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- calendar_today November 6, 2026
Overview of the Prosecution Delay
Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman has addressed the seven-year delay in prosecuting Michael Kranzburg, an Army captain and former Sigma Nu fraternity member at North Carolina State University, in connection with two sexual assaults reported on campus. Freeman explained that initial investigations in 2019 did not produce enough evidence to move forward with charges.
Initial Investigation and Decisions
According to Freeman, her office declined to file charges against Kranzburg in 2019 because they believed the evidence was insufficient. The investigation at that time involved two separate alleged sexual assaults, both occurring in 2019. Police reports from the period indicate that both incidents involved different victims.
New Allegations and Renewed Investigation
The case was reopened in October 2026 when NC State police received a new report alleging that Kranzburg was responsible for not only the previously reported December 2019 sexual assault but also another incident in February 2019. The arrival of a second victim provided the corroborating evidence authorities felt was necessary to proceed with prosecution, Freeman said. "When you have a second victim come forward, I think it’s hard to look at that first case with the same lens that you might’ve been looking at it originally because now you know there is corroborating evidence," she explained.
Charges and Court Proceedings
On Tuesday, Kranzburg was charged with first-degree kidnapping, assault by strangulation, second-degree forcible sex offense, and sexual battery related to the two cases from 2019. He made his first court appearance on Wednesday. The arrest warrants allege that Kranzburg forcibly bit the lips of the victims in both incidents.
As of the latest reports, Kranzburg remains an active-duty Army captain. NC State records show that his address at the time of the incidents was the Sigma Nu fraternity house, which was also the location of the December 2019 reported assault. Sigma Nu fraternity confirmed in a statement that Kranzburg was suspended in 2019 and expelled from the organization two years later.
Defense Response and Evidence Review
In response to the charges, Kranzburg's defense team, led by attorney Margaret Teich, has filed a request to review all evidence gathered by the prosecution, including statements from the defendant and witnesses, as well as any tests and examinations conducted during the investigation. Freeman said such filings are standard at the beginning of a case to ensure the State provides all required discovery to defense counsel. Teich stated that Kranzburg denies all allegations and spoke about the impact the charges have had on his life.
Court Appearances and Background
Kranzburg, now 27, graduated from NC State in 2021 and has served on active duty at Fort Benning, Georgia, since 2025. His parents attended his recent court hearing but declined to comment. The proceedings continue as the defense begins reviewing the prosecution's evidence.
Related coverage
Source: wral.com.
