He could not immediately be reached for comment by Heavy. 4x>59P*@Et1 T)A Background: Anita was an 18 year old freshman at Minot State University in North Dakota, USA in 2007. 516 2nd Ave SW Minot, ND 58701; 701 852 1045; janet.anderson@minotnd.org; Facebook; Instagram; Eighteen year old Anita Knutson had just completed her freshman semester at Minot State University in North Dakota. It was her second marriage. We tried to actively investigate Anitas case for the past few years and finally, with the help from Cold Justice, we were able to move forward and regain focus. He said the mans physical characteristics were similar to a man reportedly seen running in the area of the crime scene on the morning of Sunday, June 3, 2007. Rice was belligerently drunk, and the man she dated told police she told him she did it. The man told police he tried to get her to admit it again when she was sober but she became angry at him. According to the affidavit: Nichole told police that she was at her familys farm by Velva when Anita was murdered. Minot Police Chief John Klug said Rice was never ruled out as a suspect and remained a person of interest during the investigation. P*@. A MOM:T Current Minot Police Chief John Klug was the arresting officer at the time and wrote in his report that Hall had said, Ive been in a lot of houses here.. 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. She wrote on Facebook she is a, Mom of 1 Married to my best friend. We would like to extend our gratitude to the Minot Police Department, particularly Captain Dale Plessas and Detectives Mikali Talbott and Carmen Asham, for the hard work they have put into this case., The prosecutors office added, As this case moves forward in the court system it will be handled by Assistant States Attorneys Leah Viste and Tiffany Sorgen. |T 3 Nichole Rice, Anita Knutson Murder Suspect: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know. According to North Dakota state law, the charge carries a potential sentence of life in prison without parole if she is convicted. P*@ T He told police he hadnt heard from his daughter in days, which was unusual, police said. Anita Knutson was an 18-year-old Minot State University student . By Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling | Feb. 28, 2023, 9:24 a.m. (ET) Nothing appeared to be missing from the apartment, but a slashed screen from Anitas bedroom window was found on the ground outside. The Minot Police Department said that Nichole Rice, 34, was in custody. She was a civilian employee at Minot Air Force Base at the time of her arrest, according to Klug. Cat mom. 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. Minot Police Chief John Klug said in a press conference following Rices arrest that Cold Justice, a television series featuring detectives who travel to small towns and investigate unsolved murders, had a hand in piecing together evidence that local law enforcement already had. 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. Rice was at work on Minot Air Force Base as a civilian when she was arrested without incident, Police Chief John Klug said at Wednesday evening news conference. Judge Richard Hagar has an off the record conversation with the defense and prosecution at the beginning of Nichole Erin Rices preliminary hearing. Fifteen years after the murder of an 18-year-old Minot woman, a suspect has been arrested. Welcome to Nichole Thomas and Dallas Rice's Wedding Website! Ultimately, youre looking back at at least dozens, probably over 100 statements that were taken., Klug told reporters, Really there hasnt been a lot of changes from the original investigation. MINOT, N.D. Since Nichole Rice pleaded not guilty to the murder of Anita Knutson, which sent the case to trial, Rice's pretrial conference has been rescheduled twice now.The Ward County Clerk's office says it's likely the pretrial conference has been pushed back repeatedly because of the amount of evidence being submitted by the state and the defense. It just took a little bit of refocusing and a lot of paying attention to the fine details. endobj It was just a matter of putting that information in front of new investigators and letting them do the work. Nichole Rice is a North Dakota woman arrested in the 2007 cold case murder of her roommate. I dont know that I would say she that she was ever cleared, Klug said. Fees. P*@ < A UOU T Although an arrest has been made, we still encourage anyone who may have any Knutson was found dead in her off-campus apartment in Minot on June 4, 2007, after her father called for a welfare check, according to police. 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. Minot police said Nichole Rice was in custody Wednesday and is believed to have been responsible for . Grace Kraemer 3/17/2022. See Photos. Klug did not go into detail about what job Rice had at the Air Force base and the Air Force hasnt commented about her employment status. The . Nichole Rice was a member of a Facebook memorial group for the victim, In Loving Memory of Anita Knutson, according to the pages administrator. @nicolerice761986. P*@ T* Anita Knutson, a student at Minot State University, was found stabbed to death in her apartment on June 4, 2007. They worked alongside Det. Nicole Rice. We identified 4 records related to "Nicole Thomas" in the state of North Dakota. Dog mom. She is associated with being involved in the murder of her roommate, Anita Knutson. 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. \FOy They read every statement, they looked at every piece of evidence, they looked at every report that was done and they refined that information down. Rice said she was at her familys farm in Velva at the time. After hearing the prosecutors and defenses arguments, District Judge Richard Hagar set Rices bail at $250,000 surety and $120,000 cash. Rice initially maintained she was at her parents' farm near Velva, North Dakota, the weekend of Knutson's murder, but subsequent statements from her and family members over the years were inconsistent, Talbott said. Rices defense argued that she was not a flight risk because of family ties and her lack of a criminal record. << /ProcSet [ /PDF /ImageB /ImageC /ImageI ] /XObject << /Im1 5 0 R >> >> Actions on S.Res.288 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): A resolution commemorating the tenth anniversary of the Souris River flood in Minot, North Dakota. Earlier this month, Rices ex-boyfriend told police that Rice got belligerently drunk in 2008 or 2009 and admitted to killing Knutson, according to court documents. As previously reported, the victim's father Gordon . P*@. A MOM:T 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. 2022 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Ringleader of my own circus.. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Talbott indicated that investigators ruled Talbott out as a suspect after acquiring video footage of him arriving in Minot at the train station the evening after the murder. The woman accused of murdering her roommate has pleaded not guilty. Nichole Rice, born Nichole Erin Thomas was charged with murder, a class AA felony in North Dakota. P m*@ T She had told investigators she was out of town with her parents when Rice was killed. MINOT, N.D. ( KXNET) Not guilty. The Ward County Jail says she posted $120,000 cash bond last evening. P*px>]Ip*@ On "Cold Justice," airing Saturdays at 8/7c on Oxygen, prosecutor Kelly Siegler and investigator Steve Spingola probed that mystery as they tackled the series' 100th case. An arrest has been made in the 15-year-old cold case murder of Anita Knutson in North Dakota. 14-year-old driver killed in train collision in northwestern North Dakota, Tax breaks for biofuels, grain bin construction among ag bills passed in North Dakota, In the 1920s, a lawman in North Dakota had a dark secret - He was Al Capones brother. A pocket knife with dried blood on it was found near the bedroom window, court documents said. . Copyright Minot Daily News | https://www.minotdailynews.com | 301 4th St SE, Minot, ND 58701 | 701-857-1900, We tried to actively investigate Anitas case for the past few years, and finally, with the help of Cold Justice, we were able to move forward and regain focus. The screen on the window in Knutsons bedroom had been cut open and was found face down on her bed with multiple stab wounds. 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. . It was being able to sit and dedicate some time, our officers to that, and let them do their work.. Her body was covered with a housecoat, police said. P*@ T* Rice, then Nichole Thomas, was 19. In June of 2007, after not hearing from Anita, Gordon Knutson grew worried about his oldest daughter. %PDF-1.3 According to Minot Police Chief John Klug, 34-year-old Nichole Rice was arrested at about 3:25 this (Wed) afternoon for the 2007 murder of Anita Knutson. Another person told investigators that Rice called her roommate derogatory terms, according to court documents. This time it was their brother Daniel. It added that she and her husband, have recently purchased 6 acres not land and are planning the future with (her daughter)! 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. The show follows former Harris County, Texas, prosecutor Kelly Siegler and former Las Vegas Metro Police crime scene investigator Yolanda McClary as they work on cold case murders. Finally, my heart goes out to the family. 2022-23 high school individual state champions list, as of Feb. 28: Add 22 more states, plus Prep Nationals. Rice, who also goes by Nikki Rice, studied cosmetology and has also worked as a hair stylist, according to her now-deleted Facebook page. The deceased individual was identified as Anita Knudson, 18 years of age. Living in an apartment with a roommate, Anita was working two jobs and excited about summer break. 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. No items, including valuables, were missing from the apartment, suggesting theft was not a motive, Talbott said. We located 2 sex offenders matching the name "Nicole Thomas" in the US. Rice, whose previous name was Nichole Thomas, was 19 at the time of the murder. Anita had a reputation for being kind, friendly and likable. P*@ T IE 11 is not supported. 1. Anitas car was parked outside and the apartment was locked. Nichole Rice to make initial appearance Thursday on charge in 2007 killing of Anita Knutson. Anita Knutson was an 18-year-old Minot State University student when she was killed. "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. Powered by. Anita Knutson was an 18-year-old Minot State University student when she was stabbed to death. Tx>U5hS*@Ut'9 T)A Update From Today: 34 year old Nichole Rice, Anita's former roommate, has been charged with the murder. People named Nicole Rice. Anita Knutson was an 18-year-old Minot State University student when she was killed. |jT Nichole Rice is a North Dakota woman arrested in the 2007 cold case murder of her roommate. Rice, who is now a 34-year-old married mother who works as a civilian employee at the Minot Air Force Base, was arrested on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 . stream x>1hR*@etGA T(A 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. Judge Richard Hagar set Nichole Rice's bond at $120,000 cash, or a $250,000 surety bond. Nichole Rice is a North Dakota woman arrested in the 2007 cold case murder of her roommate. So to me, this was a young girl with a great future that was taken away from her family way too soon. MINOT, N.D. (KVRR) The murder of an 18-year-old Minot State University student in 2007 is no longer a mystery. Klug added, I would to thank everyone, especially Detective Asham and Detective Talbot, for their hard work and their dedication to the investigation and Captain Dale Plessas for his efforts to assist in coordinating all of the moving parts over the past week. One person heard Rice tell Knutson, One way or another, Im going to get you out of this house, the complaint said. P(2P*@@QS&T 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. The sample was tested against a number of persons of interest, but Rice was the only individual who could not be excluded by investigators. Rice, previously known as Nichole Thomas, was not at the apartment when Knutson was found. Statements received from Nichole were inconsistent and contradicted each other. The Minot Police Department said that Nichole Rice, 34, was . ND woman pleads not guilty to killing roommate in 2007MINOT (AP) A woman accused of fatally stabbing her roommate 15 years ago in Minot pleaded not guilty Thursday after a judge determined there was sufficient evidence to send her to trial on felony murder.Nichole Rice, 34, appeared in Ward County District Court in connection with the 2007 death of 18-year-old Anita Knutson. Mikali Talbott . 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. Rice, then Nichole Thomas, was 19. Fugitive in $18 million COVID fraud scheme extradited to U.S. Ex-Georgia star Jalen Carter was racing in deadly crash, arrest warrants allege, Closing arguments begin in double murder trial of Alex Murdaugh, Where things stand in the Alex Murdaugh double murder trial. Prosecutors suspect Knutson was killed either June 2 or June 3, 2007, according to the complaint. Judge Richard Hagar set Rice's bond at $120,000 cash or $250,000 for a surety bond. |T MINOT (AP) A woman accused of fatally stabbing her roommate 15 years ago in Minot pleaded not guilty Thursday after a judge determined there was sufficient evidence to send her to trial on felony murder. P*@ T The checks were for the amounts of $51.19 and $29.82 respectively. Talbotts testimony highlighted various facts and evidence from the scene that indicate the killer had access to Knutsons apartment in Minot, as well as a number of discrepancies in Rices statements and alibi for the night of the murder. 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. Includes Address (21) Phone (5) Email (3) See Results. Anita Knutson Photo: Minot Police Department. "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," the complaint said. During a party with his friends, Knutsons murder came up, the tipster said. A message left for Rice's attorney, Philip Becher, was not returned Thursday. Rice was Anita's roommate at the time of her murder. 3,884 court search results for people named "Nicole Thomas" in the United States. Select this result to view Dallas Rice's phone number, address, and more. MINOT, N.D. (KMOT) - Nichole Rice, the woman charged with murder in the 2007 killing of Anita Knutson in Minot, has pleaded not guilty. Its always a friendly competition, the page says. Log In. Police announcing Wednesday afternoon the arrest of Anita Knutson's . Dallas is related to Rory William Rice and Sandra Marie Rice as well as 3 additional people. her Editors Note: This article was updated to include information about Rices first court appearance. 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