The shocking case of a grandmother who embarked on a deadly crime spree, murdering her husband before killing a stranger to assume her identity, captivated America in 2018. Lois Ann Riess, swiftly dubbed the "Killer Grandma" by media, vanished from her Minnesota home, sparking a nationwide manhunt that ended in a Texas restaurant.
A Farmhouse Murder and a Fugitive's Flight
In March 2018, police arrived at the Riess farmhouse in Minnesota to find a grim scene. David Riess, 54, lay dead with multiple gunshot wounds. His wife Lois was gone, along with the couple's car and thousands of dollars drained from his bank accounts. Investigators immediately named Lois as the prime suspect, with court records later revealing she had forged her husband's signature to fund her escape.
Her flight was driven by a severe gambling addiction and financial ruin. She headed south, eventually arriving in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, where her plan took an even more sinister turn.
A Chilling Friendship and a Stolen Identity
In Florida, Riess deliberately sought out Pamela Hutchinson, a 59-year-old woman who bore a striking resemblance to her in age, build, and hairstyle. Prosecutors stated Riess targeted Hutchinson solely to steal her identity. The two were seen socialising, laughing, and drinking in bars, with Hutchinson completely unaware her new friend was a fugitive accused of murder.
Days later, Hutchinson was shot dead inside her holiday condo. Her body was discovered a week later by maintenance workers investigating a foul smell. By then, Riess had taken Hutchinson's ID, credit cards, and car, using them to travel across state lines while posing as her victim.
The Manhunt Ends and a Life Sentence Begins
Surveillance footage captured Riess gambling, shopping, and checking into hotels as Pamela Hutchinson, prompting an intensified search. Her run finally ended on April 19, 2018, when US Marshals arrested her at a restaurant in South Padre Island, Texas, following a tip from the public. Two handguns were recovered from her motel room.
Riess eventually pleaded guilty to both murders. In Florida, she admitted to killing Hutchinson and stealing her identity, receiving a life sentence without parole. Extradited to Minnesota, she pleaded guilty to murdering her husband David and was given a second life sentence.
In court, her children delivered devastating impact statements. Her daughter Breanna described cycling between "anger, regret and sadness," while her son Billy told his mother, "You just left. We had nobody." In a recent HBO documentary, Riess claimed a "psychotic break" caused by gambling and mental health struggles, a claim met with scepticism by those who worked on the case.
