I Am Not a Monster: The Lois Riess Murders Review - A Gripping Journey into the Mind of a Killer

HBO’s latest true-crime documentary titled I’m Not a Minster: The Lois Reiss Murders is a two-part series directed and produced by Erin Lee Carr. It follows the story of Lois Reiss, who was accused of the murder of his late husband, David, back in 2018.

Following the incident, Reiss attempted to stage the scene at her house to make it appear that her husband was indeed alive, for 12 days. She eventually attempted to escape the authorities but was caught after a brief search.

The offical synopsis of the documentary reads:

"I’m Not a Monster: The Lois Riess Murders examines the unorthodox killer and her well-planned crime spree — from embezzling funds to the murder of a stranger to identity theft — while chronicling the enduring effects of familial dysfunction and mental health strains on her psyche."

The documentary features multiple interviews with Lois Reiss herself, which she gave while serving her sentence. In the two episodes, the series attempts to delve into her mindset and touches upon the impact of Lois Reiss on her victims and their families. I Am Not a Monster: The Lois Reiss Murders premiered on Max on October 15, 2024, with the second episode released a day later.

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I Am Not a Monster: The Lois Reiss Murders offers a gripping take on Reiss’s crimes

I Am Not a Monster begins with a detailed account of how the murders went down. The story begins back in 2018, in the small town of Blooming Prairie in Minnesota. Lois Reiss, who was 56 at the time, was a wife, mother, and even a grandmother. Reiss, whose first victim was her own husband David, suffered from years of mental and emotional abuse from her husband.

During one such argument, when her husband asked her, ‘Why don’t you just kill yourself?’ and handed her a .22 gun, Reiss quickly turned the tables. She took the handgun and pointed it at her husband instead, eventually firing two shots from close range. However, the shocking part of the story came later, when Reiss proceeded to set up her husband’s body in their home, attempting to make it seem as if he was still alive.

I Am Not a Monster initially attempts to uncover the problematic relationship the couple shared, as well as the kind of abuse that Lois Reiss suffered from. However, it was her next victim that exposed Reiss’ scary descent. Regardless, the documentary initially delves into her history, consisting of a gambling addiction and the existence of mental illness in her family.

The documentary also features Reiss's interviews where she's seen explaining how she had no choice but to end her husband’s life, owing to the kind of abuse that she had to bear. However, her next victim came in the form of Pamela Hutchinson.

Hutchinson came from a similar background as Reiss, and the two looked similar as well. This led to Reiss murdering Hutchinson using the same .22 calibre gun as well. This was followed by an attempted identity theft, as Reiss went on to steal her credit card and car, in addition to withdrawing $6000 from her bank account.

While in the documentary I Am Not a Monster, Louis Reiss can be seen attempting to rationalize her actions, the details of the second murder paint a different picture. The documentary then shows various interviews from people who knew Lois Reiss. This includes family members, friends, law enforcement officers, and even a potential victim.

The documentary unfolds Reiss’ web of lies, and juxtaposes her claims with actual evidence. The two-part series first explores Reiss’s claims, and then presents the evidence and accounts that directly contradict her story. Hence, even as Reiss is seen attempting to paint herself as a victim of circumstances, the documentary exposes her darker side.

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With just two episodes, I Am Not a Monster presents a well-rounded account of the Lois Reiss murders, even as the murderer herself attempts to understate her crimes. It is now available to stream on HBO Max.