MINNEAPOLIS - The son of a Minnesota woman suspected of fatally shooting her husband then killing a Florida woman and stealing her identity says she was a "good lady" but "had her own demons" including a gambling addiction.
Thirty-year-old Braden Riess discussed his mother, 56-year-old Lois Riess, in an interview set to air Thursday on the syndicated news program "Inside Edition."
"She literally snapped," he said. "My whole family is in shock. Nobody ever expected anything like this. It has absolutely devastated our family."
Authorities say Lois Riess killed her husband, David Riess, at their Blooming Prairie, Minn. home before heading to Florida and killing 59-year-old Pamela Hutchinson, of Bradenton, in Fort Myers Beach, so she could assume her identity.
Braden said never in his wildest dreams would he have ever thought she'd harm his father.
"I'm still shocked," he said. "It's a bad movie. I feel like I'm going to wake up and it's going to be back to normal. But it isn't."
She has a history of stealing money and gambling. Her son blames the gambling addiction for her downward spiral. He said she blew a $500,000 inheritance at casinos.
"Gambling's a terrible thing where it can suck people in," he said. "Destroy lives."
Authorities arrested Riess in Texas last month. She'll stand trial in Florida first.
Braden said he's been following her story on TV and couldn't believe his eyes when watching surveillance video that was released.
"Her mannerisms are all different, she's a totally different person," he said.
Braden Riess told "Inside Edition" his father still hasn't been buried because authorities won't release his remains.
He said seeing his mother in a prison uniform was difficult.
"I just felt really bad for my mom," he said. "I felt like she was alone and desperate."
Braden hasn't been able to speak with his mother but said if he could, he'd tell her he loves her.
Braden is the youngest of three children. Braden has a brother and a sister, a family friend confirmed to KARE 11.
Lois and Dave Riess also have five young grandchildren.
"These were good people. Hardworking middle-class people," said Mike Krahn, who said he grew up with Dave Riess and considered him a younger brother.
"He was like Santa Claus in the summer. He was always jolly... and just always fun and funny. It's just really sad," he said about Dave Riess.
Krahn said he's still coming to terms with what happened to a family he's known and loved.
"You can't comprehend that stuff. I mean you watch that on T.V., right?" he said.