Lois Riess | Biography

• By Stone Palmer
• Original : December 24, 2024

Who is Lois Riess?

Lois Riess is infamously known as the "Killer Grandma," whose seemingly ordinary life in Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, took a dark turn resulting in two shocking murders. Born in 1962 in Rochester, Minnesota, she married David Riess at the young age of 20. Together, they built a life with three children, and Lois operated a daycare while David started a wax worm farm. Despite their community presence, Lois struggled with a gambling addiction, which led to significant family turmoil and financial strain. This complicated backdrop set the stage for the tragic events that unfolded in 2018.

Riess’s life spiraled when she murdered her husband, David, during a heated argument on March 11, 2018. After killing him with a .22 handgun, Lois attempted to cover up her crime by stealing money from his business account. Subsequently, she fled to Florida, where she murdered 59-year-old Pamela Hutchinson in a chilling case of mistaken identity while trying to assume Hutchinson’s life for financial gain. These harrowing actions culminated in her being apprehended and ultimately serving life sentences for both murders—one in Minnesota and another in Florida. Today, she remains incarcerated and has recently shared her unsettling story in the documentary "I’m Not a Monster."

Early Life and Education

Lois Riess was born in 1962 in Rochester, Minnesota, where she spent her formative years. Growing up in a serene environment, she lived a relatively typical childhood characterized by community ties and familial connections. At the young age of 20, Lois married David Riess, a Navy service member who was stationed in San Diego. The couple soon returned to Minnesota after David completed his military duties, settling in their hometown of Rochester. They embarked on the journey of parenthood together, welcoming three children into their family, which solidified their connection to the local community.

In 2005, Lois and David relocated to Blooming Prairie, approximately 40 miles from Rochester. There, Lois took on the role of a homemaker with a thriving daycare business while David established a wax worm farm. Their life appeared content and fulfilled as they enjoyed communal activities, including dining at the local Servicemen’s Club. However, beneath this facade of normalcy lay mounting personal challenges, including Lois's struggle with gambling addiction and issues of financial mismanagement. These underlying tensions would eventually contribute to the tragic events that unfolded in her life.

Marriage and Family Life

Lois Riess was born in 1962 in Rochester, Minnesota, where her life initially seemed typical of an American family. At just 20 years old, she married David Riess, a Navy service member. The couple returned to their hometown after David's military service, where they welcomed three children into their family. Throughout their marriage, Lois took steps to contribute economically, operating a daycare from their home while David pursued entrepreneurship, opening a wax worm farm. They were known in their community, frequently spotted together at local establishments, which painted a picture of a loving couple immersed in family life.

However, beneath the surface of their seemingly joyful family life, there were significant struggles. Their son Braden disclosed that Lois battled a gambling addiction, which likely strained their relationship. Compounding their issues, Lois faced legal trouble for allegedly stealing from her disabled sister in 2015, highlighting troubling financial decisions and ethical judgment. Despite these challenges, the couple's outward appearance remained that of a stable family until tragedy struck in March 2018, marking a dramatic shift from the life they once knew.

Crimes and Murders

Lois Riess, a Minnesota native, led a seemingly normal life filled with familial devotion and community involvement until a tragic turn of events unraveled her hidden darkness. Born in 1962 in Rochester, she married David Riess and built a life as a grandmother in Blooming Prairie. However, beneath the surface of caring for her family, she battled a gambling addiction and was implicated in a theft case involving her disabled sister. These issues, combined with alleged experiences of abuse in her marriage, culminated in a moment of violence that would transform her life forever, leading to her husband David's shocking murder in March 2018, where she shot him twice in the heart during a heated argument.

Following the murder of her husband, Lois Riess embarked on a deadly journey that led her to Florida, where she targeted a lookalike named Pamela Hutchinson. Lois, who struck up a friendship with Hutchinson at a time-share complex, murdered her to seize her identity and resources, believing that her resemblance would help her evade detection. After stealing Hutchinson’s credit card and vehicle, Riess was eventually located and apprehended in Texas after evading capture for days. Her heinous actions—resulting in two brutal murders—earned her the infamous title of "Killer Grandma." In 2019, Riess pleaded guilty to both murders, receiving life sentences without the possibility of parole in Minnesota.

Capture and Legal Proceedings

Following the shocking murders of her husband and Pamela Hutchinson, Lois Riess became a fugitive, leading authorities on a cross-country manhunt. After transferring funds from her husband’s business account to her own, Riess was last seen in a casino in Iowa before traveling to Fort Myers Beach, Florida. There, she forged a bond with Hutchinson, who bore a striking resemblance to her. Tragically, days later, Hutchinson was found murdered in her residence, and it became clear that Riess had stolen both her identity and assets. Authorities quickly connected the dots, triggering a heightened urgency to capture the ‘Killer Grandma,’ perceived as a desperate and dangerously unpredictable fugitive.

On April 19, 2018, Lois Riess was apprehended at a restaurant in South Padre Island, Texas, after an anonymous tip led police to her location. Following her arrest, investigators uncovered a series of heinous actions that led to the tragic loss of two lives. In December 2019, Riess pleaded guilty to the first-degree murder of Pamela Hutchinson, along with charges of vehicle theft and identity fraud. Further complicating her case, in August 2020, she admitted to the murder of her husband, David Riess. As she expressed remorse for her actions, the court imposed consecutive life sentences for her heinous crimes, ensuring she would remain incarcerated for the remainder of her life without the possibility of parole.

Personal Life: Married Life and Children

Lois Riess was born in 1962 in Rochester, Minnesota, and she got married at the young age of 20 to David Riess, a local man and U.S. Navy member. The couple returned to their hometown after David's military service and eventually settled in Blooming Prairie. Together, they had three children, building a life that appeared typical and full of family-oriented activities. Lois established a daycare service in their home while David opened a wax worm farm, and they were often seen dining together in the community, reinforcing their image as a devoted couple.

Despite the outward appearance of a happy family, there were underlying tensions in Lois's married life. Family members noted Lois's struggle with a gambling addiction, and she faced legal issues stemming from felony theft allegations involving her disabled sister. The couple’s relationship experienced strain over the years, which culminated in a tragic confrontation in March 2018. After a heated argument that ended with David's murder, Lois's life spiraled into crime, leading to a shocking narrative that shook the community and ultimately resulted in her incarceration.

Net Worth and Earning: Salary

Lois Riess, a former grandmother from Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, became infamous for her criminal actions, leading to life imprisonment. While details about her net worth and earnings have not been publicly disclosed since her conviction, it is known that she had previously garnered funds through questionable means. This included transferring approximately $11,000 from her deceased husband David Riess's business account to her personal account shortly before his murder. Such financial maneuvering revealed patterns indicative of her struggles with gambling addiction and likely contributed to the troubled dynamics within her marriage.

Following her crimes, Riess faced significant financial repercussions. With no official salary documented post-arrest, her previous earnings as a daycare provider would have been her primary income source prior to her criminal actions. However, given her gambling habits and subsequent legal battles, it is reasonable to assume that her net worth drastically declined. Currently serving concurrent life sentences in the Minnesota Correctional Facility, Lois Riess's financial state is one of limited resources, as she is ineligible for parole and will spend the remainder of her life in prison, far from her previous life of domesticity and familial connections.