The State Attorney’s Office convened the Lee County Grand Jury which indicted defendant Lois Ann Riess today for First Degree Murder with a Firearm, Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle, Grand Theft and Criminal Use of Personal Identification of a Deceased Individual, $5,000 or More. The charge of First Degree Murder with a Firearm carries a mandatory life sentence in prison.
The indictment for First Degree Murder with a Firearm presented today supersedes the Second Degree Murder charge filed earlier by the State Attorney’s Office. In Florida, only a Grand Jury may charge First Degree Murder. Riess is accused of murdering Pamela Hutchinson on Fort Myers Beach in April, 2018. Riess will be arraigned on these charges on June 11th.
A copy of the indictment is attached. You can also watch the press conference held earlier today at our office in Fort Myers on our website at www.sao20.org.
The case, #18-000163CF, is assigned to Assistant State Attorney Lanna Belohlavek of our Homicide Unit and Assistant State Attorney Jennifer Royal. Please use my contact information below for any further update requests.
Click here to view a copy of the indictment.
Samantha Syoen
Communications Director
State Attorney’s Office
239-533-1125
ssyoen@sao20.org