BREAKING NEWS: RIESS CHARGED IN FLORIDA MURDER

The prime suspect in the murder of a Dodge County man has been charged in an unrelated murder in Florida, Sheriff Scott Rose announced.

Rose said the Lee County Attorney’s Office in Florida charged Lois Riess of Blooming Prairie today in the murder of Pamela Hutchinson of Bradenton, Florida. Her body was found Monday in Fort Myers Beach.

In addition to the Florida charges, Rose said his office along with the Dodge County Attorney’s Office is preparing murder charges against Riess in the death of her husband David Riess, who was found shot to death in their home March 23.

Rose said investigators believe Hutchinson may have been killed with the same firearm used to murder David Riess. Investigators are not aware of any connection between Lois Riess and Hutchinson. Rose said authorities think Riess may have killed Hutchinson earlier this week in order to assume her identity.

A tipline has been established for anyone who has had any recent contact with Riess or who has any information on her whereabouts. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s tipline is 877-996-6222. Callers can remain anonymous.

More details are expected to be released later this afternoon. We will continue to follow this developing story.