Soering’s Innocence Petition Gains Ground | Roanoke News

After nearly 40 years, the Haysom murder case in Bedford County is heating up again. Jens Soering, convicted in 1985 for killing Derek and Nancy Haysom, has won a key legal step: the Virginia Court of Appeals refused to dismiss his petition for actual innocence, ordering the Attorney General’s Office to respond within 60 days. His lawyer says 50 pieces of new evidence—including DNA that doesn’t match Soering, blood samples tied to two unknown men, and fresh witness testimony—support his claim. Even the victims’ granddaughter, Sheena Haysom, believes he’s innocent and is offering her DNA for comparison. Soering’s attorney, Elliott Harding, argues the confession Soering gave at arrest was recanted and contradicted by evidence then—and would never hold up today. With the court taking this seriously, the case may be on the verge of a major reversal. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/84057c17f3dae14f