The Murder of Anita Knutson

Anita Knutson (18) was brutally murdered inside her own apartment on June 3rd, 2007. Anita was a freshman at Minot State University in Minot, North Dakota at the time of her death. She lived with a roommate near campus, but she always stayed in touch with her family. On June 4th, 2007, Anita’s father grew worried after learning she had not contacted any of her siblings or anyone else in her family for over a day. Knowing her roommate was out of town for the weekend, Anita’s father asked her apartment’s manager to let him into the apartment. The manager let him in, and when he entered the apartment, Anita’s father found a horrific scene. Anita was dead, she had been stabbed to death in her own bedroom.

It appears that Anita was killed by someone who had broken into her home. The apartment’s front door was locked, but the screen on Anita’s bedroom window had been slashed and pushed out of the frame—suggesting that the killer had entered through said window. Nothing was missing from the apartment. Police believe that Anita had been dead for about a day before she was found.

Police initially had many leads to follow. They investigated apartment maintenance workers, Anita’s friends from school, and various people who were seen in the area around the time of Anita’s murder. Unfortunately, nothing panned out. Since then, leads have been very scarce, and Anita’s case has gone cold.

Anita’s family members are devastated by her death, and by the fact that her murder still remains unsolved today. Anita’s brother unfortunately committed suicide in 2013—six years after her murder. Anita’s family members are still hoping to one day receive justice in the case. If you have any information that could help the investigation, please contact the Minot Police Department at (701) 852-0111.

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UPDATE (March 2022): 

An arrest has been made in Anita's case.

The Minot Police Department announced on March 16th that they arrested 34-year-old Nichole Rice in connection with the murder of Anita Knutson. Nichole was Anita's roommate at the time of the murder. While it was originally reported that Anita's roommate was out-of-town when Anita was killed, it appears that police have since found evidence that suggests otherwise. 

This case is currently unfolding--more updates are expected.