MINOT, N.D. (trfnews.i234.me) — A chilling tale of betrayal and murder has come to an end as Ina Thea Kenoyer was sentenced to serve 25 years behind bars for poisoning her boyfriend, Steven Riley Jr., using antifreeze. This heinous crime not only took the life of a loving partner but also shattered the trust that once existed between them.
According to reports from Minot police, Kenoyer’s actions were motivated by greed and a desire to secure a large inheritance she believed was coming her way. However, authorities soon discovered that this supposed fortune was nothing more than an illusion created by Kenoyer herself.
Riley, 51, had planned to break up with Kenoyer before the fateful day when he fell ill after consuming antifreeze laced food or drink, according to court documents. Despite his friends and family’s suspicions of foul play, authorities initially believed Riley died from heat stroke due to excessive alcohol consumption in the days leading up to his death.
However, an autopsy revealed that Riley had indeed been poisoned with ethylene glycol, a toxic substance commonly used as antifreeze. This shocking revelation led investigators to Kenoyer and ultimately resulted in her arrest on charges of murder.
In May 2023, Kenoyer pleaded guilty to the crime, and after months of deliberation, State District Judge Richard Hagar accepted the joint sentencing recommendation from both sides – a sentence that would see Kenoyer serve 25 years behind bars with an additional 10 years of supervised probation. The court also ordered her to pay $3,455 in restitution to Riley’s family.
Kenoyer faced up to life imprisonment without parole for this heinous crime but ultimately received the lesser sentence due to her guilty plea and cooperation during the investigation process.