Investigator
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Anita's family felt the state's attorneys had a chance to set things right, but it would take years for Anita's case to finally see a jury. And when it did, it would be an all-out fight.
Anita's family felt the state's attorneys had a chance to set things right, but it would take years for Anita's case to finally see a jury. And when it did, it would be an all-out fight.
It was pressure from a TV show. They put an incredible amount of pressure to bring charges in this case.
It was pressure from a TV show. They put an incredible amount of pressure to bring charges in this case.
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.
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.
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.