Pamela Hutchinson, a 59-year-old woman from Bradenton, Florida, was tragically killed in April 2018 after being mistaken for a fugitive, Lois Riess, who had previously murdered her own husband in Minnesota.
ID’s See No Evil will feature an episode, titled Double Identity, which revisits the case and details the investigation that led to Riess’ arrest in Texas.
The episode aired on January 25, 2023, at 9:00 pm ET. The case received nationwide attention as a result of the connection between the two murders and the subsequent manhunt for Riess.
How Was Pamela Shot?
On April 3rd of 2018, Pamela Hutchinson ventured to Fort Myers Beach for a solemn mission. Accompanying a friend, she set out to honor her late husband by scattering his ashes off the coast of Sanibel.
Yet, tragedy ensued and when no one came forth to account for her whereabouts, hotel clerks mentioned that on April 6th an individual called the front desk and asked them to extend Hutchinson’s stay until the 9th.
Her body was discovered in Room 404 days later, with authorities suggesting her death happened sometime between 7:46 and 8:34 pm on April 5th. This occurrence still puzzles authorities who are investigating the circumstances surrounding Ms.Hutchinson’s unexpected demise.
Upon responding to the scene, detectives found the body of Pamela in its early stages of decomposition, with two bullet holes in her back and chest. A pillow nearby had been shot through and appeared to have been slept on by someone.
In addition, a disheveled mess surrounded Pamela’s possessions, signifying that several items were missing from the scene which reportedly included her jewelry, bank cards, ID card, pocketbook, and car.
This discovery has led investigators to further investigate the area for any clues regarding Pamela’s death.
What Did The Security Footage Reveal?
Security footage at the hotel where Pamela Hutchinson was staying was invaluable to investigators as it established a timeline of events.
It appeared that Hutchinson had invited Riess to join her in her hotel room on April 4th and the two proceeded to spend the night together.
They were captured on camera leaving for breakfast at a nearby restaurant bright and early in the morning, then returned afterward for what would be their last meal together before Riess headed off again around 7:46 pm.
This sequence of events provided clear evidence of Riess’ presence, adding valuable data to the investigation into Hastings’ disappearance.
Surveillance videos captured Lois Reiss entering the victim’s home on April 5th, 2019. However, when she decided to leave the residence more than an hour later, she was seen departing alone.
Authorities discovered that during her time in the house, Reiss had murdered the resident, Pamela Hutchinson.
After assuming Hutchinson’s identity with white lies and fake promises of friendship, Reiss had taken the victim’s car and withdrew $5,000 from her. After fleeing to Texas, police were able to locate her at a restaurant due to a tip that had been given in.
In December 2019 Reiss pleaded guilty to numerous charges such as first-degree murder with a firearm and grand theft of motor vehicles amongst others. Later on, she also admitted guilty to murdering her husband David Riess in March 2018.
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