Investigator

The prosecution argued, with all the evidence, there was only one possible conclusion.

The prosecution argued, with all the evidence, there was only one possible conclusion.

But defense attorneys would have something to say about that. They would argue that the investigation was a mess and the presence of a TV show made it even messier.

But defense attorneys would have something to say about that. They would argue that the investigation was a mess and the presence of a TV show made it even messier.

You're going to hear a lot of evidence in this case.

You're going to hear a lot of evidence in this case.

Right from the start, defense attorney Rick Sand made one thing perfectly clear. The evidence the state had presented against Nicole hadn't changed much over the years, although something did reignite the investigation in 2022, and it wasn't exactly evidence.

Right from the start, defense attorney Rick Sand made one thing perfectly clear. The evidence the state had presented against Nicole hadn't changed much over the years, although something did reignite the investigation in 2022, and it wasn't exactly evidence.

It was pressure from a TV show, a nationally syndicated program that came in, worked with the Minot Police Department, didn't dig up anything of substance, but put an incredible amount of pressure on the state's attorney's office, the police department, to bring charges in this case.

It was pressure from a TV show, a nationally syndicated program that came in, worked with the Minot Police Department, didn't dig up anything of substance, but put an incredible amount of pressure on the state's attorney's office, the police department, to bring charges in this case.

Piece by piece, the defense worked to take apart the state's case, like the theory that the killer had to have a key and didn't go through the window. The defense suggested that for months after the murder, detectives like Robert Barnard were saying the opposite.

Piece by piece, the defense worked to take apart the state's case, like the theory that the killer had to have a key and didn't go through the window. The defense suggested that for months after the murder, detectives like Robert Barnard were saying the opposite.

You speculated that someone exiting through that window had caught the curtain and the curtain rod.

You speculated that someone exiting through that window had caught the curtain and the curtain rod.

On their way out of the window.

On their way out of the window.

The defense suggested some witness accounts changed over the years, like that from Nicole's aunt, for instance, who testified about Nicole's hatred for Anita.

The defense suggested some witness accounts changed over the years, like that from Nicole's aunt, for instance, who testified about Nicole's hatred for Anita.

Do you recall saying you had some health issues and you have some memory loss?

Do you recall saying you had some health issues and you have some memory loss?