Kriti Mehrotra
It was on June 4, 2007, when 18-year-old Anita Knutson was found stabbed to death in the Minot, North Dakota, apartment she shared with then-19-year-old Velva native Nichole Thomas. However, as profiled in NBC’s ‘Dateline: Murder in Minot,’ it took 15 years for officials to even make an arrest in connection with this ordeal, only for it to ultimately culminate in an acquittal. Nichole was actually the one arrested on March 16, 2022, yet her 2025 trial concluded with her family finally getting a much-needed sense of peace and closure since she was found not guilty.
Nichole Rice Has Always Had the Unwavering Support of Her Immediate Family
Nichole was born to Gay and Kevin Thomas, who raised her with utmost love and care on their family farm in Velva. Per reports, that’s where she always preferred to spend most of her free time, even as she grew into a young adult. Therefore, it wasn’t surprising when she claimed she was there at the time of Anita’s killing in June 2007. Yet, upon her arrest while working as a civilian at the Minot Air Force Base, investigators uncovered several inconsistencies in her statements over the years, including her strange behavior following the incident. Consequently, suspicion was largely placed on Nichole as she was soon also indicted on the charge of Class AA murder. Following that, her bond was set at $120,000, whereas her security bail was $250,000.
Her father, Kevin, paid the former via a cheque to have her be released under the condition that she not commit any other crime or flee while awaiting trial, which she fully adhered to. By this point, she had already found the love of her life in Dallas Rice, with whom she resided in a cozy home in Minot itself, right alongside her two children from different relationships. As per reports, following Anita’s 2007 murder, there was a brief period during which Nichole relocated to New Mexico so as to move on from the past, but she soon returned to be closer to loved ones. It was then that she tied the knot with her first husband in 2010, changing her name to Nichole Bakken, yet their union sadly didn’t work out as they separated and later divorced in March 2013. Dallas allegedly came into her life not long after, leading to them falling head over heels before ultimately getting married in a beautifully intimate ceremony on/around December 11, 2021.
Some of Nichole Rice’s Family Members Testified Against Her
Although Nichole shares a great bond with her immediate family, things have been quite hot and cold with her extended loved ones after worries of her possible involvement in Anita’s murder arose. In fact, it drove a big wedge in the family, and her once-beloved aunt and uncle, Brenda and Mark Glinz, also testified against her (from the State’s side) during her homicide trial in early 2025. According to the former’s testimony, she and her niece were so close at one point in time that she alone helped her move back to Minot, North Dakota, from New Mexico in a road trip.
It was during this car ride that Nichole allegedly made some extremely incriminating statements about Anita’s murder, Brenda testified, telling details only the killer would know. She claimed her niece told her that the 18-year-old had been raped and stabbed before her “alleged killer” washed off the murder weapon – a knife – in a bowl left behind in the bathroom sink. Then, she further alleged that the then-young woman also seemed more upset about her missing iPod rather than the death of her roommate, even going as far as to refer to the latter as a “f**king c**t” and “f**king b***h.”
As per Brenda’s claims, Nichole also indicated that while she believed Anita deserved to die, she thought she looked peaceful upon passing away, wearing only her bathrobe. Then, her husband, Mark Glinz, took to the stands to corroborate most of these details second-hand before adding that their niece’s behavior had changed a lot following the 2007 incident. He then testified that he had seen Nichole and Gay near a gas station in Velva on June 3, but then saw them driving towards Minot.
Nichole Rice’s Family is Moving On With Their Lives Today
After all the evidence was presented to the jury, it didn’t take them long to find Nichole Thomas Rice not guilty of the murder charge against her, meaning she was acquitted on March 26, 2025. As this verdict was read and she was set free to return to her normal life alongside her loved ones in Minot, her entire family erupted in loud hoots and cheers across the courtroom. Since then, it appears as if she, Dallas, and their little family have been making the most of their time together. Meanwhile, Dallas continues to serve as the proud Founder-CEO of Addicted Guide Service LLC, a fishing tour service out of Van Hook Township.
As for Brenda and Mark, from what we can tell, they no longer have a close relationship with Nichole or the Thomas family, yet they are still family, so hopefully, things can improve between them over time. Coming to their personal standing, they seem to be based in Bottineau, North Dakota, where they are surrounded by their kids and their respective growing families. It’s also imperative to note that while she serves as a Stylist and Administrative Assistant for their Glinz Farms & Agriculture Arial, he serves as its primary founder and co-owner. The couple also has another company under their name, Mark & Brenda L. Glinz Partnership LLLP, which focuses on trusts, funds, and similar personal financial entities.
Read More: Sharon and Gordon Knutson: Where Are Anita Knutson’s Adoptive Parents Now?
