Love Turned Lethal: Woman Poisons Boyfriend After Learning Of His Plans To Dump Her Hours After Inheriting $30 Million
In a tragic incident, Ina Thea Kenoyer (47), a resident of North Dakota, has been charged with the alleged murder of her boyfriend, Steven Edward Riley Jr. (51). The grim event unfolded after Kenoyer reportedly felt betrayed by Riley.
The series of events began when Steven Edward Riley Jr. met with his legal counsel on September 3 to claim a substantial inheritance estimated at a staggering $30 million. Witnesses closely associated with the case attest to this meeting. Unfortunately, shortly after this meeting, Riley fell seriously ill. Surprisingly, Kenoyer did not contact emergency services until the following day when paramedics finally arrived at Riley’s residence in Minot. Regrettably, it was at that point that Riley was found unresponsive. Despite efforts to save him, he tragically passed away in the hospital the following day.
An autopsy conducted on Riley’s body revealed the presence of a fatal dose of antifreeze, raising suspicions among law enforcement that Kenoyer might have been involved in the poisoning. During the days leading up to her arrest, Kenoyer took to Facebook to vehemently deny her involvement in the alleged murder, even suggesting that Riley had taken his own life.
In a perplexing twist to the case, Kenoyer reportedly divulged her intention to law enforcement officials, claiming that she had planned to share Riley’s substantial inheritance with his son. She asserted her entitlement to the fortune based on what she believed was a common-law marriage, despite North Dakota not legally recognizing such relationships.
Adding complexity to the situation, it was revealed that Riley had expressed his desire to terminate his relationship with Kenoyer shortly after he received news of his inheritance. This revelation has led investigators to theorize that Kenoyer may have resorted to poisoning in an attempt to secure the inheritance. In the wake of these developments, Riley’s son took to Facebook to express his grief and his hope for justice in the case.
Kenoyer now faces a severe AA felony murder charge, the most serious offense in North Dakota. She is currently being held without bond at the Ward County Detention Center, and notably, she has chosen to represent herself in court.
