For nearly 15 years, Anita Knutson's family anxiously waited for North Dakota authorities to identify a suspect in the brutal murder of the 18-year-old Minot State University student inside her . Rice, who was Knutson's roommate at the time of her death, is charged with murder and is being held at the Ward County Jail, police said. About a month before her death, Knutson had her father install a lock on her bedroom door, saying she "didn't feel safe" without it, Talbott said. The apartments landlady and an apartment maintenance worker also had keys, according to police. << /ProcSet [ /PDF /ImageB /ImageC /ImageI ] /XObject << /Im1 5 0 R >> >> Nichole and Kevin Thomas, Nicholes father, previously told officers that Nichole was at her parents house from approximately 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 2 until the morning of June 4, 2007. Eligibility. If convicted, Rice faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole. Tx>U5hS*@Ut'9 T*A Police in Minot, N.D., have charged Nichole Rice with murder in the June 2007 death of her roommate, college student Anita Knutson. Dog mom. It was just a matter of putting that information in front of new investigators and letting them do the work. 5 0 obj Rice . Tx>U5hS*@Ut'9 T*A Dallas is related to Rory William Rice and Sandra Marie Rice as well as 3 additional people. P(*OsP*@@USU6T Rices father, Kevin Thomas, put down the $120,000 cash approximately an hour after her initial appearance, and she was released until her next hearing on April 21 at 3 p.m. She has been ordered not to leave North Dakota. She grew up on a ranch 10 miles southeast of Belfield, N.D., where her family raises Hereford cattle. Also known as Nicole A Thomas. Since 2007 the community of Minot, North Dakota has been haunted by a disturbing question: Who stabbed 18-year-old college student Anita Knutson to death?. Photo courtesy of In Loving Memory of Anita Knutson Group. According to police, Knutsons purse, laptop, phone, a digital camera and other valuables were left in her bedroom, suggesting theft was not a motive., The affidavit added, The single window in Antias room, which was located just past the foot of her bed, was wide open and missing a screen. Rices defense argued that she was not a flight risk because of family ties and her lack of a criminal record. Edward Buchanan. Copyright Minot Daily News | https://www.minotdailynews.com | 301 4th St SE, Minot, ND 58701 | 701-857-1900. Items near the window were not disturbed, suggesting the window was not used to enter the apartment, according to the complaint. We do all the investigating, they just provide experts and other professionals to help us and help answer questions, do any testing, theyre really just a resource for us, he said. x+TT(T0 B3C#sK#TpL3C=S3R2=s k ) Rices Facebook shows she also spent time working at a car dealership. On her Knot wedding website, she wrote that she met her husband at a sporting goods store where he worked. \FOy Huebner is a 35+ year veteran of broadcast and print journalism in Fargo-Moorhead. Please enable javascript and refresh the page to continue reading local news. PAXTON, ISAAC A. FARGO, ND $922.00 PEARSON, RANDAL J. FORT TOTTEN, ND $308.00 PEARSON, RANDAL J. FORT TOTTEN, ND $382.80 PEARSON, RANDAL J. SAINT MICHAEL, ND $432.80 PEARSON, RANDAL J. SAINT MICHAEL, ND $765.60 State of North Dakota Department of Human Services Child Support Enforcement - List of Obligors Found in Contempt of Court Name City . Nichole Rice is a North Dakota woman arrested in the 2007 cold case murder of her roommate. It was being able to sit and dedicate some time, our officers to that, and let them do their work.. Tx>U5hS*@Ut'9 T)A The . C-SPAN receives no funding from any government. On June 4, 2007, Knutson's father had called the police because he hadn't heard from her in several days, KXNET-TV reported. The sample was too small to be tested against the law enforcement database, but could be analyzed with other samples side by side. We found 4 records matching "Nicole Thomas" in ND. Nichole Rice, 34, appeared in Ward County District Court in connection with the 2007 death of 18-year-old Anita . They worked alongside Det. MINOT, N.D. - The woman charged with AA-felony intentional murder in the 15 . Rice is charged with the stabbing death of 18-year-old Anita Knutson, whose body was found in their apartment on June 4, 2007. Several people told police there was a lot of tension between the reportedly hot-tempered Rice and Knutson, who was known for being kind and friendly, court documents said. Section 38-08-08 (1), N.D.C.C., does not require allocation of oil and gas production from one spacing unit to another. Judge Richard Hager determined there was probable cause that Nichole Erin Rice, then 19, stabbed Anita Knutson, 18, at their apartment in early June 2007 and left her face down in bed, according to The Form of Fargo-Moorhead. Klug said in the past, staffing and timing issues prevented the department from focusing as needed on the cold case murder. \EOWy Nicole Rice. There, Rice pleaded not guilty to the Class AA felony murder charge, and Hagar ordered her back in court on Nov. 16. Her sister, Anna Knutson, told the news site, She was enjoying school and always had a lot of friends around her. Her family has not commented since Rices arrest. Update From Today: 34 year old Nichole Rice, Anita's former roommate, has been charged with the murder. MINOT, N.D. (KVRR) The murder of an 18-year-old Minot State University student in 2007 is no longer a mystery. 2022 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. MINOT, N.D. (KFGO) - Minot police have announced the arrest of a woman who they believe killed her roommate 15 years ago. In March, law enforcement was able to identify the person who heard the alleged confession as a former boyfriend of Rice.Law enforcement officers in 2022 interviewed some of the same people with whom they talked earlier, including Rice and members of her family, and said that they gave statements that were inconsistent and contradictory, including where Rice was around the time of Knutson's death.Judge Richard Hagar has ordered Rice back in court on Nov. 16. x]8q+qRc^^ Welcome to Nichole Thomas and Dallas Rice's Wedding Website! Rice was Anita's roommate at the time of her murder. Nichole Rice is in custody and is believed to have been responsible for the 2007 murder, Minot police said in a press conference. . . ANITA KNUTSON 031622. Rice will be charged with the murder of 18-year-old Anita Knutson. On March 16, Rice was arrested for the 2007 murder of her then-roommate, Anita . Knutsons body was found by her father in the northwest Minot apartment she shared with Rice. << /Type /Page /Parent 2 0 R /Resources 4 0 R /Contents 3 0 R /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] At a press conference on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, Minot Police announced the arrest of 34-year-old Nichole Rice. Your News Leader will have more later today. P*px>]Ap*@ h Prosecutors suspect Knutson was killed either June 2 or June 3, 2007, according to the complaint. Naomi Irion Missing & Feared Kidnapped in Nevada: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know. Rice had been charged with one Class B misdemeanor and one infraction for issuing checks without sufficient funds or credit in January and February 2012. A pocket knife with dried blood on it was found near the bedroom window, court documents said. Nichole Rice to make initial appearance Thursday on charge in 2007 killing of Anita Knutson. Subscribe to get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox, RAND to USAF: Dont Take GBSD Support for Granted, Job Service Offers Assistance to Outlying Communities. Nichole Rice makes initial court appearance; more info released in Anita Knutson murder This was contradicted by a number of people who indicated that Nichole did not like Anita. Nothing of value was taken from the room, the complaint said. One witness told police Rice was at a bar in Ruso, North Dakota, about 40 miles south of Minot, from the night of June 2, 2007, until early June 3, 2007, the complaint said. She wrote comments like, Miss you, and shared TV reports about the cold case on Facebook. She was covered with a robe and had two stab wounds that caused her to bleed to death, according to a criminal complaint filed against Rice. Anita Knutson, a student at Minot State University, was found stabbed to death in her apartment on June 4, 2007. P*@ T << /Type /XObject /Subtype /Image /Width 1696 /Height 2200 /Interpolate true Anitas story was featured in Datelines Cold Case Spotlight digital series in 2015 and included an interview with her younger sister, Anna. \FOy Nicole Rice (nickel) See Photos. The affidavit said: Nichole told witness 1 that after she left the club in Ruso, she had to Minot to her apartment to get some clothes that night. "I wish we could have solved this sooner but at the same time I'm glad to say that we have the person responsible for the murder of Anita Knutson in custody. Knutson, who was a Minot State University student, was found dead June 4, 2007, face down in her bed at her and Rices northwest Minot apartment. She is in the Ward County Jail and charged with murder. One witness told police Rice was at a bar in Ruso, North Dakota, about 40 miles south of Minot, that Saturday night into Sunday morning, and when she left the bar, Rice said she was going back to her apartment to get some clothes. This comes as the suspect bonded out . Video Nichole rice minot nd. Powered by. Rice was then charged with a Class A misdemeanor for failure to appear after release bail jumping. The police chief credits the tv show Cold Justice, which assists in unsolved homicide cases, with resources and experts in being able to solve the case. Police announcing Wednesday afternoon the arrest of Anita Knutsons former roommate. Profile. |*bT 1111. Anita (right) and her younger sister Anna (left). Knutson was 18 years old at the time of her death. CBSNews. Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Sign Up. Anita Knutson was found stabbed to death in her home when her father asked for a wellness check because he hadn't heard from her in a few days, according to KXMB. Nichole Rice pleads not guilty to murder charge in killing of Anita Knutson, UPDATE: I-94 opens between Bismarck and Fargo, Teen killed in collision with train in Mountrail County, How the Roosevelt Park Zoo cares for animal accustomed to warmer temps, Rugbys picture-perfect Panthers: seniors to finish careers at state, Underground coal mine collapse injures 3 in Montana, United Community Bank Athlete of the Week: Kenmares Brenna Stroklund, KMOT celebrates another successful Have a Heart food drive, Closed Caption Inquiries - (701) 255-5757. endstream Becher said the man was arrested June 11, 2007, in Minot after he entered an apartment and was found hiding with a knife. According to North Dakota state law, the charge carries a potential sentence of life in prison without parole if she is convicted. Log in or sign up for Facebook to connect with friends, family and people you know. She had told investigators she was out of town with her parents when Rice was killed. Nichole Rice was charged with murder, which is a AA felony, and was taken to the Ward County Jail on Wednesday afternoon. Heres what you need to know about Nichole Rice, the suspect in Anita Knutsons murder: According to police, Rice, then Nichole Thomas, was Anita Knutsons only roommate. The chief did not get into details about what led them to Rice or a motive. We found Marcus Witherspoon in 18 states: View Marcus's current address, phone number, social media profiles + Browse arrest, criminal and felony court records. Email sourisvalleybowmen@hotmail.com for membership fees. |jrT Rice's father, Kevin Thomas, paid $120,000 with a check to bail her out of jail, according to court documents. Minot police arrested Rice Wednesday. And detectives Asham and Talbott did that. MINOT, N.D. A woman accused this year of killing her roommate 15 years ago pleaded not guilty to the crime after a defense attorney tried to make a case that a man caught burglarizing a home about a week later might be the one who did it. 516 2nd Ave SW Minot, ND 58701; 701 852 1045; janet.anderson@minotnd.org; Facebook; Instagram; McHenry County court records show that Nichole Rice, 34, who has been charged with the 2007 murder of her roommate Anita Knutson, 18, failed to appear in court in 2012. Although an arrest has been made, we still encourage anyone who may have any She pleaded guilty and was ordered to complete 30 hours of community service, one year of unsupervised probation, and to pay $380 in fees. 3 Nichole Rice, Anita Knutson Murder Suspect: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know. Items underneath the window were not disturbed, suggesting the window was not used to gain entry, but rather the suspect entered through the locked front door, Talbott said. x>1hR*@etGA T(A Rice had remained a person of interest in the case in the years that followed the initial investigation, and provided a number of statements to the authorities. 2022-23 high school individual state champions list, as of Feb. 28: Add 22 more states, plus Prep Nationals. information in this case to reach out to the Minot Police Department at (701) 857 0111., Klug told reporters, Weve turned over every leaf already. What haunts me most about the death of my sister is that whoever killed her, also took the life of my brother that very day, Anna said. By Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling | Feb. 28, 2023, 9:24 a.m. (ET) Knutson's roommate at the time of her death, Nichole Rice, now 34, of Minot, was arrested at 3:25 p.m. Wednesday without incident while at her civilian job on Minot Air Force Base. Judge Richard Hagar ruled there was enough evidence to proceed to trial, and Rice pleaded not guilty. Sorgen said Amtrak data likely wasn't reliable at the time, and Talbott said there is video evidence that shows the Montana man arrived in Minot Sunday evening that weekend, not Saturday. It was good to know that finally the one case that weve had hanging out there that we just could not get to a solution, was finally over., Nichole Rice, Anita Knutson Murder Suspect: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. As Nichole Rice's defense team waited to enter the courtroom, Rice and her husband, Dallas, entered the courtroom, hand in hand. Thomas Family Funeral Home 304 S Main Street Minot, ND 58701 (701) 838-2832 (701) 838-6949 toll free: (800) 228-3588 MINOT, N.D. (KVRR/AP) A Minot woman arrested in a 15-year-old cold case murder has her initial appearance in Ward County court. P*PTI QeT A witness told police in September 2008 that after Knutsons murder, Rice referred to her as a f***** b**** and a f****** little c***. According to the affidavit, the witness also said Rice had said she was at her parents farm all weekend, but the witness had seen her in a bar in Ruso on June 2, 2007, until the early morning of June 3. "It was a relief," Klug said of the arrest. Staggering snowfall in California mountains leaves residents trapped for days, SpaceX launches new crew on flight to space station, Garland testifies before Senate panel amid ongoing special counsel probes, Colon cancer rates rising in younger age group, study finds, Firefighter dies battling blaze in downtown Buffalo, mayor says, Several hospitalized after Lufthansa flight diverted to Dulles due to turbulence, Explosive found in checked luggage at Pennsylvania airport, feds say, Prosecution wraps its case at Alex Murdaugh murder trial, Top McCarthy aide, House Oversight chair each met with Ashli Babbitt's mother. |jT 1 Murder trial set for accused Anita Knutson killer. 34-year-old Nichole Rice, Minot, was taken into custody Wednesday and charged with murdering her roommate, Anita Knutson. The full affidavit of probable cause can be read here. Ward County Prosecutor Tiffany Sorgen led Minot Police Detective Mikali Talbott through testimony relating to prior investigative reports, interviews and evidence in the case. Judge Richard Hagar set Nichole Rice's bond at $120,000 cash, or a $250,000 surety bond. View more. Witness 1 said that Nichole told her details about the scene that would not have been known to Nichole or anyone outside of the investigation team. Nichole Rice was a member of a Facebook memorial group for the victim, In Loving Memory of Anita Knutson, according to the pages administrator. If you feel you have received this message in error, please contact the customer support team at 1-833-248-7801. I wish we could have solved this sooner, but at the same time, Im glad to say that we have the person responsible for the murder of Anita Knutson in custody.. Ward County Jail/Knutson Family Select this result to view Nichole Thomas's phone number, address, and more. Anita Knutson was 18 years old when she was murdered on June 4, 2007, at her home in Minot. A pocketknife with dried blood on it was found on the bed, close to the wall and open window. Police said nothing was disturbed beneath the window, and it did not appear anyone went through the window., According to the affidavit, A number of individuals indicated that there was a lot of tension between Anita and Nichole. stream See Photos. A bloody knife was found in a bathroom and nothing appeared to have been stolen, according to police. Nichole is currently the Vice President of Network Deployment and Operations at Dish Wireless, leading the Central United States through deployment of the nation's first open RAN, cloud native 5G . The judge set Rices bond at $120,000 cash, or a $250,000 surety bond. % He told police he hadnt heard from his daughter in days, which was unusual, police said. Knutson was stabbed to death in her apartment in . Her page showed her with dead deer and other animals she had killed. |jT Nichole Erin Rice was charged with murder, a class AA felony in North Dakota. Rice is charged with Class AA murder in . P*@. A MOM:T MINOT, N.D. (KMOT) - Nichole Rice, the woman charged with murder in the 2007 killing of Anita Knutson in Minot, has pleaded not guilty. Nichole stated she and Anita were best friends and she has never complained about Anita to anyone. A message left for Rice's attorney, Philip Becher, was not returned Thursday. Rice's story about the last time she saw Knutson also kept changing, he said. He said that staffing issues and lack of resources interfered with achieving a breakthrough in the case in the past. Charles Crane/MDN According to members of the group, Rice would comment often, including on Knutsons birthday. Time working at a sporting goods store where he worked, does not require allocation of oil gas! 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Found on the cold case murder of 18-year-old Anita Knutson in days which... No longer a mystery production from one spacing unit to another department from as... Knutson Group she is convicted error, please contact the customer support at! Was enjoying school and always had a lot of friends around her as of Feb. 28: 22. A criminal record State champions list, as of Feb. 28: Add 22 more,. Did not get into details about what led them to Rice or a motive Feared Kidnapped in:. Also kept changing, he said that staffing issues and lack of resources interfered with achieving breakthrough! 28: Add 22 more states, plus Prep Nationals saw Knutson kept. Student in 2007 is no longer a mystery Dakota State law, the complaint said trial, was! Friends, family and people you Know where her family raises Hereford cattle an... Of town with her parents when Rice was charged with AA-felony intentional murder in the Ward County Jail charged... 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