Poison Plot Unravels: A Deadly Inheritance That Never Existed
Imagine being led to believe you have a windfall of $30 million. Now, imagine being so convinced it’s real that you commit the unthinkable. Welcome to the twisted tale of Ina Thea Kenoyer and her ill-fated boyfriend, Steven Edward Riley Jr.
Ina believed her boyfriend, Steven, had snagged a $30 million inheritance. Sounds like everyone’s dream, right? Well, it became Steven’s nightmare.
Turns out the North Dakota man and his girlfriend were both living in a financial fairy tale. And fairy tales often come with dark twists.
One day, police stumbled upon a Windex bottle filled with antifreeze in their living room. It was not, as one might naively hope, a cleaning solution gone rogue.
A medical examiner concluded Steven’s cause of death: poisoning. And our Cinderella–Kenoyer–wasn’t exactly innocent. She pleaded guilty to murder at a pretrial hearing. “Guilty,” she said, making the courthouse microphone wobble with her heavy admission.
So, why commit such a heinous act? You guessed it: dollar signs. Kenoyer had her eyes on that (nonexistent) $30 million prize.
But here’s where the plot gets thicker: investigators realized the inheritance was a hoax. Yes, folks, the millions were as fictional as unicorns and trustworthy politicians.
As Riley set off for the airport on the fateful September 3, eager to meet a lawyer about his pretend fortune, he was struck with sudden stomach pain. Friends noticed he seemed oddly intoxicated, but blood tests showed zero alcohol.
Back home, the green liquid found in a Coors Light bottle and a plastic mug matched the Windex bottle. The anticipation for Kenoyer’s culinary exploits dies here–this was antifreeze.
Kenoyer had a talent for creative storytelling, telling authorities that Riley had day-drinking and heat stroke. She even cited Google searches to suggest that heat stroke might “mimic poisoning.” If only her acting skills matched her storytelling…
According to court documents, Kenoyer even proposed that Riley might have incompetently inhaled antifreeze fumes. Kenoyer cast herself as Riley’s loving common-law wife, planning to split the fake inheritance with his son.
But reality hit hard when investigators refused to recognize her common-law wife status. Cue emotional declarations and eventual confession: she had spiked Riley’s sweet tea with antifreeze.
Kenoyer underwent a competency evaluation at State Hospital in Jamestown and awaits an August 14 sentencing. Another evaluation might be on the horizon before her judgment day.
If you’re tangled in domestic violence, dial the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org for confidential support. Be safe, be aware, and remember: not every story of riches has a happy ending.
Stay Informed, Stay Safe
Oddly compelling and tragically real, this tale serves as a sobering reminder that greed can lead us down dark, deceptive paths. Remember–protect your heart as much as your wallet.
