Judge Denies Bond for 'Killer Grandma' Suspect Lois Riess at First Court Appearance

Lois Riess, the alleged "killer grandma," appeared in a Florida courtroom over the weekend where she was ordered held without bond.

During her scheduled court appearance Sunday morning, the judge announced Riess will remain behind bars at the Lee County Jail until the pre-trial detention hearing, which will be held within the next five days.

The defense team tried to make a case to wait on making a decision, but the judge denied the request. The state argued to hold Riess because they say she is a danger to the community and killed specifically to steal the victim’s identity.

In addition, the state attorney's office reportedly told the judge that Riess is refusing to take her psychiatric medication.

Riess had been on the run for two weeks after allegedly killing her husband, David Riess, 54, in Minnesota before traveling to Fort Myers Beach, Fla., and killing a woman, Pamela Hutchinson, 59, who was in the area on vacation.

Authorities believe Riess targeted Hutchinson because the two bore a similar appearance.

After fleeing Florida, Riess was captured on April 19 at a restaurant in South Padre Island, Texas, where the manager recognized her from news reports and called police.

She was then extradited back to Florida.

She faces charges of second-degree murder, criminal use of identification, larceny and grand theft auto.

“I know that I speak on behalf of Sheriff [Mike] Scott when I say that we are relieved to have Lois Riess in our custody,” Undersheriff Carmine Marceno said. "Her arrest is the result of excellent teamwork between state and federal law enforcement agencies, our media partners and the entire community.”

Authorities said they plan to bring her back to Minnesota once her Florida trial is over.

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