A family finally has a sense of peace after a woman was arrested for murdering her former college roommate 14 years ago.
Nichole Rice was taken into custody on Monday for the gruesome murder of Anita Knutson, who was found stabbed to death on June 4th, 2007, in an off-campus apartment that she shared with Rice in Minot, North Dakota. Knutson was located by her father and two maintenance workers, who entered the home after the 18-year-old failed to contact her family all weekend.
Rice, now 34, previously told law enforcement that she was away at her parent’s home at the time of the murder. However, statements by her family members contradicted Rice’s story. She previously admitted to killing Knutson at a party in 2008 or 2009 after becoming drunk. Before the murder, a friend reportedly heard Rice tell Knutson, “One way or another, I’m going to get you out of this house.”
Law enforcement says that they’ve received numerous tips pointing to Rice as the killer over the years. However, the evidence was not strong enough.
“Although most of the detectives who worked the original scene and investigation have retired, we have not forgotten about this case,” Minot Police Chief John Klug stated.
In January, Knutson’s sister, Anna, told the Daily Beast that rumors had always swirled about Rice being the killer, but she was never named a suspect. Though no motive has been announced, Anna says the two roommates did not seem to get along very well.
Rice has been charged with one count of murder. She was released on bond after her father, Kevin Thomas, paid $120,000 cash to bail her out.
