Manhunt underway for Minnesota grandmother accused of murdering husband and her look-alike

Police across the country are on the lookout for Lois Riess, accused of murdering her husband in Minnesota and a woman who looked like her in Florida.
The 56-year-old grandmother allegedly shot and killed her husband, David, last month, and then went on the lam, eventually winding up in Fort Myers, Florida. There, she met 59-year-old Pamela Hutchinson, and after befriending Hutchinson, she allegedly killed her and then stole her credit cards, driver's license, and white Acura, which has been seen in Texas and Louisiana. "This is the first time in my career that I've seen someone steal someone's identity and target them for the way they look, in order to murder them," Lee County, Florida, Undersheriff Carmine Marceno told NBC News.
Authorities consider Riess armed and dangerous, and Marceno said he believes she will eventually "have no resources, and she will become more desperate and may kill again." Police describe Riess as being 5-foot-5, 165 pounds, with brown eyes, blonde hair, and a history of gambling problems. "She smiles and looks like anyone's mother or grandmother," Marceno said. "And yet she's calculated, she's targeted, and an absolute cold-blooded killer." Catherine Garcia
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
'The way AI is discussed makes it seem like this is a necessary outcome'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Measles cases surge to 33-year high
Speed Read The infection was declared eliminated from the US in 2000 but has seen a resurgence amid vaccine hesitancy
-
The New York Times plays defense after publishing leaked Mamdani college application details
IN THE SPOTLIGHT The decision to publish details of Zohran Mamdani's Columbia University application has reignited simmering questions about sourcing and editorial guidelines
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read