A North Dakota woman has been charged with fatally poisoning her boyfriend in order to obtain his $30million inheritance, received just hours earlier.
Ina Thea Kenoyer, 47, allegedly murdered Steven Edward Riley Jr, 51, by feeding him antifreeze on September 3, the day he had met with his lawyer to collect the whopping sum, police records state.
Investigators believe Kenoyer had ‘financial motives’ after learning that Riley planned to break off their relationship once he had received the inheritance.
Kenoyer told investigators she believed was entitled to the fortune as his common-law wife, a status North Dakota does not recognize, and planned to split the windfall with Riley’s son.
Riley became ill on September 3 but his partner did nor call 911 until the following day, witnesses told the police.
Ina Thea Kenoyer (pictured) was charged with the poisoning of her boyfriend on Monday
Steven Riley (pictured) died after ingesting antifreeze, an autopsy of his body found
When paramedics arrived they found Riley unresponsive in his Minot home and he was rushed to Trinity Hospital in Minot.
He was later transferred to a Bismarck hospital where he died the following day.
Kenoyer told authorities that Riley had been drinking heavily and suffered heat stroke the previous day.
An autopsy determined he had not been drinking and had died after ingesting antifreeze.
A police search of the couple’s home revealed a Windex bottle containing what was suspected to be anti-freeze.
A beer bottle and plastic mug, both suspected of containing anti-freeze, were located in the garage.
Kenoyer denied the accusations in a series of incoherent Facebook posts.
‘To the Shafer that almost hit me, that’s not married hello hunny I wish I was looking for someone but no I’m a one man woman, kind person, and Steve Riley the only man I ever wanted,’ she said in a post three days before she was charged with murder.
Police believe Kenoyer (right) had ‘financial motives’ to murder Riley (left) after he inherited $30 million
Kenoyer told investigators she believed was entitled to the fortune as his common-law wife, a status North Dakota does not recognize
Kenoyer, (pictured) who has denied the charges, faces up to life in prison without parole
Riley’s son wrote on Facebook following her arrest, ‘rest in peace dad… I had a feeling it was her with how everything played out, but f–k I wish we made plans to see each other sooner.’
Riley’s son, Ryan, wrote on Facebook following her arrest, ‘rest in peace dad… I had a feeling it was her with how everything played out, but f**k I wish we made plans to see each other sooner.’
Adding: ‘Hope she gets what she deserves for taking you from this world.’
Kenoyer faces AA felony murder, the most severe murder charge in North Dakota carrying a sentence of up to life imprisonment without parole.
She is being held without bond at the Ward County Detention Center and is representing herself, court records show.