Minnesota AG Office Now Reviewing Evidence in Lois Riess Case
Mantorville, MN (KROC-AM News) - The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office is now reviewing the evidence in the Lois Riess case for prosecution.
A statement issued Wednesday evening by the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department concerning the murder of David Riess on March 23rd of last year. The 54-year-old man was found shot to death in his rural Blooming Prairie home his wife was later named a suspect.
Lois Riess is also accused of murdering a woman in Fort Myers, Florida while she was on the run last April. She was eventually captured in Texas and returned to Florida to face prosecution. Dodge County officials had to wait until last October to obtain a handgun that investigators believe was used into both homicides. Dodge County Sheriff Scott Rose says the .22 caliber semi-automatic was presented to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the results of ballistic testing that shows shell casings found at the crime scene in Blooming Prairie matched the gun.
“We’ve had our case ready since shortly after Lois was arrested, however it was important to the integrity of the case to have the forensics completed on the alleged murder weapon before formally charging Mrs. Riess.” Sheriff Scott Rose. “Once she was charged out in Florida, and we knew she wasn’t going to get released down there, it allowed us the opportunity to take the time needed to prepare our case and wait for forensics to ensure we have the strongest case possible against Mrs. Riess before charging her.”
It’s not known how long it will take the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office to make a decision on what charges should be filed against Lois Riess. She is currently scheduled to make her next court appearance in Florida, where she faces a possible death sentence, in early April.