Steven Riley, 51, was living a life most could only dream of when he discovered he was set to inherit a whopping $30 million from a distant relative he’d never met.
The unexpected email from a lawyer left him imagining the life-changing impact of such a vast sum. With five sons to share his newfound fortune with, Steven’s joy knew no bounds. His girlfriend of 10 years, Ina Thea Kenoyer, who lived with him in Minot, North Dakota, was equally ecstatic about the surprise windfall.
However, the promise of millions seemed to give Steven a new perspective on his life. He confided in friends that he was considering leaving Kenoyer and sharing the money solely with his sons.
A meeting with the inheritance lawyer was scheduled for 3 September, 2023 at a local airport. Although Steven hadn’t revealed his intentions to end their relationship, Kenoyer somehow got wind of it.
She decided that if she wasn’t going to get a share of the money, she would take it all. After a decade with Steven, Kenoyer believed she had common law wife status and would be entitled to the money upon his death, reports the Mirror.
All she needed was for that eventuality to occur. Almost immediately, Kenoyer began to lace Steven’s iced tea with antifreeze. The main ingredient, ethylene glycol, has a sweet taste, so Steven would have unknowingly consumed the lethal liquid.
On the day Steven was scheduled to meet the lawyer and collect the cheque, he went to the airport with Kenoyer and some friends. He began to feel ill and complained of stomach pains.
His walking became unsteady, as if he were intoxicated, and he started to vomit. The lawyer didn’t turn up. Meanwhile, Steven’s friends grew increasingly concerned about his condition and suggested he needed immediate medical attention. However, Kenoyer insisted it was just heat stroke from drinking too much in the sun and said she’d take care of him at home.
Later that day, a friend came over to check on Steven. Kenoyer claimed he had gone to a walk-in clinic, but the friend couldn’t locate Steven or any record of him at any local clinic or the emergency room. The friend returned to Steven’s house and found him unconscious. They dialled 999 and paramedics rushed him to hospital but, despite being airlifted to a second hospital, he couldn’t be saved.
He passed away on 5 September. When Kenoyer spoke to the police about the inheritance she was expecting, she insisted that while she would keep her share, she would later distribute the money to Steven’s sons. Officers informed her that North Dakota law doesn’t recognise common-law marriages, so she wouldn’t be entitled to any of the money. They noticed she suddenly became angry and upset.
After Steven’s tragic passing, his family raised the alarm with authorities, revealing that Kenoyer had previously spoken about poisoning her boyfriend with antifreeze. As he lay critically ill in the hospital, they reported she had suggested he was suffering from antifreeze poisoning, prompting detectives to be vigilant for signs of foul play.
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The post-mortem examination confirmed Steven’s cause of death as ethylene glycol poisoning, a key component in antifreeze, and there was no evidence of alcohol consumption, contradicting Kenoyer’s assertion that he had been drinking. A search of their residence uncovered a Windex bottle filled with antifreeze and both a beer bottle and a plastic mug in the garage that tested positive for traces of the toxic substance.
During interrogation, Kenoyer refuted any involvement in Steven’s death, speculating that perhaps he had accidentally contaminated a cigarette with antifreeze in the garage. She also mentioned an internet search which indicated that heat stroke symptoms could “mimic poisoning”.
Kenoyer was apprehended on 30 October after investigators discovered she had “financial motives” for the murder of Steven. However, the supposed $30 million inheritance turned out to be nothing but an online scam; there was never any real money involved.
Initially, Kenoyer denied poisoning Steven’s drink, but she later confessed to lacing her boyfriend’s iced tea with antifreeze. In May this year, she entered a guilty plea to felony murder and, five months on, awaited her sentencing.
The impact of the crime was profound, as evidenced by the statement from Steven’s sister, Stephanie Gonzalez. During the time Steven lay dying, Kenoyer had attempted to sell his car.
“You stole a father from five sons, a brother from two sisters, an uncle from 12 nieces and nephews and a great uncle to eight and many friends,” Gonzalez expressed. She questioned Kenoyer, “How does it feel to have taken so much for absolutely nothing?”
Stephanie also spoke of their 71 year old mother’s perpetual grief, stating that she would live out her days with a heart full of sorrow. Addressing Kenoyer, she said, “Like the family of any victim feels, the punishment should fit the crime,” She pointedly added, “Fortunately for you, the Department of Corrections doesn’t put antifreeze in the iced tea.”
Steven’s 21 year old son Ryan expressed his grief, saying, “I don’t think there’s anything more important than family,” and added, “To have you take away someone so important, it’s just hurtful. I can’t even find the words to describe how I feel and how much it burdens everyone. I just wish none of this ever happened. I never expected to lose my dad to something so selfish.”
In court, the judge sentenced Kenoyer, aged 48, to a 25-year prison term and ordered her to pay $3,455 in restitution to Steven’s family. She chose not to make a statement.
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