Bryan Kohberger has been appointed a new attorney to represent him in a post-conviction petition seeking to withdraw his guilty plea in the killings of four University of Idaho students. Moscow attorney Greg Rauch was appointed Monday, August 3, 2026, but said he has not yet reviewed the petition or case file. Kohberger filed the handwritten petition July 27, alleging that his former defense lawyers persuaded him to falsely confess and failed to disclose potentially favorable evidence. A successful petition could reopen the case and expose Kohberger to a new trial and the death penalty.
The appointment comes about a year after Kohberger pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one burglary count. He was sentenced to four consecutive life terms without parole, plus 10 years. The victims were Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, who were killed in November 2022 at an off-campus house in Moscow, Idaho.
| 1) | New counsel begins review of the petition |
| 2) | Kohberger challenges his guilty plea |
| 3) | The case evidence and possible legal stakes |
| 4) | Former defense expert raises additional claims |
| 5) | The next steps in the post-conviction case |
New counsel begins review of the petition
Rauch, who is based in Moscow, was appointed to represent Kohberger on Monday morning. He said he had not yet read the petition, reviewed the case file or spoken with Kohberger. Rauch said his immediate plans were to arrange a telephone conversation, examine police reports and later visit Kohberger in person at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution in Kuna.
“Today, my goal is to set up phone contact with him. I gotta read the case file…I gotta check out the police reports. I gotta talk to him.”
Kohberger is being held in the facility’s J-Block unit, roughly 300 miles south of Moscow, where the murders occurred near the University of Idaho campus.
Kohberger challenges his guilty plea
Kohberger submitted a handwritten post-conviction petition on July 27, 2026. He claimed that former attorneys Anne Taylor, Elisa Massoth and Bicka Barlow convinced him to falsely confess. He also alleged that the defense did not inform him about exculpatory discovery, including hair recovered at the crime scene that was not tested for DNA and was excluded as belonging to him through physical analysis.
The 2025 plea agreement required Kohberger to waive his right to appeal. That waiver does not prevent him from seeking post-conviction relief, a separate legal process that can challenge the validity of a conviction or plea. The allegations remain claims in a pending petition and have not been established by a court.
The case evidence and possible legal stakes
Kohberger pleaded guilty in July 2025 and was sentenced by Judge Steven Hippler to four consecutive terms of life without parole, along with a 10-year sentence for burglary. The victims were stabbed at a King Road residence in Moscow in November 2022.
Investigators said Kohberger’s DNA was found on a knife sheath located on a bed shared by Mogen and Goncalves. Authorities also tracked his vehicle before and after the attack. Prosecutors were prepared to present evidence that Kohberger’s phone was turned off during the killings but that other evidence indicated he traveled to and from the crime scene.
If Kohberger succeeds in withdrawing his guilty plea, the prosecution could pursue a trial. The case would then carry the potential for a death sentence, according to the terms described in the proceedings.
Former defense expert raises additional claims
Sy Ray, a former expert witness who worked with Kohberger’s defense team, has separately alleged that investigators possess additional evidence that was not introduced before the guilty plea. Ray referred to an undisclosed location database of record, or LOCDBOR, report.
“They’ve got to release this report, because the report that changes everything has not been released. It hasn’t been unsealed.”
Ray claimed the report contains location and pattern-of-life information that could indicate Kohberger stalked the victims, entered their home before the killings or disposed of evidence in a particular location. Those assertions have not been ruled on by the court, and the report remains described as sealed or unreleased.
The next steps in the post-conviction case
Rauch must first review the petition, investigative materials and available discovery before determining how to present Kohberger’s claims. He is also expected to meet with Kohberger in prison. The court will then evaluate the post-conviction allegations and any supporting evidence under the applicable legal standards.
Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador said after the petition was filed that his office was prepared to take the steps necessary to ensure justice was carried out. The victims’ families and the public could face renewed proceedings if the court grants relief, but no decision to withdraw the plea or order a new trial has been announced.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Greg Rauch was appointed to represent Kohberger on August 3, 2026. |
| 2 | Kohberger is seeking to withdraw his July 2025 guilty plea. |
| 3 | His petition alleges ineffective defense assistance and undisclosed evidence. |
| 4 | A successful challenge could lead to a new trial and possible death penalty proceedings. |
| 5 | The court has not yet granted relief or ordered a new trial. |
Summary
Kohberger’s new attorney now faces the task of reviewing a post-conviction petition that challenges the guilty plea underlying his life sentences. The claims concerning defense advice, forensic evidence and an alleged location report will require legal and factual review. Until the court rules, Kohberger’s convictions and sentences remain in effect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is representing Bryan Kohberger?
Moscow attorney Greg Rauch was appointed to represent Kohberger in his post-conviction case.
What is Kohberger asking the court to do?
He is asking the court to grant post-conviction relief and allow him to withdraw his guilty plea.
What could happen if the petition succeeds?
The case could be reopened for trial, where Kohberger could face the possibility of the death penalty.
