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NBC Dateline’s episode titled Murder in Minot revisits the disturbing case of the murder of Anita Knutson, an 18-year-old college student. On June 4, 2007, Anita was stabbed to death in her off-campus apartment in Minot, North Dakota. For years, the investigations had no leads and were only driven by speculations. Finally, after 15 years, her roommate, Nichole Rice, was arrested. However, she was acquitted of all charges in March 2025 after the jury found her not guilty.
The special Dateline episode with correspondent Blayne Alexander will air on May 2, 2025. The episode will have interviews from Anita’s family and friends, investigators, and follow the trial that generated a lot of interest among the public across America.
What happened to Anita Knutson?
Anita Knutson was an 18-year-old freshman at Minot State University in Minot, North Dakota. She was studying Elementary Education and wanted to become a teacher. She also worked at a local hotel and a mall.
In her second year of college, Anita lived in an off-campus apartment with her roommate Nichole Rice. She was very close with her family, as her sister Anna, who was 15 at the time of the murder, would attest. On Dateline, Anna recalled the date of the murder,
“My dad and I were at the North Dakota State Baseball tournament watching my brother play, and my dad, my mom or I hadn’t heard from Anita all weekend. It was so strange that she hadn’t answered any phone calls.”
Anita’s father, Gordon Knutson, was unable to reach her. As per NBC News, on June 4, 2007, he arrived at her apartment and found it locked. The building manager helped him open the room, where Anita was found dead. Anita was stabbed twice with a knife, which was left in the sink. The room appeared normal except for a sliced screen window. Her roommate was not present as she had gone home for the weekend.
The crime scene showed no signs of forced entry, and all her valuables were intact. The investigators suspected that the murder was probably committed by someone close to Anita. The police interviewed and investigated workers at the apartment complex and Anita’s college friends. Even after several years, they found no hard evidence.
In 2013, Anita’s brother committed suicide. Anna shared in her Dateline interview,
“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. After she was killed, he was never the same. He committed suicide on April 9, 2013.I just don’t think this person, or monster, knew the pain he would cause our family and friends.”
Nichole Rice is arrested
Post the re-examination of the evidence and reviewing the interviews, authorities found contradictions in the testimonials given by Nichole. There were several loopholes in her story about her whereabouts on the day. She had also allegedly confessed to a friend about murdering while in an intoxicated state. A case was built against Nichole.
15 years since Anita’s murder, North Dakota police arrested Nichole in March 2022. Nichole had since gotten married. She pleaded not guilty.
As per NBC News, after making the arrest, Minot Police Chief John Klug shared,
“Although most of the detectives who worked the original scene and investigation have retired, we have not forgotten about this case.”
He added,
“My heart goes out to the family. 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.”
The Trial of Nichole Rice
The trial was moved to Grand Forks County in January 2025 as the case had already attracted widespread media coverage. During the trial, prosecutors argued that Nichole and Anita often got into arguments over their apartment.
As per Oxygen, Nichole had exchanged threatening texts with Anita. Nichole, however, had claimed that their relationship was fine during the initial interviews.
William May, who dated Nichole, shared that at one of his house parties, Nichole was drunk and said that she committed the murder. But later, when she was sober, she denied it.
As per Court TV, Anita’s adoptive mother, Sharon Knutson, shared that Anita was scared of Nichole. When Nichole was home, Anita did not want Sharon to come to the apartment. They both had separate friends and did not have a good relationship. During Sharon’s last call with her two days before her death, she said Anita sounded normal. But she was not reachable after.
Nichole had allegedly confessed to the crime to another acquaintance who also took the stand to reveal her involvement in Anita’s murder. Kristina Holler, Nichole’s friend, said that in 2008, Nichole shared with her that she and Anita had gotten into an argument about an alarm clock, and she stabbed her to death. She also told Kristina that Anita was wearing a white robe.
As per Nichole’s defence team, she was at her parents’ farmhouse on the day Anita was murdered.
Despite all the allegations and statements, Nichole was found not guilty by the jury on March 26, 2025. As per KFYRTV, the defence applauded and cheered the verdict, and Nichole was seen emotional as she sank into her chair. Nichole declined to comment on the trial.
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