As I delve into the life of Lois Riess, a woman whose story is as complex as it is heart-wrenching, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of empathy for her. Her tale is a testament to the destructive power of abuse, addiction, and mental health struggles that often lurk in the shadows, unseen by the naked eye.
In a straightforward and conversational manner: Whether it’s “The Jinx: The Life and Death of Robert Durst” or “The Lady and the Dale”, HBO has been delivering captivating true-crime documentaries for enthusiasts. The latest addition to their collection continues this trend, revealing startling details and prompting viewers to ponder challenging questions.
The docudrama “I’m Not a Monster: The Lois Riess Murders” on HBO delves into the intricate complexities of real-life criminal cases, revealing that they often appear simple yet are riddled with unexpected twists and turns. This chilling true-crime documentary focuses on two startling murders carried out by Lois Riess, opting to portray a layered narrative rather than providing straightforward conclusions.
Lois’ Difficult Childhood and Adulthood
One significant element that sets this gripping true-crime series apart is the revelation that Lois experienced a challenging upbringing, which indelibly impacted her adult years too. As the youngest among five siblings, Lois found herself needing to fend for herself at an early age. This pattern of self-reliance persisted into her adulthood, as she frequently ran away and missed school in an attempt to escape the complexities of her home life.
In Lois’ household, her mother exhibited symptoms of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, which made their home a haven for hoarders. Her father was often absent, living in denial of the problems at hand. Despite not being financially poor, due to his wife’s excessive hoarding, most of their resources were kept hidden from him. This left Lois without a stable upbringing, leading her to live with various people, engage in substance abuse, and ultimately suffer physical abuse at her mother’s hands.
From the outside, Lois seemed outgoing and humorous, but behind the scenes, she concealed all the unfavorable aspects of her life. Since childhood, she demonstrated resilience. However, it was only when she began working at age sixteen and encountered her future spouse, Dave, that her path appeared to diverge.
Isolation as a Result of Abuse
Following a short courtship and cohabitation, the couple made a surprise decision to get married quickly, starting their life together and eventually having their first of three children. To an onlooker, they appeared as the ideal family, but maintaining this image was Lois’ daily responsibility. However, the documentary revealed that behind closed doors, their relationship was marked by bullying, emotional abuse, and frequent outbursts of aggression from Dave, which were an unfortunate aspect of married life with him.
Lois clarifies that he wasn’t prepared for commitment and would ultimately strip her of everything dear. Running her own daycare, earning her own income, building her own social network, and consequently gaining independence was not an option, and it had to be discontinued. Simultaneously, they relocated to a remote farm, which left her feeling deeply lonely initially, and eventually she found herself financially reliant on him.
Lois, having been brought up in that environment, found the abuse she suffered as a child and her belief that divorce was unthinkable to be strong factors shaping her life. Lois never even considered divorce as an escape route, due to the intimidation she faced from Dave and growing up with a mindset very much at odds with modern views. Lois, in response to the verbal and physical abuse, adopted a submissive role and was subjected to Dave’s controlling behavior.
A Crippling Gambling Addiction
Trauma is undeniably intricate, as we delve into Lois’ past, both childhood and adulthood, it becomes apparent that her treatment raises questions about how she managed such an intense accumulation of emotions. In the chilling documentary on Max, Lois confesses that by constantly prioritizing others over herself, she succumbed to depression. Her only means of finding solace was through gambling, which quickly led to an addiction. This fleeting sense of pleasure from gambling and the thrill of having her own money served as a dangerous form of self-care for her. She persisted in pursuing this hypnotic state until there was nothing left.
Lois suffered greatly due to addiction, just like many others. When her father passed away, his children inherited his wealth. Unlike her sibling who received 25% of the inheritance, Lois got only 15%. Despite taking care of their ailing father, this disparity was hard for her to accept.
In a rather complex turn of events, I found myself astonished by the story of Lois, who was accused of taking Kim’s funds. She justified her actions as compensating herself for her caretaker role. Struggling to repay what she had taken, Lois contemplated suicide and was fortunately rescued by Dave. Unfortunately, after being admitted to a mental health facility, it was said that Dave felt embarrassed by the situation, and our home environment grew increasingly tense. To the point where Lois asserted that Dave persistently urged her to try again, insisting on her success in ending her life.
Lois’ Murderous Escape From Guilt and Shame
The novel “I’m Not a Monster” doesn’t merely present Lois as a ruthless, guilt-free murderer. Instead, her actions, which led to the loss of two lives’ futures, are a product of her guilt and shame. After stealing from her sister, Lois was sued for an astronomical sum of $100,000, a debt that would be crushing to most people. Furthermore, there seems to be a lack of healthy communication or support within the marriage.
Lois found herself trapped in a whirlwind of turmoil due to the intense abuse she was experiencing and her compulsion to use substances. In her own words, the abuse escalated dramatically when Dave forced her to take her life, instructing her to do it right this time. However unnatural it may seem, Lois aimed the gun at Dave and pulled the trigger twice. She left his lifeless body in the bathroom for several days until she could no longer bear it any longer and escaped to Florida.
At the crime scene in Florida, where Lois took an innocent life, it appears to be a calculated, premeditated murder in the eyes of the law. However, what remains hidden is the torment and addiction that Lois was battling at the time.
As per Lois’ account, the subject of suicide resurfaced, causing her to lose consciousness momentarily. Consequently, she fired shots at Hutchinson, spent a night in her apartment, grabbed her belongings and vehicle, and left for South Padre Island with the intention of beginning anew. However, her troubled state of mind, marked by guilt and the need to escape her past, eventually led authorities to track her down and apprehend her.
Mental Health Struggles and Blackouts
The investigations presented in “I’m Not a Monster” reveal that Lois’ circumstances are anything but simple. Her actions, which hold peculiar complexities, add an unsettling layer to the case. For instance, Lois’ go-bag containing weapons and personal items of her victims, like Pamela’s sunglasses, hint at a trophy-like quality. Moreover, her ability to carry on living in a house where her deceased husband lies unattended creates truly chilling scenes within this true-crime documentary.
Following her arrest, instead of going to court, Lois chose to acknowledge her guilt and was given a life sentence, narrowly avoiding the death penalty. Although she is riddled with shame and remorse for her actions, she expressed a desire that she had spoken more openly about her mental health issues earlier on. As her mother passed away in a psychiatric facility, Lois harbored concerns that she might meet a similar fate. However, since she claims to have experienced severe blackouts and can’t recall exactly why she killed Dave and Pamela, it is possible that her sentence may have been less severe under different circumstances.
There’s a striking similarity between the two killings: they both occurred in bathrooms, involved gunshots to the abdomen area, and towels were strategically placed at the doors to conceal any foul odors. Notably, Lois appeared to carry on with her usual routine post-incident, and it’s claimed that her final discussions with both victims revolved around her supposed suicide plans.
Something inside Lois seems to have been triggered, which could possibly be connected to her severe blackouts and the strain of mental health issues in her family. This case shows that there is always, or at least often, more to a story than just what’s there in plain sight. To this day, Lois is paying for her crimes as she serves concurrent life sentences in the Correctional Facility in Shakopee. I’m Not a Monster: The Lois Riess Murders is available to stream on Max.
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2024-11-09 19:32