Lois Riess: From Minnesota Grandma to Fugitive Murderer in 'I'm Not a Monster' Documentary

Lois Riess

The Shocking Story of Lois Riess

Lois Riess, once a beloved grandmother of five in the quiet town of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, led a seemingly normal life filled with family gatherings, bowling league competitions, and renowned cooking. However, everything changed dramatically in March 2018 when her husband, David Riess, was found shot to death in their home, revealing a much darker side to her character.

A Life of Deception and Crime

At 62 years old, Lois Riess is now serving a life sentence for the murders of both her husband and a Florida woman, Pamela Hutchinson, whose identity she attempted to steal. Dubbed the “Killer Grandma,” Riess is sharing her story for the first time in the new HBO documentary "I’m Not a Monster: The Lois Riess Murders," which airs in two parts starting Tuesday.

The documentary includes interviews with Riess, her family, friends, and law enforcement officials, providing a comprehensive look at her shocking crimes. Born in 1962 in Rochester, Minnesota, Lois married David at the young age of 20. After David's military service, they returned to their hometown, where they raised three children and later moved to Blooming Prairie. Despite their public appearances as a happy couple, signs of trouble lurked beneath the surface. Their son, Braden Riess, revealed that Lois struggled with a gambling addiction, and in 2015, she was investigated for felony theft after allegedly stealing from her disabled sister, resulting in a civil judgment against her.

The Fatal Argument

On March 11, 2018, a heated argument between Lois and David escalated tragically. During the confrontation, David handed Lois a .22 handgun and jokingly suggested she should kill herself. Instead, Lois turned the gun on him, shooting him twice. In her own words, she recounted, “He was right in front of me, and I looked at him in the heart and shot him.” Following the murder, Lois fled Minnesota, embarking on a cross-country journey that would lead to further violence.

The Murder of Pamela Hutchinson

After transferring approximately $11,000 from David's business account to her own by forging his signature, Lois was spotted at a casino in Iowa before making her way to Fort Myers, Florida. There, she befriended Pamela Hutchinson, a woman who bore a striking resemblance to her. Just days later, Hutchinson was found dead from a gunshot wound, and Lois had stolen her identity, credit cards, and car.

Authorities quickly connected Lois to Hutchinson's murder through credit card transactions, prompting a nationwide manhunt. As described by law enforcement, “She looks like anybody’s mother or grandmother, yet she is a cold-blooded killer.”

Capture and Sentencing

Lois was eventually apprehended on April 19, 2018, in South Padre Island, Texas, after a tip-off led police to her location. On December 17, 2019, she pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and identity theft for Hutchinson's killing, and later admitted to her husband's murder in August 2020. In court, she expressed remorse, stating, “My life without David is my sentence... My heart will always be his.”

Now serving concurrent life sentences at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Shakopee, Lois Riess is ineligible for parole. Her public defender has indicated that it is “very unlikely” her sentences will be altered, ensuring she will spend the rest of her life behind bars.

The documentary "I’m Not a Monster" promises to shed light on the complexities of Lois Riess's life and the events that led to her transformation from a seemingly ordinary grandmother to a notorious murderer.

Lois Riess: From Minnesota Grandma to Fugitive Murderer in 'I'm Not a Monster' Documentary