The suspect accused of killing a Rexburg man and stabbing his wife will enter a plea agreement
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REXBURG — A plea agreement has been reached in the case of a 19-year-old accused of killing a Rexburg man and stabbing his wife.
Pierre Lake is charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, burglary and grand theft after he allegedly shot Ralph Brian, 65, in the head and stabbed Karen Brian multiple times during a September 2021 home invasion in Madison County. Karen survived the attack but Ralph died a few days later.
The plea agreement stipulates Lake will plead guilty and serve 30 years to life in prison, according to Jim Archibald, Lake’s attorney. The agreement is binding, meaning if District Judge Steven Boyce accepts it, he cannot change the sentence. If Boyce chooses not to accept the agreement, Lake can change his plea.
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It’s unknown why Lake targeted the Brians but he told his brother before the attack that he was going “to go ‘cap’ somebody,” according to court documents.
The day after the incident, investigators arrested Lake at his Jefferson County home. He told them he went into the Brians’ home and attacked Karen with a knife, stabbing her multiple times, and shot Ralph “point-blank” with the Brian’s revolver, the probable cause affidavit says.
Lake’s trial was scheduled to begin on Monday, Oct. 23. It has been vacated and a change of plea hearing is now set for Thursday morning. EastIdahoNews.com will be in the courtroom for the proceedings.