Shocking Accusations: Woman, Ina Thea Kenoyer of Minot Accused of Poisoning Boyfriend After His $30 Million Inheritance

A woman in North Dakota is facing accusations of poisoning her boyfriend after he inherited a hefty $30 million.

In a statement from the Minot Police Department on Tuesday, 47-year-old Ina Thea Kenoyer of Minot has been charged with a serious class AA felony for the alleged murder of her 51-year-old partner, Steven Edward Riley Jr., which occurred just last month. Tragically, Riley passed away on September 5, 2023, at a Bismarck hospital after being transferred from Trinity Hospital.

An autopsy determined that the cause of Riley's death was poisoning, and The New York Times reported that he was poisoned with ethylene glycol, the primary ingredient in antifreeze.

According to details from the affidavit, Riley's family disclosed that Kenoyer had made unsettling remarks about poisoning him with antifreeze both before and after his untimely death.

Additionally, a friend of Kenoyer revealed that she witnessed Kenoyer disposing of Riley's belongings outside their home on the day he began feeling unwell, as described in the affidavit, as reported by The New York Times.

Reports indicate that there was significant tension in the relationship between Riley and Kenoyer. Riley was supposedly planning to part ways with Kenoyer after ten years together, following his inheritance of around $30 million.

After Riley's demise, Kenoyer asserted to authorities that she was entitled to a share of the $30 million inheritance, as she considered herself the "common law" wife. However, when investigators clarified that North Dakota did not legally recognize her as a common law spouse, she reportedly reacted with strong emotion, according to The New York Times.

Kenoyer also purported that Riley had experienced a heat stroke and had been drinking, despite Riley's autopsy report confirming his cause of death as poisoning and the absence of alcohol in his system. Furthermore, a Windex window cleaner bottle containing liquid believed to be antifreeze was discovered in the living room.

Riley had been on his way to claim his inheritance when he suddenly fell ill, complaining of stomach pain on September 3. He was admitted to the hospital on September 4 and passed away the following day.

Under the North Dakota Century Code, as reported by CBS News, Kenoyer could face a maximum penalty of life in prison without the possibility of parole if she is found guilty.

Investigations Commander Capt. Dale Plessas expressed the complexity of the case in a statement from the Minot Police Department on Tuesday, thanking all those who provided information that assisted the investigators in piecing together this puzzle.

The investigation remains ongoing.

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