Riess a no show in court

Accused killer Lois Riess of Blooming Prairie was a no show once again at her court appearance in a Florida courtroom on Jan. 9.
An attorney for Riess told the court that Riess waived her court hearing. Riess stayed in her jail cell during the court appearance. Judge Joseph C. Fuller told Riess’ attorney that she needs to be in court for her next appearance. 
“I think she needs to be here at some point… we’ve waived it ever since,” Fuller said in court. 
This was at least the second time that Riess, 56, has skipped out of her court hearings.
A new court date has been set for April 17 in Fort Myers.
Riess is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly killing a look-alike woman. In April, Riess befriended Pamela Hutchinson, who was vacationing in Fort Myers, and killed her in a hotel room, authorities say.
Hutchinson’s murder came just weeks after Riess is suspected of killing her husband, David Riess, inside their rural Blooming Prairie home in March. After her husband’s murder, Riess is accused of cleaning out his bank account and fleeing to Florida where she eventually connected with Hutchinson.
Riess has not yet been charged with her husband’s murder. The case has been turned over to the Dodge County Attorney’s Office for review. A spokesperson for the county attorney’s office said last week no charges had been filed and provided no time line of when charges may be forthcoming.
Authorities have previously said Riess will face charges in Florida before Minnesota does anything with her. 
Riess is being held in the Lee County Jail without bond. The Florida State Attorney’s Office has filed to seek the death penalty against Riess.