A Minnesota grandmother is the subject of a nationwide manhunt after officials said she is wanted in connection with the deaths of her husband and a Florida woman who looked like her. Officials say she may have targeted the woman in order to steal her identity.
According to The Washington Post, Lois, 56, has been sought by officials since her husband, David, was found shot to death on March 23 at his worm farm in Blooming Prairie, Minnesota. The couple was well known in the small town and were regulars at a local lunch spot. When David had not been seen for more than a week, neighbors grew concerned and reported his disappearance to police.
It was unclear how long David had been dead, but officials quickly linked his death to Lois’s disappearance and a $10,000 transfer into her account.
Investigators believe Lois stopped at a casino in Iowa before traveling to Lee County, Florida, where she reportedly met 59 year old Pamela. On April 5, the two women were seen together on surveillance footage at a Fort Myers brewery, and Lois was also seen on camera at Pamela’s condo. Four days later, officials found Pamela shot to death in her home, with her credit cards and car keys missing.
Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said at a news conference that Pamela was targeted because of how closely she resembled the suspect, and that her purse was found in disarray with her cash, credit cards and identification removed. He said Lois’s method is to befriend women who look like her and steal their identities.
About a week later, Lois was reportedly seen in Texas, heading south on Highway 77. The case has now grown into a multistate and federal investigation.
Marceno told NBC it was the first time in his career he had seen someone target a victim for her looks in order to steal her identity. He said he fears Lois may become desperate once she runs out of resources and could hurt someone else.
Made to order and shipped to your door.
Lois has not been convicted of any crime, and the case is still developing.
