The Murder of Pam Hutchinson
For this case I watched an episode of On the Case with Paula Zahn. It’s season 22 episode 1, titled ‘A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing.’
A 59 year old woman is killed while on vacation in Florida.
Background
Pamela ‘Pam’ Hutchinson lived in Bradenton, Florida, and had just gone through a recent divorce from her husband of around 20 years. She had been to Fort Myers Beach before, but traveled there on April 3, 2018. While she was there, she posted on her Facebook page about how she was enjoying her time.
Pam was described as vivacious, adventurous and fun. She was known for her kindness, and made friends with everyone she met.
Pam Hutchinson
The Discovery
On April 9, 2018, the manager of Marina Village, a popular resort, called 911. She said she had found the body of a woman in one of the units.
When the police arrived, they discovered that the room was registered to Pam Hutchinson. Pam was scheduled to check out on April 6, but extended it three more nights.
Pam was found on the floor of the bathroom. A pillow was underneath her, and she was covered by a towel. It was apparent that Pam had been shot, and that the pillow had been used as a silencer. A bullet hole was found in the pillow, and had ricocheted up to the ceiling.
A pink camouflage hat, stained with blood, found on the floor and a toothbrush in the sink, suggested that Pam had been ambushed.
There was no sign of a struggle or forced entry. However, there was a sign of robbery. Pam’s purse was on the kitchen counter, but several items were missing: her ID, wallet, cash, car keys and car.
The police determined that Pam had been dead several days before she was found. The killer had turned the thermostat down to 61 degrees, and several towels were stuffed under the door to mask the smell. Obviously, the killer didn’t want Pam to be discovered.
The Mysterious Woman
The police also spoke to Pam’s ex-husband, but he was hundreds of miles away, and was ruled out.
The police spoke to Pam’s friends, and asked them if they knew of anyone who’d want to hurt her. They said no, but one of them said that Pam had met another woman who was also vacationing there. The friend said that Pam had been planning on going out to dinner with this woman on April 5.
The police confirmed this, when they found a receipt in Pam’s purse from April 5. She had used her credit card at the restaurant next to the resort called the Smokin’ Oyster Brewery.
The police worked with the resort and restaurant to obtain the footage from the surveillance footage. Pam was seen on surveillance with another woman. Pam is also wearing the pink camouflage hat that was found in the bathroom. The two women were chatting with other customers, laughing, and seemed to be having a good time.
They stayed at the restaurant until about 7:35pm, and can be seen on surveillance walking back to Pam’s room.
Lois on surveillance footage in Florida
Smokin Oyster in Fort Myers Beach, FL
Odd Behavior
Less than an hour after the women go into Pam’s room, the woman walks out at 8:34pm. Instead of leaving, she lingers around the area, and can be seen looking over the railing.
Around 10:30pm, the woman returns to Pam’s room, and doesn’t leave until 6:09am the next morning. She is seen multiple more times going in and out of the room, carrying grocery bags. The woman was seen transferring items from her white Escalade into Pam’s white Accura.
At 8:32am, the woman makes her final trip, and leaves in Pam’s car. The police now believed that Pam was killed on April 5, between 7:35 and 8:34pm, when the two women returned from dinner.
A BOLO was put out for Pam’s white Accura, as well as the white Escalade. The Escalade was found less than a mile from the resort. It was registered to David and Lois Reiss of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota.
Another Murder
When the police looked at a photo of Lois, they were able to match her as the woman from the surveillance footage from the resort and restaurant.
They also made another shocking discovery, Lois was the prime suspect in her husband’s murder. David Reiss had been found dead in his bathroom, just 13 days before Pam’s death. The two crime scenes were very similar. They had both been shot with a handgun, and covered with a towel.
Lois had taken $11,000 from David’s bank account, and went to a casino in Iowa. She also went to a convenience store to ask for directions to get to Florida.
Arrest and Convictions
The police obtained Pam’s bank records. After her death, Lois used her card several times while she was on the run. She also withdrew $5,000 from Pam’s Wells Fargo bank account. She went to several hotels and casinos, often wearing the clothes and items she stole from Pam.
Lois was eventually found by the U.S. Marshals at a bar in Texas, and arrested on April 19, 2018. The police searched her hotel room, and found Pam’s hat, sunglasses, car keys and car.
In December 2019, she pleaded guilty to first degree murder with a firearm, grand theft of a motor vehicle, and criminal use of personal identification and information. She was sentenced to life without parole.
On August 11, 2020, she pleaded guilty to the murder of her husband David. She was also sentenced to life, and will serve her sentences concurrently.
It’s believed that Lois killed Pam because they looked similar, and she was trying to steal her identity and items due to a gambling addiction.
Lois Reiss
FINAL THOUGHTS
I think Lois saw that Pam had more items than she did. She had an addiction, and needed money fast. She befriended a vulnerable and kind person, and then took her life because she wanted her car, jewelry, money, etc. Lois deserves the sentences she got for Pam and David’s murders. I don’t think she has any remorse, and that’ll make it easy to keep her in prison.
Sources
https://thecinemaholic.com/pamela-hutchinson-murder/
https://www.fox4now.com/news/local-news/lois-riess-pleads-guilty-during-pre-trial-conference-tuesday
https://www.winknews.com/2021/01/29/killer-grandma-hunted-look-alikes-amid-murder-spree/
