Due to the volume of requests for updates on the case involving defendant Lois Riess, case #18-000163CF, we are providing these details on the procedural aspects of the case.
The State Attorney’s Office 20th Judicial Circuit filed the following charges against the defendant on April 12, 2018 with a capias warrant; one count of Second Degree Murder, one count of Grand Theft, one count of Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle and one count of Criminal Use of Personal Identification Information.
In Florida, a First Degree Murder charge can only come from a Grand Jury indictment. The State Attorney, Steve Russell, would decide if a Grand Jury would be convened for this case. We don’t discuss Grand Jury actions prior.
The defendant had a first appearance on Sunday, April 29th. She is in custody at the Lee County jail and is being held pending a pre-trial detention hearing set for May 3rd at 1:30 in Fort Myers.
The case is currently assigned to Assistant State Attorney Lanna Belohlavek of our homicide unit. Please use my contact information below for any further update requests.
Samantha Syoen
Communications Director
State Attorney’s Office
239-533-1125
ssyoen@sao20.org