Bond set for woman charged in North Dakota cold case murder

March 18, 2022

MINOT, N.D. – A Minot woman has been charged with murder in the stabbing death of her roommate more than a decade ago, with authorities citing shifting statements from the woman and her parents as they pursued a cold-case investigation.

Thirty-four-year-old Nichole Rice made her initial court appearance Thursday afternoon in Ward County. Judge Richard Hagar set Rice’s bond at $120,000 cash or a $250,000 surety bond.

Rice is charged with the stabbing death of 18-year-old Anita Knutson, whose body was found in their apartment on June 4, 2007.

Minot Police Chief John Klug said they had received numerous tips over the years in the cold case murder investigation, but until recently they didn’t have enough evidence to arrest her.