Fugitive grandma appears in court, headed back to Florida

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND (FOX 13) - A Texas judge ordered 56-year-old Lois Riess to be held without bond while she awaits extradition for two counts of murder. 

Police are accusing Riess of killing her husband in Minnesota and stealing $11,000 from one of his bank accounts. 

In addition to her husband, Riess is also accused of killing a 59-year-old Bradenton woman in an attempt to steal her identity. Police say Pamela Hutchinson was found dead in her Fort Myers Beach condo just days after surveillance video shows her and Riess together at a restaurant. 

Investigators from Minnesota and Florida are now in Texas to continue their investigations. 

“Detectives from both here and the other two states are still collecting and comprising all the evidence,” said South Padre Island Police Chief Randy Smith.” The detectives did get the search warrants that they needed. They went to the motel room where she was staying and searched that room and were able to recover two pistols there.”

Riess is expected to be extradited back to Florida next week.