A shocking incident unfolded in Minot, North Dakota, as Ina Thea Kenoyer, a 47-year-old woman, was charged on Monday with the murder of her boyfriend, Steven Edward Riley Jr., 51.
The arrest came after an investigation into Riley’s untimely demise on September 5, 2023.
According to police records, the tragedy began to unravel when Riley met with his lawyer on September 3 to collect a substantial inheritance sum, rumored to be around $30 million.
Witnesses informed investigators that Riley fell ill shortly after this meeting.
However, it wasn’t until the following day, September 4, that Kenoyer finally contacted emergency services. Paramedics arrived at Riley’s residence to find him unresponsive.
Tragically, Riley passed away at the hospital on September 5.
An autopsy later revealed that he had ingested a lethal dose of antifreeze, leading law enforcement to suspect foul play.
Allegations surfaced that Kenoyer had intentionally fed him the toxic substance.
In the days leading up to her arrest, Kenoyer took to social media to proclaim her innocence, asserting that Riley had taken his own life.
She also claimed entitlement to the inheritance as Riley’s common-law wife, despite North Dakota not recognizing such relationships.
Complicating matters further, Riley had apparently intended to end their romance shortly after receiving his windfall, prompting investigators to theorize a motive for the alleged poisoning.
Riley’s grieving son expressed his sorrow on Facebook and hoped that justice would be served.
She now faces the most severe murder charge in North Dakota, and she is currently being held without bond at the Ward County Detention Center.
In an intriguing twist, she has chosen to represent herself in court.
