Ina Kenoyer, a 47-year-old from Minot, North Dakota, murdered her boyfriend, Steven Riley Jr., aged 51, on September 5, 2023. The shocking crime in their shared home revealed a chilling plot driven by greed and deception.
Kenoyer poisoned Riley by spiking his sweet tea with antifreeze, leading to his death from ethylene glycol toxicity. An autopsy confirmed the lethal substance, exposing her attempt to stage the death as alcohol poisoning.
The case is featured in Oxygen’s Snapped, airing July 13, 2025, at 6:00 PM ET. The documentary explores Kenoyer’s motive—a fake $30 million inheritance—her method, and the investigation’s breakthroughs. It includes interviews with Riley’s family, detailing their grief and the trial’s outcome.
Ina Kenoyer poisoned Riley with antifreeze in a deadly plot
Ina Kenoyer killed Steven Riley Jr. on September 5, 2023, in their Minot, North Dakota, home by lacing his sweet tea with antifreeze, a toxic substance containing ethylene glycol. The couple had lived together for years, sharing a home and vehicles, but tensions arose when Kenoyer believed Riley was set to inherit $30 million.
She thought she could claim the fortune as his common-law wife, unaware that North Dakota does not recognize such unions and the inheritance was a hoax, as per Oxygen. On the day of the murder, Riley drank the poisoned tea, suffered seizures, and collapsed. Ina Kenoyer called 911, claiming he was drunk and unresponsive, attempting to mask the crime as alcohol poisoning and heat stroke, as per CBS News. An autopsy revealed ethylene glycol, and a bottle of antifreeze was found in their garage, as per Oxygen.
Riley’s friends, who knew he wasn’t a heavy drinker and the symptoms were not looking as alcohol repercussions, alerted police to inconsistencies in Kenoyer’s story. His sister and son were devastated, describing Riley as a kind mechanic, and the Minot community was stunned by the betrayal. Kenoyer’s calculated act and failed cover-up marked a tragic end to their relationship.
Kenoyer was caught by forensic evidence and faced conviction
Ina Kenoyer got arrested and sentenced on October 16, 2024, after forensic evidence exposed her crime. An autopsy on September 6, 2023, confirmed ethylene glycol in Steven Riley Jr.’s system, and a bottle of antifreeze found in their garage matched the poison. Trace amounts in a glass of sweet tea, Riley drank, corroborated her method.
Ina Kenoyer initially claimed Riley died from alcohol poisoning, but inconsistencies in her story and lack of proof of her story led police to question her. She admitted to spiking the tea, claiming it was impulsive, but her prior discussions about the fake $30 million inheritance suggested premeditation, as per Oxygen. On October 16, 2024, Kenoyer pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in Ward County District Court, receiving a 25-year sentence and 25 years of suspension with 10 years of supervised probation, as per InForum.
She showed little remorse, insisting the inheritance was real, despite evidence it was a hoax. Kenoyer was ordered to pay $3,455 in restitution to Riley’s family, who expressed relief at the verdict. She is incarcerated at the North Dakota Women’s Correctional and Rehabilitation Center in New England, North Dakota, as per North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
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Arvind is a Senior Writer and Editor at Hilvaro, specializing in anime, entertainment, and pop culture. With a BSc in Transportation Technology, his passion for storytelling led him to a career in journalism. He has previously contributed to Sportskeeda and GameRant, covering anime and entertainment with a keen eye for detail.
Outside writing, Arvind loves gaming and is fond of anime, binge-watching movies and television series. He spends some of his free time listening to rock music and writing poetry. What Arvind appreciates most about pop culture is the theme that makes it more alive and engaging for this generation; thus the possibility of such content reaching readers across the globe.
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