North Dakota Woman Charged with Poisoning Boyfriend Over $30 Million Scam Inheritance
A North Dakota woman, Ina Thea Kenoyer, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for killing her boyfriend, Steven Edward Riley Jr., after discovering he was set to inherit $30 million—a claim that ultimately turned out to be a scam.
The court found that Kenoyer poisoned Riley with antifreeze, motivated by his alleged threat to leave her as he prepared to meet with a lawyer regarding the inheritance. Authorities arrested her in September 2023 after Riley’s son revealed that the inheritance was not real. “It was a scam,” he stated, explaining that Riley was convinced he would receive the money once the supposed lawyer arrived, but that lawyer never showed up.
At the time, both Kenoyer and Riley believed the inheritance was genuine. With thoughts of newfound wealth, Riley considered ending his decade-long relationship with Kenoyer, leading her to commit murder rather than risk losing him.
Initially, Kenoyer thought she was entitled to a share of the alleged $30 million as Riley’s common-law wife. However, she later learned that North Dakota does not recognize common-law marriages, further fueling her desperation.
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The court’s investigation revealed a toxic amount of antifreeze in Riley’s system, with ethylene glycol detected in his blood. It is believed that Kenoyer used the sweet flavor of ethylene glycol to mask the taste of the antifreeze, which she reportedly mixed into his sweet tea.
Judge Richard Hagar accepted a joint sentencing recommendation from both the defense and prosecution. During the proceedings, Riley’s sister, Stephanie Gonzalez, spoke poignantly about the impact of Kenoyer’s actions, saying, “You stole more than a human life. You stole a son from his mother and stepfather. You stole a father from five sons, a brother from two sisters, an uncle from 12 nieces and nephews, and a great uncle to eight, and many friends. How does it feel to have taken so much for absolutely nothing?”
