Nichole Rice Acquitted in 2007 Murder of Roommate Anita Knutson

GRAND FORKS, N.D. — A Grand Forks County jury acquitted Nichole Rice of felony murder in the 2007 stabbing death of her roommate, Anita Knutson, bringing closure to a case that had remained unsolved for nearly 15 years. The verdict was reached after 5 hours and 25 minutes of deliberation on March 26, 2025.

Rice, 36, was charged in the death of Knutson, whose body was found on June 4, 2007, in their apartment in Minot. Friends noted the two had a troubled relationship. One friend recalled Rice saying, “One way or another I’m going to get you out of this house.”

The state’s case relied on Rice’s inconsistent statements to law enforcement and allegations from an ex-boyfriend who claimed she confessed to killing Knutson. However, defense attorney Rick Sand argued that the prosecution failed to provide direct forensic evidence linking Rice to the crime, and suggested that investigators overlooked other potential suspects during their inquiry.

Testimony during the week-long trial revealed that Knutson’s father discovered her body after she did not show up for work. Evidence indicated the murder was not motivated by theft, but by someone who had access to the home.

During the trial, Sgt. Carmen Asham, case agent, testified about the investigation, recounting Rice’s claim that she was at her family’s farm at the time of the murder. Yet, witnesses recalled Rice’s conflicting accounts about her whereabouts and alleged confessions at social gatherings.

The prosecution’s closing argument emphasized the importance of Rice’s inconsistent statements and the resulting circumstantial evidence. Prosecutor Tiffany Sorgen stressed that some of Rice’s behavior at the crime scene was concerning, stating, “She seemed more concerned about a missing iPod.”

In contrast, Sand critiqued the handling of the investigation and challenged the validity of the testimonies from those claiming Rice made confessions, asserting that the witnesses were swayed by sensational media coverage surrounding the case.

Despite the prosecution’s narrative of Rice as the only individual with motive and opportunity, the defense countered that the evidence fell short of confirming her guilt. “The killer is out there, and it needs to be solved, but it won’t be solved here because the work wasn’t done,” Sand asserted.

The jury ultimately found Rice not guilty, leading her to embrace family members in prayer outside the courthouse. With the trial concluded, questions arise about whether the cold case of Anita Knutson will be reopened as no other suspect has been charged.