North Dakota Woman Accused of Poisoning Boyfriend with Antifreeze

Introduction

A shocking case has emerged in North Dakota where a woman is accused of fatally poisoning her boyfriend with antifreeze. What makes this case even more chilling is the suspicion that this may have been part of a plot to claim a portion of his $30 million inheritance. The details of this disturbing incident have come to light, shedding light on a possible motive and the tragic consequences.

The Accused

Ina Thea Kenoyer, a 47-year-old woman from Minot, N.D., has been charged with murder in the death of her boyfriend, Steven Edward Riley, Jr. The couple had been together for 10 years before this tragic event. Kenoyer is currently being held at the Ward County Detention Center in Minot, awaiting her court appearance.

The Suspicious Circumstances

Emergency workers were called to the couple’s home on September 4, where they found Mr. Riley unresponsive. He was rushed to a local emergency room, and later transferred to a hospital in Bismarck. Tragically, he passed away on September 5. Initially, Kenoyer claimed that her boyfriend had suffered a heat stroke, however, an autopsy revealed that he had died from poisoning caused by ethylene glycol, the main ingredient in antifreeze.

A Relationship Filled with Discord

Friends and relatives of Mr. Riley provided crucial information to investigators, indicating that they believed Kenoyer had poisoned him with antifreeze. They mentioned that she had made remarks before and after his death about poisoning him with the substance. This raised further suspicions as it was revealed that there had been significant tension in their relationship. Mr. Riley was about to receive a substantial inheritance, estimated to be around $30 million, and had planned to leave Kenoyer once he received it.

Inheritance Dispute

Kenoyer’s desperation to claim a portion of the inheritance came to light during the investigation. She informed investigators that she was entitled to part of the inheritance as she considered herself Mr. Riley’s “common law” wife and intended to split the money with his son. However, North Dakota does not recognize “common law” marriages, and Kenoyer was enraged when she learned that her claims were invalid.

The Suspicious Timeline

The timeline leading up to Mr. Riley’s death raised several red flags. The evening before he fell ill, he was supposed to meet with a lawyer to finalize the inheritance. Kenoyer accompanied him to the meeting, along with friends. Suddenly, Mr. Riley started feeling unwell, complaining of feeling drunk without consuming alcohol. He experienced stomach pain and nearly collapsed. However, despite his friends’ concerns, Kenoyer insisted that he was suffering from a heat stroke and needed rest.

The Discovery and Evidence

The investigation took a significant turn when one of Kenoyer’s friends reported seeing her dispose of Mr. Riley’s belongings outside their home on the day he fell ill. This friend revealed that Kenoyer was upset because Mr. Riley was about to receive his inheritance and leave her. Additionally, a search of their home uncovered a bottle of Windex window cleaner containing green liquid suspected to be antifreeze. The authorities also found suspicious items, including a Coors Light beer bottle and a plastic mug, both believed to contain antifreeze, in the garage.

Possible Explanations, but No Alibis

Kenoyer tried to present various scenarios to explain how her boyfriend may have accidentally ingested antifreeze, including suggesting that he had smoked a cigarette that had fallen into antifreeze in the garage. However, investigators remained unconvinced. Furthermore, Kenoyer acknowledged serving Mr. Riley sweet tea throughout the day, highlighting that antifreeze can be easily concealed in sweet drinks. Investigators discovered that Kenoyer was alone with Mr. Riley for at least 12 hours after the airport incident before seeking medical attention.

A Disturbing Trend

Tragically, this is not the first case of a romantic partner being accused of poisoning their loved one this year. Just last week, a Minnesota doctor was accused of fatally poisoning his wife, and earlier this year, a Utah doctor who wrote a children’s book about grief was charged with killing her husband with fentanyl. These cases serve as a reminder of the alarming reality that exists within some relationships.

Read More of this Story at www.nytimes.com – 2023-11-01 06:10:00

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