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Father Faces Murder Charges in Deaths of Three Young Children

Posted on: Thursday, 22 December 2005, 12:00 CST

By Terry Smith, The Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho,, The Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho,

Dec. 22--TWIN FALLS -- A Twin Falls man has been arrested and charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his children.

Jim Junior Nice, 33, was taken into custody Wednesday morning from his home at 1831 Fourth Ave. E., where police said they found the children's bodies.

Prosecuting Attorney Grant Loebs said Nice was to be arraigned today. He was being held without bond Wednesday evening in the Twin Falls County Jail. According to the Sheriff's Office, Nice was examined at Magic Valley Regional Medical Center before being jailed.

Authorities declined to release information about how the children died, nor would they release the children's names.

According to 5th District Court records from divorce proceedings between Nice and his former wife, Leslie Raquel Nice, of Hagerman, the children were 6-year-old twins, Justin and Spencer Nice, and 2-year-old Raquel Nice.

The couple lost another child, 22-month-old Ian Nice, who drowned in a small ditch near Harmon Park in May 2004. Following the drowning, the other three children were temporarily placed in the custody of Leslie Nice's parents, Gordon and Roberta Olsen, of Hagerman, according to court records,

Police Chief Jim Munn said officers were sent to the Nice residence at 8:37 a.m. "to answer a radio call regarding the welfare of the residents."

Later Wednesday morning, an area about one-half block in size was cordoned off with yellow police ribbon while Twin Falls detectives, Idaho State Police investigators and officers from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms worked the scene.

Curious onlookers and traffic were prohibited from entering Fourth Avenue East between Madronna and Lenore streets.

A woman staying at an apartment complex across the street from the crime scene told The Times-News that emergency vehicles arrived at the home shortly after a loud noise was heard.

"I heard what sounded like a car crash and a little bit later the ambulances arrived," Sonia Morales said.

In the front yard of the Nice residence, a weeping willow tree supported a tree house. Two tricycles and a child's bike stood in front of a garage that sported a basketball hoop.

The medium-size older home, grayish-white in color, sits among a few trees some 75 feet away from the street.

Munn described the incident "as a tragic event" for the community.

"Moreover, this continues to be a complex investigation and will take time to complete," Munn said. "Rest assured that all of our resources are being utilized to ensure that it is thoroughly and professionally investigated."

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Copyright (c) 2005, The Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho,

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Source: The Times-News

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