The Lookalike Killer: How Lois Riess's Florida Murder of Pamela Hutchinson Ended Her Deadly Spree
When Pamela Hutchinson checked into Marina Village condominium in Fort Myers Beach, Florida on April 3rd, 2018, she had no idea she was about to become entangled in a deadly mystery. Surveillance footage captured the 59-year-old woman arriving alone in her white Acura, but by the following day, she was accompanied by an unidentified woman who bore a striking resemblance to her. What began as seemingly innocent drinks at a local restaurant would culminate in a gruesome discovery when Pamela's body was found in her motel room days later, bearing gunshot wounds.
The investigation revealed disturbing details: the room's air conditioning set to a frigid 61 degrees, Pamela's credit cards and identification missing, and surveillance footage showing the mysterious companion leaving with Pamela's luggage and car. Meanwhile, in Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, a separate investigation was unfolding after David Riess's business partners reported him missing on March 23rd. His employees grew concerned when text messages supposedly from David didn't match his typical writing style, creating an eerie connection between two crime scenes separated by over a thousand miles.
Key Takeaways
A chance meeting at a Fort Myers bar in 2018 led to a woman's murder in her hotel room, with surveillance capturing her final moments with an unidentified companion.
The victim's belongings, including identification, credit cards, and vehicle were taken by the suspect who was seen transferring items between vehicles before disappearing.
A parallel missing person case in Minnesota showed similar suspicious circumstances, suggesting a potential connection between crimes occurring a thousand miles apart.
Murder in Fort Myers
Emergency Response and Body Discovery
On April 9, 2018, Lee County dispatchers received a troubling call from a motel manager in Fort Myers Beach, Florida. The manager reported finding a deceased person in room 404 at Marina Village in Snug Harbor. Initial hesitation led the manager to seek help from nearby residents before fully investigating the bathroom, where they discovered a body covered with towels and visible blood.
Law enforcement quickly arrived at the scene to find a woman's body on the bathroom floor with apparent gunshot wounds. A towel had been placed over the victim, and the room's air conditioning had been set to an unusually cold 61 degrees. The bedroom showed signs of recent use, with multiple wine bottles and dirty dishes suggesting another person had been staying there.
The victim was identified as 59-year-old Pamela Hutchinson, who had checked into the motel six days earlier on April 3rd. Surveillance footage showed Pamela arriving alone in a white Acura with Florida license plates. Her personal belongings remained in the room, but her credit cards and identification were missing.
Investigation at the Crime Scene
Investigators reviewing security footage made a disturbing discovery: while Pamela had initially checked in alone, surveillance showed her with an unidentified woman beginning April 4th. This mystery woman bore a striking resemblance to Pamela—similar age, height, and build.
Further examination of the footage revealed:
Date Time Activity April 4 8:13 PM Pamela seen with unidentified woman entering elevator April 5 5:14 PM The two women meet at restaurant, share drinks for two hours April 5 7:43 PM Women return to Pamela's room together April 5 8:30 PM Unidentified woman emerges alone, appearing distressed April 6 6:00 AM Mystery woman seen carrying Pamela's purple luggage April 6 8:30 AM Someone calls to extend Pamela's stay using different credit card April 6 12:42 PM Woman transfers items from white Escalade to Pamela's Acura April 6 1:51 PM Woman drives away in Pamela's white Acura
The investigation revealed Pamela had traveled to Fort Myers Beach for a friend's husband's funeral. This friend last saw Pamela at lunch on April 4th and received a text claiming Pamela had extended her stay. When the friend texted Pamela on April 5th, she received no response.
Police found the timing suspicious—Pamela was last seen alive with the mystery woman at 7:43 PM on April 5th. Just 45 minutes later, security footage captured the unknown woman leaving the room alone, appearing visibly upset. The unidentified woman had no record of staying at the motel, creating a challenging puzzle for investigators.
Victim's Identity and Final Movements
Pamela Hutchinson's Fort Myers Arrival
On April 3, 2018, surveillance footage captured 59-year-old Pamela Hutchinson checking into the Marina Village condominium in Fort Myers Beach, Florida. The cameras recorded her arriving in a white Acura with Florida license plates at 3:44 p.m. During check-in, Pamela was seen reaching into a small silver purse—later found in her room, though her identification and credit cards would be missing.
Security footage confirms Pamela initially entered room 404 alone. She had traveled to Fort Myers Beach to attend a funeral and support a friend who was scattering her husband's ashes.
Interactions with the Unknown Woman
By April 4th, surveillance cameras revealed Pamela was no longer alone. At 8:13 p.m., she was recorded entering the elevator with an unidentified woman who bore a striking resemblance to her in age, height, and build. The two women were seen together again at 12:45 a.m. on April 5th as they returned to Pamela's room.
Restaurant Meeting - April 5th:
5:14 p.m.: Cameras show both women at a restaurant
Activities: Sharing high-fives, animated conversation, drinks
7:43 p.m.: Pamela pays with credit card; mystery woman pays cash
Both return to room 404 together afterward
Pamela's friend last communicated with her at lunch on April 4th. Later, she received a text stating Pamela had extended her stay until April 5th. When the friend texted Pamela at 10 p.m. on Thursday, she received no response.
Last Known Sighting of Pamela
The last confirmed sighting of Pamela Hutchinson alive was at 7:43 p.m. on April 5th when she returned to her room with the mystery woman. Just 45 minutes later, at 8:30 p.m., surveillance footage showed the unidentified woman leaving room 404 alone, appearing visibly distressed and possibly crying.
What followed raised investigators' suspicions:
April 6th, 6:00 a.m.: Mystery woman seen carrying Pamela's purple luggage
8:30 a.m.: Someone claiming to be Pamela called to extend the room reservation
Later that morning: The woman transferred items from a white Cadillac Escalade to Pamela's Acura
1:51 p.m.: The woman departed in Pamela's white Acura
Pamela's body would not be discovered until April 9th when hotel staff entered the room due to plumbing issues. She was found on the bathroom floor with apparent gunshot wounds, covered with towels, and the air conditioning set to 61 degrees.
Behaviors Following the Incident
Concerning Activities
After committing the crime, the suspect displayed several troubling behaviors captured on surveillance footage. On April 5th at 8:30 PM, approximately 45 minutes after leaving the restaurant with Pamela Hutchinson, the unidentified woman emerged from room 404 alone. Security cameras revealed her visibly distressed state - she appeared upset and possibly crying as she moved through the hallway.
The following morning presented even more suspicious activity. At 6:00 AM on April 6th, the woman was seen carrying Pamela's distinctive purple luggage toward the elevator. This clear appropriation of the victim's belongings marked the beginning of a calculated series of actions.
Just hours later at 8:30 AM, someone claiming to be Pamela contacted the hotel to extend the reservation for three additional days. Notably, the credit card provided during this call did not match the one originally used for the booking - a significant discrepancy that would later raise red flags for investigators.
Vehicle Acquisition and Departure
The suspect's methodical planning became evident through her subsequent actions with Pamela's vehicle. Security footage captured her making multiple trips between the parking lot and the room, systematically transferring items from a white Cadillac Escalade into Pamela's white Acura.
The suspect carefully positioned Pamela's car, backing it into a space directly in front of the Escalade to facilitate the transfer of belongings. This deliberate arrangement suggests premeditation rather than a spontaneous decision.
At 12:42 PM on April 6th, the Escalade exited the parking lot, but remarkably, the suspect returned on foot approximately 50 minutes later. She remained at the property for several additional hours, potentially ensuring no evidence was left behind.
The final departure occurred at 1:51 PM when the suspect drove away in Pamela's white Acura. This theft of the victim's vehicle created significant distance between herself and the crime scene, leaving Pamela's body undiscovered for three more days. The air conditioning had been deliberately set to 61 degrees, a tactic that may have been employed to delay decomposition and discovery.
Unexpected Connections and Investigative Breakthroughs
Minnesota Investigation Connection
Investigators discovered a critical link between Pamela Hutchinson's murder and events in Minnesota. Two weeks before the Fort Myers Beach discovery, on March 23, 2018, the Dodge County Sheriff's Office received a concerning call from Greg Oswald about his business partner David Riess. Greg expressed worry after 16 days without contact, stating this behavior was completely out of character for the hands-on businessman he'd known for two decades.
David co-owned prairie waxworms farm in Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, where he lived with his wife Lois just 100 feet from the business. The investigation revealed that on March 12th, Lois had informed farm manager Thomas that David was sick and wouldn't be coming to work. She also requested Thomas handle the bi-weekly payroll duties in David's absence.
Blooming Prairie Case Development
Staff members at the waxworm farm became increasingly suspicious when text messages supposedly from David didn't match his typical communication style. These messages lacked David's characteristic punctuation and formatting. The employees noted the texts changed dramatically around the same time Lois began telling people David was ill.
The peculiar timing and communication irregularities raised significant red flags for investigators. David's colleagues emphasized that the messages didn't contain his usual writing patterns—he didn't abbreviate words or use improper punctuation in his regular texts. The farm staff's observations provided crucial initial evidence that something was seriously amiss with David Riess's situation, potentially connecting to events unfolding over a thousand miles away in Florida.
Timeline of Events
March-April 2018: A Cross-State Crime Spree
March 12, 2018: In Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, Lois Riess tells farm manager Thomas that her husband David is sick and won't be coming to work. She asks Thomas to handle the payroll. This marks the beginning of suspicious communication, as coworkers later note text messages allegedly from David don't match his typical writing style.
March 23, 2018: Business partner Greg Oswal contacts the Dodge County Sheriff's Office with concerns about David Riess, who hasn't been seen for 16 days. The lack of communication is described as completely out of character for the hands-on business owner.
April 3, 2018: Pamela Hutchinson checks into Marina Village condominium in Fort Myers Beach, Florida. Surveillance footage shows her arriving alone in a white Acura with Florida license plates.
April 4, 2018: Hutchinson is seen on security cameras with another woman who closely resembles her—similar age, height, and build. This is the first time she's not alone at the property.
April 5, 2018, 5:14 PM: Surveillance captures Hutchinson and the mystery woman dining together at a restaurant. They share drinks, engage in conversation, and even high-five during their two-hour meal.
April 5, 2018, 7:43 PM: Both women are seen returning to Hutchinson's room after dinner.
April 5, 2018, 8:30 PM: Just 45 minutes after returning to the room, the unidentified woman emerges alone, appearing visibly distressed.
April 6, 2018, 6:00 AM: Security footage shows the mystery woman carrying Pamela's purple luggage to the elevator.
April 6, 2018, 8:30 AM: Someone claiming to be Pamela calls to extend the room reservation for three days, using a different credit card than the original booking.
April 6, 2018, 8:30-12:42 PM: The suspect transfers items from a white Cadillac Escalade to Pamela's Acura in the parking lot.
April 6, 2018, 1:51 PM: The unidentified woman leaves the property in Pamela's white Acura.
April 9, 2018: The motel manager discovers Pamela Hutchinson's body in room 404 while checking on a plumbing issue. The victim has two apparent gunshot wounds, with a towel draped over her body and the air conditioning set to 61°F.
Aftermath and Continuing Investigation
Following the shocking discovery of Pamela Hutchinson's body in room 404 at Marina Village, investigators intensified their pursuit of the mysterious woman seen with her. The suspect, who had methodically emptied Pamela's hotel room of valuables and personal identification, disappeared driving Pamela's white Acura.
Law enforcement across multiple jurisdictions began piecing together the timeline. Surveillance footage proved instrumental, showing the suspect's calculated movements after Pamela's murder. The footage revealed how she had extended Pamela's stay by phone, transferred items between vehicles, and systematically prepared her escape.
The investigation uncovered disturbing parallels with a case in Minnesota. There, business associates had reported David Riess missing after receiving uncharacteristic text messages that lacked his typical writing style. His employees noted the texts contained abbreviations and punctuation patterns David never used, raising immediate red flags.
David's wife Lois had told employees he was sick, preventing them from checking on him personally. This explanation initially seemed plausible given David's previous health issues, but as days passed without direct contact, colleagues grew increasingly concerned. The timing of these unusual communications coincided precisely with when surveillance footage showed the suspect first appearing in Florida.
Key Evidence Timeline:
March 23, 2018: David Riess reported missing in Minnesota
April 3, 2018: Pamela Hutchinson checks into Marina Village alone
April 4, 2018: Surveillance shows Pamela with unidentified woman
April 5, 2018: Last confirmed sighting of Pamela alive
April 6, 2018: Suspect leaves in Pamela's white Acura
April 9, 2018: Pamela's body discovered
Forensic analysis of the crime scene revealed Pamela had been shot twice. The killer had taken deliberate steps to delay discovery of the body, including covering it with towels and lowering the room temperature to 61°F. These calculated actions gave the perpetrator valuable time to escape.
Investigators focused on the suspect's methodical behavior. She had established rapport with Pamela at a restaurant, paid exclusively in cash to avoid leaving a paper trail, and carefully transferred items between vehicles before disappearing with Pamela's car, credit cards, and identification.
The cross-state investigation required unprecedented coordination between Florida and Minnesota authorities. They now faced a race against time to locate the suspect before she could claim another victim. All evidence pointed to a calculating killer moving methodically between states, assuming victims' identities, and staying steps ahead of law enforcement.
