In 2018, something unexpected occurred when Lois Riess, a seemingly ordinary grandmother, murdered her husband, David. What initially appeared to be a tragic case of domestic violence turned into something more sinister, as Riess killed another person while on the run from authorities.
HBO unveiled the official trailer for I’m Not a Monster: The Lois Riess Murders, a new true-crime documentary that deep-dives into the case.
The documentary features interviews with Reiss herself and offers insight from former friends and neighbors, family members, journalists, an addiction specialist, law enforcement officers, witnesses who encountered Lois before her arrest, and a possible would-be victim.
Release Date
Directed by Erin Lee Carr, ‘I’m Not a Monster: The Lois Riess Murders’ debuts October 15, 2024 on HBO at 9:00p.m. ET/PT, followed by episode two on Wednesday, October 16 at 9:00p.m. ET/PT. Both episodes will be available to stream on Max on October 15.
Synopsis
In 2018, a small-town murder in Minnesota shocks a community when 56-year-old wife, mother, and grandmother Lois Riess kills her husband David and goes on the run from the authorities. Years later, Lois sits down with the filmmakers telling her story for the first time. Lois herself attempts to explain her reprehensible actions which reveals a disturbing family history and an addiction to gambling.
Anchored by a candid, yet conflicted interview with Lois, ‘I’m Not a Monster: The Lois Riess Murders’ is an examination of an unorthodox killer and a chronicle of the enduring effects of familial dysfunction and mental health strains on a person’s psyche. In a revealing first-person account, Lois admits to killing David, pointing to alleged emotional abuse in the relationship, but is unable to justify her methodical, well-planned crime spree that followed, which included embezzling funds, a second murder of a stranger, identity theft, and a callous, detailed coverup of her crimes.
As acclaimed filmmaker Carr (and fellow Minnesotan) delves into the motives and mindset of Riess, and as family members, friends, and witnesses recount their impressions of the like-able grandmother, Carr uncovers a deeply troubled past, an extensive gambling addiction, a strained marriage, and a family rocked by mental illness, suicide, and substance abuse. The series explores criminality and accountability through the mystery of a middle-aged woman who couldn’t be further from the typical image of a cold-blooded, multiple murderer.
Episode Descriptions
Part One
Debut date: Tuesday, October 15 (9:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT)
Lois and David Riess live a seemingly normal life as parents to three children, several grandchildren, and a thriving business in Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, until, one day, David’s dead body is discovered and Lois goes on the run. As Lois, now in prison, recounts her childhood and upbringing, a disturbing psychological portrait emerges of a woman battling many emotional demons. However, Lois’s methodical behavior after the murder may show the work of a calculated killer when another body is discovered.
Part Two
Debut date: Wednesday, October 16 (9:00-10:25 p.m. ET/PT)
After the discovery of Pamela Hutchinson’s body in Florida, a nationwide manhunt for the “Killer Grandma” begins and two weeks later, witnesses recognize Lois in Texas. Appearing placid and cooperative, Lois claims not to remember many details of her crime spree, but police have evidence that details her sinister plan.
Official Trailer
Watch the official trailer for ‘I’m Not a Monster: The Lois Riess Murders.’