 2020 documentary [171:21]

On Legal Shenanigans

“He believed his diplomatic passport granted immunity… It’s a Die Hard movie.” —James [145:02]
“We can’t stay here anymore. The truth isn’t what it seems. We’re innocent but no one believes us.” —Note left by Jens and Liz as they fled [131:01]

Other Gems

“If you want to test a relationship, run from Interpol with somebody, driving a Fiat through Bulgaria…” —James [132:56]
“She opened the murder door. The ‘I’ll kill for you’ door.” —James [168:19]
“An 18-year-old boy hates it when you give him the best f*** of his life and then leave…” —James, on Liz’s manipulative style [63:09]

4. Important Timestamps

00:41 – Episode theme set: “A really, really wild, twisty one…”
06:14 – 11:47 – Lynchburg background, stats, and host banter
23:31 – 30:03 – Murders discovered; crime scene details emerge
37:02 – 44:48 – Haysom family background, Liz’s troubled youth
49:36 – 62:49 – The Jens/Liz dynamic, letters, and obsession
85:01 – 93:16 – Gruesome crime scene details; investigators puzzle over possible cult elements
120:24 – 123:10 – Key evidence from diary, investigation closing in
129:59 – 132:39 – The couple’s international escape and eventual capture in Europe
139:23 – 143:12 – Interrogations, confessions, and blame games
148:29 – 149:10 – Liz’s plea/sentence and Jens's recantation
150:32 – 154:23 – Trial highlights, witness questioning, convictions
167:42 – 176:48 – Where are they now? Paroles, deportations, legacy of doubt

5. Conclusion & Takeaways

This episode is as much a psychological exploration and legal whodunit as straight crime retelling. Between the hosts’ comedic takes on “old money,” academic pressure, and international runaways, and the endless forensic and moral ambiguity, the Haysom murders stand as a notorious (and still controversial) true crime. Listeners are left questioning whether the system got it right, whether love can truly turn deadly, and how—decades later—the truth remains stubbornly out of reach.

For First-Time Listeners

This episode is packed with details, dark humor, and insightful asides—offering both a primer on the Haysom case and a hilarious, biting commentary on class, justice, and the human messiness underlying true crime.

Resources

Book: Beyond Reason (cited throughout for case detail)
2015 New Yorker article by Nathan Heller
Netflix’s “Killing for Love” documentary
The Promise (German doc)
A True Report on the Facts of the Investigation… by Terry Wright