The defendant in the Ralph Brian murder case has pleaded guilty in his slaying and in the attempted murder of Brian’s wife, Karen Brian.

Pierre Lake and his court-appointed attorney Jim Archibald met before Seventh District Judge Steven Boyce Thursday morning. Lake pleaded guilty to the two felonies in exchange for the state dismissing two additional charges of burglary and grand theft.

Lake faced a jury trial next week but earlier this week changed his plea. Had he been found guilty by a jury, Lake faced life in prison for Ralph Brian’s murder. Lake could have also been sentenced to 15 years in prison for the attempted murder of Karen Brian with an additional 15 years on a weapons enhancement charge. Lake stabbed Karen Brian in the face and hand with a knife.

With Lake pleading guilty, he now faces 30 years in prison determinate and life in prison indeterminate.

When Boyce asked Lake if he was guilty of murdering Ralph Brian and attempting to murder Karen Brian, Lake said that he was.

“The count of murder first degree, an indictment alleges that on 20 September 2021 in Madison County, you did intentionally, unlawfully, deliberately, and with premeditation and with malice aforethought killed Ralph Edward Brian. Did you kill him shooting him with a firearm?” Boyce asked.

Lake admitted to the charges.

Boyce then questioned Lake about the attempted murder of Karen Brian also on Sept. 20, 2021.

“On that same day, it alleges that Pierre Lake on or about the 20th of September 2021, in Madison County, Idaho, did intentionally, unlawfully, deliberately with premeditation and with malice aforethought did attempt to kill and murder Karen Chapel Brian, a human being, by stabbing her in the face, neck, and arm with a knife”

Lake agreed that he had.

Boyce accepted Lake’s change in plea and ordered that a pre-sentence investigation be held. Boyce also scheduled Lake’s sentencing at 1:30 p.m., Jan. 29, 2024, at the Madison County Courthouse.

Police allege that Lake broke into the Brians’ home around 5 a.m., Sept. 20, 2021, at Rexburg’s Boathouse Trailer Court. After breaking in, court records stated that Lake stabbed Karen Brian in the face and the arm. The fight later moved outside where Lake shot Ralph Brian in the back of the head with Ralph Brian’s own gun.

Paramedics rushed the Brians to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. There medical workers treated Karen Brian for her wounds while Brian remained hospitalized until his death three weeks later.

Court documents allege that prior to the attack, Lake told his brother that he planned to “cap” someone.

Court records state that Lake was given a ride to Rexburg’s Boathouse Trailer Court where he broke into the Brians’ home, attacked Karen Brian, and then fought outside with Ralph Brian over Ralph’s gun. A female neighbor reported seeing Karen Brian covered with blood.

Following the attack, Lake reportedly talked campers at the neighboring Eagle Park Campground into giving him a ride back to his Rigby home. Lake allegedly gave the campers a fake name and told them there had been a shooting and stabbing at the trailer court.

Madison County Sheriff’s officers later traced Lake to his Rigby home where they found the missing gun inside a clothes basket. Shortly after, officers arrested Lake and returned him to Madison County.