Bryan Kohberger has a new attorney representing him in his bid for post-conviction relief, an effort to withdraw his guilty plea in the murders of four University of Idaho students. Greg Rauch, a Moscow attorney, was appointed on Monday to represent Kohberger, who is currently held at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution in Kuna.
Rauch stated that he had not yet reviewed the case file, police reports, or spoken with Kohberger. His immediate goal is to establish phone contact with his client and then visit him in prison for a face-to-face discussion.
Kohberger pleaded guilty in July 2025 to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary. He received a sentence of four consecutive life terms without parole, plus an additional 10 years. Although the plea agreement included a waiver of his right to appeal, it does not preclude him from seeking post-conviction relief, which could potentially lead to the case being reopened.
In a handwritten petition filed on July 27, 2026, Kohberger claimed he was pressured by his previous defense team to falsely confess. He alleged that his former attorneys did not inform him about potentially exculpatory evidence, such as hair found at the crime scene that was excluded as his by physical analysis but not tested for DNA. The Idaho Attorney General's office has stated it is prepared to ensure justice is fully carried out.
Evidence presented in the case included Kohberger's DNA found on a knife sheath at the scene, along with evidence tracking his vehicle's movements. Investigators also had forensic data suggesting his phone was turned off during the murders but that his vehicle traveled to and from the crime scene.
Separately, a former expert witness for Kohberger's defense team, Sy Ray, has alleged that crucial information not previously disclosed to the court could alter the case's trajectory. Ray referenced a document known as the location database of record, or LOCDBOR report, which he claims contains "pattern of life" data indicating Kohberger stalked the victims and may have been inside the residence before the murders. Ray believes this report holds clues to potential evidence disposal.