Investigator

It was late March 2025, but winter still had a grip on Grand Forks, North Dakota. That's where Nicole Thomas, now Nicole Rice, was facing possible life in prison for the murder of Anita Knutson. It had been three years since her arrest. Anita's little sister, Anna, was now 32 and bracing for the horror of, once again, hearing the details of her sister's murder.

It was late March 2025, but winter still had a grip on Grand Forks, North Dakota. That's where Nicole Thomas, now Nicole Rice, was facing possible life in prison for the murder of Anita Knutson. It had been three years since her arrest. Anita's little sister, Anna, was now 32 and bracing for the horror of, once again, hearing the details of her sister's murder.

Prosecutor Tiffany Sorgen opened on a poetic note.

Prosecutor Tiffany Sorgen opened on a poetic note.

She laid out the prosecution's theory.

She laid out the prosecution's theory.

To get a conviction, the prosecutors had to convince the jury that only Nicole Rice had the motive and the opportunity to kill Anita. First, they took the jury back to that terrible day by calling Anita's 80-year-old mother, Sharon, to the stand.

To get a conviction, the prosecutors had to convince the jury that only Nicole Rice had the motive and the opportunity to kill Anita. First, they took the jury back to that terrible day by calling Anita's 80-year-old mother, Sharon, to the stand.

Oh, all the time, it seemed like. Daily almost. Sharon remembered how she couldn't get Anita on the phone, how she asked her husband to go check on her.

Oh, all the time, it seemed like. Daily almost. Sharon remembered how she couldn't get Anita on the phone, how she asked her husband to go check on her.

Anita's 90-year-old father, Gordon, relived that moment on the stand.

Anita's 90-year-old father, Gordon, relived that moment on the stand.

Was it hard for you to watch?

Was it hard for you to watch?

Prosecutors then turned to an essential question. Did the killer get in and out of that apartment with a key or through that slashed screen? They showed the jury an experiment conducted about a week after the murder. Minot Police made an identical cut in a new screen and then tried to climb through it without tearing it further.

Prosecutors then turned to an essential question. Did the killer get in and out of that apartment with a key or through that slashed screen? They showed the jury an experiment conducted about a week after the murder. Minot Police made an identical cut in a new screen and then tried to climb through it without tearing it further.

The state suggested that cut screen was staged, a killer's attempt at misdirection, and that the killer got in and out through the door with a key. Laura Knapp, the apartment manager, testified the door was locked when she let Anita's dad inside.

The state suggested that cut screen was staged, a killer's attempt at misdirection, and that the killer got in and out through the door with a key. Laura Knapp, the apartment manager, testified the door was locked when she let Anita's dad inside.

Prosecutors told the jury that only four people had keys. Anita, the apartment manager, Marty the maintenance man, and Nicole. Throughout the trial, there was an elephant in the courtroom, the Cold Justice TV show. The prosecution had to address it because the defense certainly would.

Prosecutors told the jury that only four people had keys. Anita, the apartment manager, Marty the maintenance man, and Nicole. Throughout the trial, there was an elephant in the courtroom, the Cold Justice TV show. The prosecution had to address it because the defense certainly would.