North Dakota Killer Poisoned Boyfriend Over $30M That Never Existed

In an unsettling case of greed and deception, Ina Thea Kenoyer, 48, of North Dakota, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for poisoning her boyfriend, Steven Edward Riley Jr., with antifreeze. The disturbing motive behind the crime was Kenoyer’s belief that Riley was about to receive a multimillion-dollar inheritance, which turned out to not even be true.

A Web of Lies and Suspicion

Kenoyer was arrested in October 2023 following an investigation into Riley’s sudden illness and subsequent death in September. Riley had reportedly fallen ill while meeting with a lawyer about the inheritance on Sept. 3, 2023. The following day, Kenoyer called emergency services after finding him unresponsive. Riley was taken to a local hospital and later transferred to a Bismarck facility, where he passed away on Sept. 5. An autopsy confirmed that Riley died from ethylene glycol poisoning, the active chemical in antifreeze.

Friends and family of Riley voiced their suspicions to the police, stating that his health had rapidly declined around the time of the alleged inheritance proceedings. Authorities also uncovered that Kenoyer believed she was entitled to a share of the supposed $30 million as Riley’s common-law wife, despite North Dakota not recognizing such unions.

The Investigation and Legal Outcome

The Minot Police Department quickly linked Riley’s poisoning to Kenoyer. Investigators doubted the inheritance even existed and found discrepancies in Kenoyer’s account of events. She claimed Riley’s death was caused by alcohol consumption and heat stroke, an explanation contradicted by toxicology reports and testimony from friends who alerted police to possible foul play. In May 2024, Kenoyer pleaded guilty as part of a deal with prosecutors, avoiding the possibility of a life sentence.

Her sentence includes 50 years in prison, with 25 years suspended, followed by 10 years of supervised probation. Additionally, she has been ordered to pay $3,455 in restitution to Riley’s family.

A Family Torn Apart

Riley’s family, devastated by the senseless loss, attended the sentencing to deliver impact statements. His sister expressed the family’s heartbreak and frustration, lamenting that no punishment could equate to the pain caused by Kenoyer’s actions. Her words reflected the agony of a family forced to grapple with a loss driven by deception and greed.

A Tragic Lesson on the Perils of Greed

Kenoyer’s case underscores the darker sides of human behavior and the devastating consequences of unchecked greed. Believing in a fabricated fortune, she committed an act that shattered lives and destroyed a family. For Riley’s loved ones, the pursuit of justice offers some solace, but the scars left by the crime will remain. This case serves as a grim reminder of how obsession with wealth can lead to ruin, tearing apart trust and leaving devastation in its wake.

References: North Dakota woman accused of poisoning boyfriend over inheritance to serve 25 years in prison | North Dakota woman gets 25 years in prison for fatally poisoning boyfriend