KASSON, Minn. — A Minnesota woman has pleaded guilty to killing her husband in 2018, after being extradited from Florida where she was convicted of a different murder.
Lois Riess entered her plea during a hearing in Kasson, Minnesota on Tuesday. She pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the shooting death of her husband, David.
Riess was sentenced to life in prison without parole. During the hearing Riess apologized to her husband's friends and family, saying life without her husband is her true sentence and that she should not have killed him.
Prosecutors say Riess stole thousands of dollars from her husband before killing him. Family members blame her downfall on a gambling problem.
Riess was convicted of killing Pamela Hutchinson in Florida, and sentenced to life in prison for that crime. She returned to Minnesota on Friday to face charges in the death of her husband.
After fatally shooting David Riess, Lois Riess drove to Florida, befriended Hutchinson and fatally shot her at a Fort Myers Beach condo the following month, according to prosecutors. Police believe Riess was trying to steal Hutchinson's identity.
With her head of white hair, Riess garnered national attention as the “fugitive grandma” before she was captured in April 2018 in Texas.
Following Tuesday's guilty plea, the Dodge County Sheriff Scott Rose posted a statement on Facebook:
Today’s guilty plea and life sentence is a turning point for our community, which can now begin to heal from David Riess’ death. For David and Lois’ family in particular today’s life sentence closes a tragic chapter, and we will continue to offer the family our support through their healing process. We are grateful to our criminal justice partners from across the nation who brought a series of terrible crimes to an end, and brought a killer to justice.
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