MINOT, ND – The long-unsolved murder of an 18-year-old college student has brought a former roommate to trial years after a television show renewed interest in the case. Anita Knutson, a student at Minot State University, was found fatally stabbed in her off-campus apartment on June 3, 2007. For nearly 15 years, the investigation seemed to stall until a turn of events in March 2022 led to the arrest of Nichole Rice, who shared the apartment with Knutson at the time.
Rice, 37, has been charged with Knutson’s murder and pleaded not guilty. Her trial began on March 18, with the prosecution arguing that she fatally attacked Knutson during an argument. This comes after a revival of attention spurred by the TV show “Cold Justice,” which prompted a fresh look into the case, leading to Rice’s arrest.
As the trial progresses, the defense contends that the prosecution lacks concrete evidence to prove Rice’s involvement. Rice’s attorney, Rick Sand, pointed to potential influence from the TV show as a factor behind his client’s arrest. He challenged the credibility of the evidence, arguing that disagreements over trivial matters like an alarm clock are insufficient motives for murder.
Key testimony in the courtroom included claims by Rice’s former friends. Kristina Holler testified that Rice had confessed to the murder, describing a heated argument over an alarm clock’s incessant ringing. Similarly, William May, who dated Rice for a brief period, recounted a confession he said he heard at a party in 2008. He reported Rice admitting to the crime but later claiming she had no recollection of the confession.
Further complicating the case, forensic evidence from the murder scene revealed multiple DNA profiles on the knife used in the stabbing, making it difficult to definitively identify the perpetrator through the forensic data alone.
Michelle Moore, a classmate of the roommates, offered a different perspective during her testimony, acknowledging the tensions between Knutson and Rice but expressing doubt about Rice’s guilt.
Adding to the intricate web of the case, Marty Annell, a former maintenance worker for the apartment complex and once a person of interest, died by suicide in 2009. His sister testified that personal challenges, including relationship issues, surrounded his decision, which cast further uncertainty over his involvement.
As the trial continues, the jury must navigate through conflicting testimonies and sparse physical evidence to determine Rice’s fate in a case that has haunted the community for nearly two decades.