GRAND FORKS, N.D. — A recent jury verdict acquitted a North Dakota woman of murder in the stabbing death of her roommate, a case that dates back to 2007.
After more than five hours of deliberation, jurors in the Grand Forks trial declared Nichole Rice not guilty of the murder of Anita Knutson. The courtroom was filled with emotion as Rice’s family and friends embraced her upon the announcement of the verdict, with Rice visibly moved as the judge restored order.
Nichole Rice, now 37 years old, had faced charges of felony murder in connection with the death of Knutson, an 18-year-old student at Minot State University. Knutson was discovered deceased in the apartment she shared with Rice, found face down in her bed with two stab wounds to the chest.
Although investigators identified Rice as a person of interest early in the investigation, she was not arrested until March 2022 due to insufficient evidence to support the charges at that time. This high-profile case has drawn significant public interest over the years, culminating in the recent courtroom drama.
