Nichole Klich

Friends and family knew Nichole “Nikki” Klich as a funny, honest, and dedicated parent with a contagious smile and laugh. The 41-year-old White/Caucasian female loved listening to Nirvana, spending time with her family, and bragging about her only child, Rhianna. She was a friendly and compassionate woman who worked at Country View Estates in her hometown of Huron, South Dakota, where she was deeply missed by the residents and staff she cared for.

On the morning of May 9, 2024, Nichole Klich was found shot to death in her home. The shooting occurred at an apartment in the area of 10th Street and Minnesota Avenue S.W. As law enforcement responded to the scene, they asked residents of the Colonial Apartments to voluntarily evacuate for several hours while they secured the area and began their investigation.

The investigation quickly led to the arrest of a 15-year-old male suspect, who was charged with first-degree murder. About a month later, in June 2024, a second suspect, a 15-year-old female, was also arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with Klich’s death. Authorities stated that the two teens knew each other and were both involved in the killing. Due to their ages, both cases began in juvenile court, where they were held in the Beadle County Juvenile Detention Center.

The two teenagers were later identified as Michael Lee and Nichole Klich's 15-year-old daughter, Rhianna Caban. Prosecutors sought to transfer both cases to adult court, and the prosecution was moved from Beadle County to Brookings County because of a potential conflict of interest with the local state's attorney. The prosecutor handling the case stated that the investigation revealed "the coordination and planning by the two juveniles to carry out this heinous murder."

In October 2024, both Michael Lee and Rhianna Caban pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree murder. In December 2024, a judge sentenced both teenagers to 25 years in prison for the murder of Nichole Klich.