Full Breakdown
Bryan Kohberger Gets New Attorney as He Seeks to Withdraw Guilty Plea
8/4/2026, 4:32:10 AM
Core Event: New Counsel Appointed for Post-Conviction Relief
Gregory Richard Rauch of the Law Office of Magyar, Rauch & Thie has been assigned to represent Bryan Kohberger in his petition for post-conviction relief. The handwritten affidavit, filed on July 27 2026, asks the court to set aside the guilty plea Kohberger entered in July 2025 for the November 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students. Rauch said he has not yet read the petition but plans to contact Kohberger by phone and then visit him at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution’s J-Block unit.
Background & Context
In July 2025, Kohberger pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary for the stabbing deaths of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin on Nov 13 2022. Judge Steven Hippler sentenced him to four consecutive life terms without parole plus ten years for burglary. The plea waived his right to appeal but left open the possibility of post-conviction relief, which he is now pursuing.
Data & Statistics
- Victims: four students, ages 20-21.
- Sentence: four consecutive life sentences + 10 years.
- Custody: Idaho Maximum Security Institution, Kuna.
Official Statements & Responses
Greg Rauch, newly appointed counsel, said his immediate priority is to establish phone contact with Kohberger. “Today, my goal is to set up phone contact with him.”
Prosecutors have emphasized forensic evidence linking Kohberger to the crime scene, including DNA on a knife sheath and vehicle-tracking data that placed his sedan near the victims’ home on the night of the murders.
Criticism & Opposition
Digital-forensics expert Sy Ray, who testified for the defense before the guilty plea, argues that investigators omitted a “location database of record” (LOCDBOR) that, in his view, shows Kohberger’s phone intersecting with the victims’ devices. He has called for the death penalty to be reinstated, stating the new evidence could bring the case back to trial.
Another forensic specialist, Morgan Wright, demanded to see the LOCDBOR report and its mapping. “Show me the report. Show me the map.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Kohberger’s petition alleges his former defense team withheld exculpatory evidence, specifically a hair found at the scene that was not tested for his DNA. The claim has not been independently verified, and the LOCDBOR data has not been released publicly.
Law enforcement officials declined to comment on the alleged “pattern of life” data, maintaining they have no identified motive or target for the killings.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Today, my goal is to set up phone contact with him,” — Greg Rauch, attorney
- “Show me the report.” — Morgan Wright, digital-forensics expert
What’s Next
The court will review Kohberger’s petition for post-conviction relief. No hearing date has been scheduled publicly.
