Death Penalty Sought In Florida For Minnesota Grandmother

LEE COUNTY, MN — Prosecutors in Florida are seeking the death penalty for a Blooming Prairie, Minnesota woman accused of killing her husband and a Florida woman earlier this year. In April, Lois Riess was the subject of a weeks-long national manhunt that ended when she was captured in Texas.

Authorities say the 56-year-old grandmother murdered David Riess before fleeing the state. She later killed Pamela Hutchinson in Florida to assume her identity while on the run, according to police.

"She bears a striking resemblance to the deceased, and has stolen the victim's driver license, credit cards and 2005 white Acura TL," the United States Marshals said during the hunt.

Dubbed by authorities as "Losing Streak Lois," Riess is known to have a gambling addiction and frequented casinos before her arrest, police said.

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Last month, Riess was charged with first degree murder, grand theft auto and criminal use of a deceased person's identity in Florida. She pleaded not guilty.

Florida prosecutors filed notice of intent to seek the death penalty against for Riess Monday, according to CNN.

"The capital felony was a homicide and was committed in a cold, calculated, and premeditated manner without any pretense of moral or legal justification," the notice read.

"Pam was so kind, just so kind to everybody," Hutchinson's aunt Marjorie Sellers told the News-Press. "No telling what the lady said to her."

Hutchinson traveled to Fort Myers Beach before her own death to help a friend mourn the passing of her husband. The two planned to spread his ashes in the ocean before Riess allegedly killed her.

Investigators believe Riess fled driving Hutchinson's Acura. She was captured at a restaurant by the United States Marshals Service April 19 in South Padre Island, Texas.

"I promised all along that Lois Riess would end up in a pair of handcuffs," Lee County, Florida Undersheriff Carmine Marceno said in a statement. "Tonight, she sits in a jail cell in Texas. We are working as expeditiously as possible to bring her back to Lee County to face murder charges."

Image via Lee County Sheriff's Office