New attorney appointed to represent Bryan Kohberger in post-conviction relief petition

Bryan Kohberger, 30, has been assigned attorney Greg Rauch of Moscow, Idaho, to handle his petition for post-conviction relief, which aims to withdraw the guilty plea he entered in July 2025 for four counts of first-degree murder and burglary. Rauch said he has not yet reviewed the petition, case file, or spoken with Kohberger, but plans to establish phone contact soon and visit the inmate at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution in Kuna.

Kohberger’s original plea agreement required him to waive his right to appeal, though it does not preclude a post-conviction petition that could, if successful, lead to a new trial and potential imposition of the death penalty. In a handwritten filing dated July 27, 2026, Kohberger claimed he was "convinced to falsely confess" by his former defense team and alleged that exculpatory evidence – hair found at the crime scene that was not DNA-tested – was withheld.

Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador said his office is prepared to take any necessary steps to ensure justice is fully carried out. The original investigation linked Kohberger to the crime through DNA on a knife sheath, vehicle tracking data, and other forensic evidence.

Former defense expert Sy Ray has asserted that additional evidence, described as a "location database of record" report, has not been released and could affect the case. Ray told Fox News Digital that the report contains "pattern of life" data he believes shows Kohberger’s movements before the murders.