Kohberger Filed to Withdraw His Plea — What His Own Expert Said

An August 26, 2026 court order gives Bryan Kohberger two dates in June 2027 — a status conference on June 3 and an evidentiary hearing on June 17 — as he fights to withdraw the guilty plea that took the death penalty off the table. Judge Hippler, who accepted the plea thirteen months ago, denied prosecutors' request to throw the petition out without a hearing.

Kohberger's petition claims ineffective assistance of counsel. He alleges his attorneys told him his plea did not need to be truthful, promised prison conditions they could not deliver, and withheld evidence involving hair found in Ethan Chapin's hand. His new attorney Greg Rauch was appointed in August 2026 through the Public Defender's Alternate Counsel Division and had not yet read the case file or contacted his client.

The ineffective assistance claim partially waives attorney-client privilege. Anne Taylor, Elisa Massoth, and Bicka Barlow — the defense team that spent two years keeping Kohberger alive — could be required to testify at the June hearing about every conversation, recommendation, and disclosure that led to the plea.

Then there is Sy Ray. The digital forensics expert Kohberger's defense hired before the plea has publicly stated that investigators missed additional incriminating evidence. Ray says cellphone data places Kohberger near the house on multiple occasions before the murders. His recommendation: restore the death penalty and put Kohberger on trial.

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Disclaimer

This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.

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