Woman thought she would split her boyfriend’s multi-million dollar inheritance with his sons so she put ethylene glycol in his drink and poisoned him to death; sentenced
North Dakota – In a shocking case out of North Dakota, a 48-year-old woman, identified as I. Kenoyer, has been sentenced to spend the next 25 years in a state correctional facility for the intentional murder of her 51-year-old boyfriend, identified as S. Riley. The murder, driven by a fictitious multimillion-dollar inheritance, ended tragically with Riley being poisoned with ethylene glycol.
The incident that led to Kenoyer’s conviction began to unfold on September 3, 2023, when Riley was urgently transported to a hospital due to severe illness. His condition worsened rapidly, necessitating an airlift to another hospital, where he tragically succumbed to his symptoms on September 5. An autopsy later confirmed the cause of death as ethylene glycol poisoning, a common ingredient in antifreeze, and officially ruled the manner of death as homicide.
The investigation into Riley’s untimely death took a pivotal turn when, on October 30, 2023, authorities arrested Kenoyer after uncovering her financial motives for the murder. Capt. D. Plessas, Investigations Commander, described the case as “extremely complex,” appreciating the community’s help in gathering crucial information that led to solving the case.
The motive behind this heinous act was rooted in deception and misplaced belief. Kenoyer had been duped into thinking Riley was soon to receive a $30 million inheritance from a distant relative—a belief that tragically fueled her actions. According to reports, Riley had even discussed plans to leave Kenoyer and split the alleged inheritance with his sons. This revelation spurred Kenoyer into action, fearing she would lose out on the inheritance she believed she was entitled to as Riley’s common-law wife. However, her plans crumbled when informed by detectives that North Dakota did not recognize common-law marriages, further aggravating her distress.
The breakthrough in the investigation came when police executed a search warrant at the couple’s residence. They discovered a glass beer mug and a plastic beer cup in the garage—both testing positive for traces of antifreeze. Confronted with overwhelming evidence, Kenoyer eventually confessed to intentionally poisoning Riley’s sweet tea with antifreeze, a desperate act to secure a nonexistent fortune.
During the sentencing, the courtroom heard poignant victim impact statements from Riley’s family. Riley’s sister expressed profound grief, recounting the multiple relationships destroyed by Kenoyer’s actions. She questioned Kenoyer directly in court, “How does it feel to have taken so much for absolutely nothing?” Kenoyer, who remained silent during her sentencing, had earlier pleaded guilty to intentional murder, which led to her receiving the sentence, along with an additional suspended sentence of 25 years and a decade of probation upon release.
This tragic case highlights the destructive power of greed and the devastating impact of deceit. As Kenoyer begins her lengthy sentence, Riley’s grieving family is left to mourn and find closure in the wake of such a senseless and brutal act. The legal resolution provides some solace, but the memory of the injustice endured by Riley and the profound loss felt by his loved ones will linger long after the case has faded from the headlines.
