Fugitive, suspected in 2 deaths, captured near border

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas — A tip led to the arrest in Texas of a woman who investigators believe killed her husband in Minnesota then fled to Florida, where she fatally shot her doppelganger with the intention of assuming her identity, an official said Friday.

Two federal deputy marshals arrested Lois Riess, 56, Thursday night at a restaurant in South Padre Island, the U.S. Marshals Service said in a statement. South Padre Island is a beach resort community 27 miles from the crossing into Mexico.

City spokeswoman Angelique Soto said a witness called authorities saying a woman matching Riess’ description was at the restaurant. Her identity was confirmed by officers and the car she was using was towed and impounded “for forensic processing,” Soto said.

Riess had been on the run since late March when her husband, David Riess, 54, was found fatally shot at their home in Blooming Prairie, Minn. She became the subject of a nationwide hunt.

She had been seen on March 23 at a convenience store and casino in northern Iowa. Authorities released video showing Riess approaching the cashier, buying a sandwich and asking for directions south of the state. The store is next to a casino where authorities say Riess spent the day gambling.

It was also on March 23 that David Riess’ business partner called authorities to ask them to check on him. The partner said no one at work had seen David Riess in more than two weeks. Authorities found David Riess’ body inside his home with multiple gunshots.

They were not able to determine how long he had been dead and could not find his wife. They learned Lois Riess may have been at the casino in Iowa, but she wasn’t there when they went looking for her.

From there, investigators believe she went to Florida where she killed 59-year-old Pamela Hutchinson, 59, of Bradenton. Authorities were called to Fort Myers Beach on April 9 and found Hutchinson dead, with gunshot wounds. Investigators believe Riess used the same gun to kill her husband and Hutchinson, and that she killed the woman to assume her identity.

Surveillance video showed Riess smiling and talking with Hutchinson on April 5 at a brewery in Fort Myers Beach.

Riess is being held in the South Padre Island jail. Soto said it is unclear where she will be extradited and on which charges.