Minot State University Student Murdered

Minot State University student was found to have been murdered over the weekend! What an outrage! You think you're safe in a town like Minot, North Dakota. When my family and I first moved here, there had only been about 9 murders in Minot over a period of years. Since 2002, though, there has been between 1-3 per year with the latest victim being only 18-years-old and a student at Minot State University. Although most of these crimes are made by those known by the victim, Minot Police are theorizing that the intruder was unknown to Ms. Knutson. Another woman had been murdered in May 2007 leaving behind her two young children as well as family and friends.

According to the Minot Daily News on Wednesday, June 6, "A Minot woman was found murdered early Monday evening. The victim, Anita Knutson, 18, was found dead in her bedroom at her 4^th Street Northwest apartment. Knutson's body was found by her father and the landlady of the apartment. The incident was reported to the Minot Police Department at 5:12 p.m. According to Lt. Dan Strandberg of the Minot P.D., police believe the murder took place sometime Sunday. Knutson was originally from the Butte area, graduated from Velva High School in 2006, and was currently a student at Minot State University." Police and investigators do not know the method of the intruder's entry but have determined that it was a break-in and have not commented on a weapon or cause of death. The Minot Police Department is asking anyone who had contact with this young woman over the weekend or who many have any information regarding the incident to call them at 701-852-0111.

Minot State University's President David Fuller is out of the country at this time; however both he and North Dakota's University System chancellor, Eddie Dunn, have been made aware of the situation. Although attempts are being made to calm the MSU student body and staff, it is evident the need to be deliberate in maintaining your personal security and being more aware of your surroundings. Administrators in charge of residence halls and residence camps are meeting with individuals to emphasize the importance of security.

Sadly, here is another young woman that will not make an impact on our future because hers was cut short. What a horrible find for her father - a parent's worst nightmare. Whether it comes from a car accident or other accidental death parents, relatives, and friends suffer the loss of their loved one that will cross a lifetime. But, in the case of death at the hands of another, where evil was done to your child, the unrest of this incomprehensible act sears deeply into a parent's soul. This must reach the absolute depths of a parent's heart. The Knutson's raised their beautiful child to the point of adulthood only to have it snatched away by some evil incarnate. Now they must live with knowing there was no way to protect and defend her; something that most parents fear most. To Anita's parents, my deepest sorrow, thoughts, and prayers for you over these horrible days. Peace be with Anita Knutson. Hell's fury, follow the murderer.

Dan Feldner, Staff Writer, "MSU student mrudered." Minot Daily News. URL: (http://www.minotdailynews.com/News/articles.asp?articleID=11668)