Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman announced Thursday that her office will prosecute Army Captain Michael Kranzburg for two separate sexual assaults that occurred on the North Carolina State University campus in 2019. The decision follows the emergence of a second victim whose testimony provided the corroborating evidence the DA’s office said was missing in 2019.
Background and investigation
Police initially investigated the December 2019 assault at the Sigma Nu fraternity house after a student reported being forcibly bitten on the lip. At the time, Kranzburg’s address in university records listed the fraternity as his home. The investigation did not result in charges because the district attorney’s office concluded there was insufficient evidence to move forward.
In October 2026, a new report was filed alleging Kranzburg’s involvement in both the December assault and a second incident that took place in February 2019. The additional victim’s statement gave prosecutors the corroborating evidence they needed, prompting the DA to revisit the case.
Charges filed
Kranzburg, 27, was charged with first‑degree kidnapping, assault by strangulation, second‑degree forcible sex offense, and sexual battery. He made his first court appearance on Wednesday and remains an active‑duty Army captain. The arrest warrants allege that Kranzburg forcibly bit the victims’ lips during each assault.
Responses from the parties
Freeman explained that the new filings are standard procedure at the start of a case, ensuring the defense receives all discovery material required by law. “When you have a second victim come forward, it’s hard to look at that first case with the same lens,” Freeman said, emphasizing the importance of corroborating evidence.
Kranzburg’s attorney, Margaret Teich, denied the allegations and described the charges as a life‑changing event for her client. “These allegations have turned his life around,” Teich said. She noted that Kranzburg was preparing for special‑forces training, was engaged, and now faces three weeks in Muscogee County jail before being transferred to Wake County jail.
University and fraternity actions
North Carolina State University confirmed that campus police investigated the December 2019 assault. Sigma Nu fraternity announced that Kranzburg was suspended in 2019 and expelled from the organization two years later.
Legal process moving forward
The defense has filed a request to review all evidence gathered by the prosecution, including statements, witness accounts, and forensic examinations. The district attorney’s office will provide the requested discovery materials in accordance with state law.
Kranzburg’s parents attended the court hearing but declined to comment on the proceedings.
Community impact
The case underscores the importance of thorough investigations and the willingness of local prosecutors to act when new evidence emerges. It also highlights the role of university and fraternity leadership in addressing misconduct on campus.
Original reporting: WRAL Raleigh — read the source article.
