Elizabeth Vargas

Elizabeth pleads guilty as an accessory before the fact, admitting she helped plan the murders, but insisting Jens is the one who carried them out. He had a choice.

Elizabeth pleads guilty as an accessory before the fact, admitting she helped plan the murders, but insisting Jens is the one who carried them out. He had a choice.

She is sentenced to 90 years in prison. Meanwhile, back in Britain, Jens is fighting extradition, hoping to be tried in Germany, where he faces a much lighter sentence.

She is sentenced to 90 years in prison. Meanwhile, back in Britain, Jens is fighting extradition, hoping to be tried in Germany, where he faces a much lighter sentence.

But it is a losing battle. In 1990, he is also returned to Virginia.

But it is a losing battle. In 1990, he is also returned to Virginia.

People pack the courtroom expecting drama, and Jens doesn't disappoint. In a stunning turnabout, he takes the stand to now swear he is innocent. Basically, Jens was in the position of saying, believe me now, don't believe that confession I gave a few years ago.

People pack the courtroom expecting drama, and Jens doesn't disappoint. In a stunning turnabout, he takes the stand to now swear he is innocent. Basically, Jens was in the position of saying, believe me now, don't believe that confession I gave a few years ago.

Jens now says Elizabeth is the one who drove down to her parents' house and murdered them while he stayed behind in Washington. He says Elizabeth, who was using heroin and other hard drugs at the time, came back and told him what she'd done.

Jens now says Elizabeth is the one who drove down to her parents' house and murdered them while he stayed behind in Washington. He says Elizabeth, who was using heroin and other hard drugs at the time, came back and told him what she'd done.

He says his false confession in London was an attempt to take the blame for Elizabeth to save her from a death sentence.

He says his false confession in London was an attempt to take the blame for Elizabeth to save her from a death sentence.

Jens' decision to testify, however, opened him up to a ripsaw cross-examination by prosecutor Jim Updike.

Jens' decision to testify, however, opened him up to a ripsaw cross-examination by prosecutor Jim Updike.

The prosecutor trying to turn the jury against Yens produces a letter he wrote to Elizabeth in which he refers to local authorities as yokels.

The prosecutor trying to turn the jury against Yens produces a letter he wrote to Elizabeth in which he refers to local authorities as yokels.

The trial features a bitter reunion. Elizabeth arrives from prison, her long blonde hair now shorn, and commits the ultimate act of betrayal, according to Jens, blaming him for her crime. It suddenly became real. We were going to conspire and commit murder.

The trial features a bitter reunion. Elizabeth arrives from prison, her long blonde hair now shorn, and commits the ultimate act of betrayal, according to Jens, blaming him for her crime. It suddenly became real. We were going to conspire and commit murder.

This was a time before DNA, when blood typing is the best science can do. So the prosecutor makes much of Type O blood found at the scene. Jens Ziering has type O, along with nearly 40% of the population. The prosecutor also shows the jury a bloody sock print that he said matches Jens' foot.

This was a time before DNA, when blood typing is the best science can do. So the prosecutor makes much of Type O blood found at the scene. Jens Ziering has type O, along with nearly 40% of the population. The prosecutor also shows the jury a bloody sock print that he said matches Jens' foot.