In a verdict that stuns courtroom observers and reignites debate over a nearly two-decade-old murder case, Nichole Rice is found not guilty of murdering her former roommate, Anita Knutson, in a Minot, North Dakota apartment in June 2007. The verdict, delivered after five hours of jury deliberation, draws audible gasps in the packed courtroom.
Rice, now 36, had been charged in 2022 with the brutal stabbing of 18-year-old Knutson, her roommate at the time. Knutson, a freshman at Minot State University, was found dead in her bedroom, stabbed multiple times, with her body discovered by her father after she failed to respond to calls. The door to her room was locked, and her window screen had been slashed—details that baffled investigators for years.
For over 15 years, the case remained cold until a renewed investigation led to Rice’s arrest. Minot police, working alongside state investigators, claimed that new forensic evidence and re-evaluated witness statements pointed conclusively to Rice as the killer. Prosecutors alleged Rice had both motive and opportunity, citing prior tensions between the two young women.
But the defense, led by attorney Steven Mottinger, delivered a powerful counterpunch during the trial. A pivotal moment came when a former FBI agent turned private investigator testified on behalf of the defense. The expert sharply criticized law enforcement for mishandling the original investigation and failing to follow up on other credible suspects, including a man who had allegedly confessed to the murder in front of others but was never pursued.
Rice’s legal team painted a picture of police tunnel vision, claiming the prosecution had built its case around circumstantial evidence and ignored leads that could have exonerated Rice from the beginning. They also pointed out that DNA evidence found at the crime scene did not match Rice and that no physical evidence directly connected her to the murder.
The jury’s decision to acquit Rice leaves many with unanswered questions, particularly the Knutson family, who had waited nearly two decades for justice. After the verdict, Anita Knutson’s relatives appeared visibly emotional but declined to speak to the media.
Rice, who had remained mostly silent throughout the trial, wept as the verdict was read and hugged members of her defense team. In a brief statement outside the courthouse, she said she was “thankful to the jury for seeing the truth” and asked for privacy as she begins to “rebuild her life.”
The case, often cited as one of North Dakota’s most haunting cold cases, has drawn attention over the years from true crime enthusiasts and national media. The renewed investigation and charges brought in 2022 were seen by many as long-overdue progress. However, the verdict now leaves the case technically unsolved once again, and police have not announced any intention to reopen the investigation or pursue alternative suspects.
Legal analysts note that the verdict is a significant setback for the prosecution, which relied heavily on witness memories, old police reports, and speculative motive. The trial also highlights the challenges of prosecuting cold cases, especially when forensic evidence is limited or inconclusive.
As of now, no one has been held accountable for Anita Knutson’s death. While Nichole Rice walks free, the Knutson family—and the Minot community—remain without closure.
