Elizabeth Roxanne Haysom was born on April 15, 1964, in Canada to Nancy Astor Benedict Haysom, an artist, and Derek William Reginald Haysom, a prominent steel executive and former president of two Nova Scotia crown corporations. The Haysoms were a well-respected family with a complex family structure — both parents had children from previous marriages, and Elizabeth was the youngest of their combined children. Raised in a privileged environment, she attended boarding schools in Switzerland and England, including the prestigious Wycombe Abbey. Known for her intelligence and charm, Elizabeth appeared poised for a successful future.

In the early 1980s, Haysom moved to the United States to attend the University of Virginia, where her life took a dark turn. There, she met Jens Söring, an 18‑year‑old German student from a prominent diplomatic family. The two quickly formed a deep and intense relationship that would become central to one of Virginia’s most infamous double homicide cases. The couple’s romance, described by friends as “obsessive” and “codependent,” spiraled into manipulation, rebellion, and a shared resentment toward Elizabeth’s parents, whom she described as controlling and abusive.

Despite their affluent backgrounds and academic promise, Haysom and Söring began planning a future together that included breaking free from parental control — a desire that would soon lead them to a deadly decision. By early 1985, the pair had discussed various ways to rid themselves of what they perceived as obstacles to their happiness. What started as resentment evolved into a conspiracy to commit murder.

On April 3, 1985, the brutal murder of Derek (72) and Nancy Haysom (53) shocked the quiet community of Boonsboro, Bedford County, Virginia. Their bodies were discovered days later in their home, having been savagely slashed and stabbed to death. Both victims had nearly been decapitated — an indication of the frenzied violence involved. Investigators determined that the murders had occurred while Elizabeth and Jens were allegedly away in Washington, D.C., establishing an alibi. Haysom had rented a car for the trip, but detectives later noticed the mileage did not match the distance for a simple round trip, suggesting a detour to the murder scene.

Initially, the couple was not considered suspects. Elizabeth even helped organize her parents’ funeral. However, inconsistencies in their stories and suspicious evidence eventually drew police attention. When confronted with growing scrutiny, Haysom and Söring fled the United States, traveling across several countries before finally being arrested in England on April 30, 1986.

Haysom confessed to planning the murders but claimed she did not physically commit them. She admitted that she orchestrated the plot, while Söring allegedly carried out the killings. At her trial in 1987, Elizabeth pleaded guilty to two counts of accessory to murder before the fact and received a 90-year sentence — two consecutive 45-year terms. Jens Söring pleaded not guilty but was convicted in 1990 of two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to two consecutive life terms.

During her decades in prison, Haysom repeatedly expressed remorse and shame, admitting in a 2016 interview that she was “profoundly ashamed” of her role and that the events of 1985 had defined and destroyed her life. She also accused her mother of sexual abuse — a claim that Söring said triggered his rage, though Elizabeth initially denied the abuse occurred.

Haysom became eligible for parole in 1995 and applied every three years thereafter. Although Virginia’s mandatory parole laws guaranteed release by 2032, her fate changed earlier. On November 25, 2019, Governor Ralph Northam granted parole to both Haysom and Söring. They were not pardoned but released on the basis of age, time served, and rehabilitation progress. In January 2020, Elizabeth was transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and deported to Canada, where she continues to live as a free woman.