Shivangi Sinha
In June 2007, Anita Knutson’s father went to her apartment in Minot, North Dakota, after not hearing from her for several days. There, he discovered her body in the bedroom. Although police followed multiple leads, the case remained unsolved until 2022, when they arrested Nichole Rice, Anita’s former roommate. Authorities stated that Rice had provided inconsistent statements since the initial investigation and claimed they had additional evidence linking her to the crime. NBC’s ‘Dateline: Murder in Minot’ explores the case in detail, including the defense presented by Nichole and the events that unfolded during the trial.
Nichole Rice Claimed She Wasn’t in the Apartment When Anita Knutson Was Killed
In June 2007, Nichole Erin Thomas and Anita Knutson were living together in a two-bedroom apartment in Minot, North Dakota. Anita was attending Minot State University, while Nichole worked as a sales agent at a local call center. During the first weekend of June, Nichole claimed she was going to her parents’ farm, about 20 miles away from their shared apartment. However, on the morning of June 4, 2007, Anita’s father, Gordon Knutson, discovered her body in the apartment. She had been fatally stabbed, and a knife was found near the bathroom sink. At the time, police had little physical evidence to definitively point to a suspect.
Rice was also questioned by police at the time, as reports indicated that she and Anita were not on the best of terms as roommates. However, no evidence directly connected her to the crime, and she eventually moved to New Mexico. She continued with her life and married on June 2, 2010, changing her name to Nichole Bakken. Later, she encountered legal issues. In early 2012, she pleaded guilty to two counts of writing checks without sufficient funds. She was sentenced to six months of unsupervised probation and ordered to pay court fees and fines. However, when she failed to comply, a bench warrant was issued for her arrest in May 2012.
In December 2012, she was charged with misdemeanor bail jumping, and by early 2013, she pleaded guilty to the offense. As a result, she was sentenced to 30 hours of community service, one year of unsupervised probation, and was ordered to pay court fees and fines. By March 2013, her marriage had ended. Eventually, she moved on and found love again with Dallas Rice. The couple married on December 11, 2021, and later settled in Minot, North Dakota. She secured a civilian job at the Air Force Base and appeared to be well-adjusted and thriving in her new life.
Nichole Rice’s Ex-Boyfriend Alleged That She Had Confessed to the Murder
On March 16, 2022, Nichole Rice was arrested at her workplace on charges related to the murder of Anita Knutson. The case had remained unsolved for years, but it resurfaced in the public eye when it was featured on the TV series ‘Cold Justice.’ In 2021, investigators from the series collaborated with law enforcement, contributing resources and helping uncover new findings. Authorities stated that these efforts led to critical breakthroughs. The renewed investigation focused on alleged inconsistencies in Rice’s original statements. Additionally, her former boyfriend, William May, claimed that she had confessed to the murder sometime between 2008 and 2009 while she was drunk. He had alleged that he tried to make her admit to it again when she was sober, but she had not done so.
Another acquaintance of Nichole’s reportedly told investigators that they overheard her telling Anita, “One way or another, I’m going to get you out of this house,” shortly before the murder. Nichole was charged with Class AA felony murder, but on March 18, 2022, she was released after her father posted a $120,000 cash bond. Her preliminary hearing began in September 2022, but due to numerous motions and delays, the trial was pushed to July 2024. However, both the prosecution and the defense requested a change of venue to ensure an impartial jury, citing concerns about local bias. The trial was subsequently moved to Grand Forks County in January 2025.
Following Her Acquittal, Nichole Rice is a Free Woman Today
The case primarily relied on witness testimonies rather than physical evidence. The prosecution alleged that Nichole Rice had killed Anita Knutson in a fit of rage because the latter’s alarm clock kept going off. The defense team argued that Nichole was being scapegoated due to renewed media attention and not because of any solid proof. Ultimately, in March 2025, she was found not guilty, and the charges against her were dismissed. Following the verdict, a celebration erupted in the courthouse, which drew criticism for its insensitivity toward the victim’s family. In response, Nichole’s legal team released a statement explaining that they had worked on the case for three years and were overwhelmed with emotion.
The team acknowledged the inappropriate nature of the celebration and apologized for the lack of empathy shown to the Knutson family. Since her acquittal, Nichole Rice has been leading a life away from the limelight, and understandably so. However, from what we can tell, she continues to reside in Minot, North Dakota, surrounded by her loved ones, who have stood beside her like a rock, through it all. Now that her legal ordeal has ended, Nichole is likely making up for the peace and calm she lost over the past few years. Thus, as of writing, she is seemingly spending quality time with her biggest support, her husband Dallas, whose belief in her innocence never wavered.
Read More: Where is Nichole Rice’s Family Now?
