Woman Sentenced to 25 Years for Poisoning Boyfriend Over Fake $30 Million Inheritance

You won’t believe how far one woman went for a non-existent fortune: she poisoned her boyfriend for a $30 million inheritance that was nothing more than an online scam.

At a glance:

  • Ina Thea Kenoyer, 48, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for poisoning her boyfriend, Steven Edward Riley Jr., with antifreeze in hopes of claiming a fake $30 million inheritance.
  • Kenoyer believed she would inherit the money as Riley’s common-law wife, but North Dakota law does not recognize common-law marriages.
  • Riley’s family gave heartbreaking victim impact statements, condemning Kenoyer’s actions and the devastating impact on their lives.

Ina Thea Kenoyer, a 48-year-old woman from North Dakota, has been sentenced to 25 years behind bars for the murder of her longtime boyfriend, Steven Edward Riley Jr. Kenoyer poisoned Riley by spiking his iced tea with antifreeze in September 2023, all in a misguided attempt to secure a $30 million inheritance she believed she was entitled to. The catch? The inheritance never existed—it was part of an online scam.

Kenoyer initially denied poisoning her boyfriend of 10 years, but later changed her plea to guilty of felony murder and extreme indifference to human life. Authorities revealed that Kenoyer believed she could claim the supposed fortune as Riley’s common-law wife. However, North Dakota does not recognize common-law marriages, a fact that enraged Kenoyer when police informed her of the law.

On September 3, 2023, Riley began feeling ill just before what he believed was a meeting with a lawyer to collect his inheritance. Instead of seeking medical help, Kenoyer insisted he was suffering from heat stroke and kept him at home. Riley’s condition worsened, and by September 5, he was unresponsive. He was later pronounced dead after being transferred to a hospital.

An autopsy revealed toxic levels of ethylene glycol, the primary ingredient in antifreeze, in Riley’s blood. Investigators found a Windex bottle and other containers in the couple’s home that tested positive for antifreeze. Kenoyer was arrested on October 30, 2023, after authorities determined her financial motives and discovered Riley planned to end their relationship and split the supposed inheritance with his five sons.

In court, Riley’s family shared the profound grief Kenoyer’s actions caused. His sister, Stephanie Gonzalez, described Kenoyer as “a heinous person with no soul,” lamenting the loss of a father, brother, and uncle. Riley’s son, Ryan, tearfully spoke of his attempts to reconnect with his father before his tragic death, calling the murder “selfish.”

Kenoyer remained silent when given the opportunity to speak in court. She has also been ordered to pay $3,455 in restitution to Riley’s family.