Dodge County Officials Due in Texas Tonight to Question Lois Riess
Mantorville, MN (KROC-AM News) - Dodge County Sheriff Scott Rose says he felt relieved when he was notified Thursday night that Lois Riess had been captured in southern Texas. The Sheriff, speaking at a news conference Friday morning, said there was always a concern the 56-year-old Blooming Prairie woman might return to Minnesota and put local citizens in danger.
The South Padre Island Police Department says a tip led to the arrest of the double murder suspect at a bar/restaurant. Police Chief Randy Smith says Riess did not offer any resistance and was taken into custody without incident after she was approached by 2 undercover officers inside the establishment. The car that she had stolen from a woman found murdered in southern Florida was found in the parking lot of the business and is being processed for evidence.
Chief Smith says he was expecting investigators from Florida and Minnesota to arrive in his jurisdiction tonight and begin questioning the Riess about the murder of her husband David and the murder of 39-year-old Pamela Hutchinson in a Fort Myers condominium. Florida officials labeled Riess a “cold-hearted killer” after noting the evidence suggested the victim in that state was chosen because her appearance was similar to Riess and the motive for the slaying was identity theft.
Murder charges have already been filed against Riess in Florida and Dodge County Sheriff Scott Rose says, while nothing has been decided, he expects Riess will be handed over to Florida authorities for prosecution in a state that has the death penalty. Rose says his investigators will take their time to put together the strongest evidence possible against Riess before filing murder charges in Dodge County. She currently faces felony theft charges for allegedly taking money from her murdered husband’s business.