When you hear someone stands to inherit $30 million, your first thought might be envy. But in North Dakota, that windfall turned deadly. Steven Riley, a 51-year-old mechanic from Grand Forks, got an email in early 2023 claiming a distant Irish relative had died—and left him a multimillion-dollar fortune. He was ecstatic. Plans for land purchases, a family auto shop, and financial security danced through his head. Unfortunately, his longtime partner, 47-year-old Ina Kenoyer, had darker designs on that money.
TL;DR:
- Steven Riley thought he inherited $30 million from an Irish relative.
- His partner, Ina Kenoyer, learned he planned to leave her for the money.
- Believing she was entitled to half via common-law marriage (not recognized in ND), Ina poisoned Steven with antifreeze.
- Steven died, but suspicious friends triggered an investigation, revealing the poisoning.
- The entire inheritance was a fake advance-fee scam; the “lawyer” and “fortune” never existed.
- Ina pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
A Living Situation and a Dream Inheritance
Steven and Ina had shared a home—and a life—since the early 2010s. He fixed cars. She managed the household. Neither imagined that an email from London would upend everything. When Steven read that message, he felt guided by fate. Thirty million dollars could clear debts. It could set his sons up for life. It could buy acreage for hunting. He started plotting. Ina joined the excitement. Conversations shifted from mundane chores to budgeting millions. Both talked of a fresh start. Meanwhile, Steven confided in friends: come payday, he’d leave Ina behind.
From Celebration to Betrayal
Word of Steven’s planned exit leaked. Someone close to Ina told her that he’d vanish once he had the money. Ten years of co-habitation no longer mattered. And that’s when Ina’s ambition curdled into desperation. She believed common-law marriage made her entitled to half the inheritance. In North Dakota, though, common-law unions aren’t recognized. She either didn’t know—or she chose to ignore it. Either way, she hatched a sinister plan: if Steven died before transfer, she’d legally inherit through his estate.
Common-Law Marriage Myths
Across the U.S., a few states honor common-law marriage. Not North Dakota. Couples must wed in a ceremony for legal status. Yet Ina told friends she’d be “Mrs. Riley” by default. That misconception emboldened her. She researched estate law in Ireland. She claimed decades together counted. She learned that intestate rules would favor a spouse over blood relatives. In her mind, nothing could stop her.
Antifreeze: The Unassuming Killer
Ethylene glycol—the toxic ingredient in antifreeze—tastes deceptively sweet. That’s how Ina slipped it into Steven’s beloved iced tea. A few milliliters go a long way. Normally, victims suffer stomach pain, delirium, kidney failure, and death within hours to days. It’s cheap, accessible, and hard to detect without a specific toxicology panel. Ina stocked cans of antifreeze behind camouflage: a beer bottle, a Windex spray, even a coffee mug. How many drinks did she rig before Steven’s final one? We may never know.
The Day of Doom
On June 14, 2023, Steven drove to town with Ina and some friends. They planned to pick up paperwork at the airport. A London attorney—per the email—would finalize the inheritance. They’d sign documents. They’d split the money. Ina stirred antifreeze into Steven’s tea before he left the house. He sipped it without suspicion; after all, he trusted her. Hours later, at the waiting lounge, Steven’s face paled. Cramps knocked him to his knees. Friends urged him to go home. He refused. Thirty million was within reach. They convinced him to wait.
Mounting Agony
Minutes stretched into hours. Steven curled on a bench, groaning. His friends debated: take him to the hospital or stay put? The lawyer’s flight kept getting delayed—so they waited. Pain intensified. Steven begged for water. He looked anxious. One friend dialed an airport medic. No response. Another offered to drive Steven home. He refused. The promise of wealth kept him conscious.
Homebound and Unresponsive
Eventually, friends convinced Steven to leave. They carried him into a car. Ina played the caring partner. “It’s just heatstroke,” she claimed. At home, Steven collapsed into bed. His breathing grew shallow. He drifted in and out of consciousness for a full day. Only then did Ina call 911. By the time paramedics arrived, Steven’s kidneys were failing. He died en route to the hospital. Cause? “Acute renal failure,” the initial report said. No red flags. Yet.
Suspicion and Investigation
Steven’s friends, uneasy about celebration-delayed protocols, contacted police. They detailed off-hand remarks Ina had made about “needing him out of the picture.” They mentioned seeing antifreeze cans in odd containers. Police reopened the case. They exhumed Steven’s remains. Toxicology revealed high levels of ethylene glycol. The coroner confirmed antifreeze poisoning.
Interrogating the Suspect
When detectives interviewed Ina, her composure slipped. She insisted Steven’s friends were jealous. She blamed them for urging Steven to stay at the airport too long. She pleaded ignorance about any London lawyer. Then she admitted mentioning threats against Steven by “other people.” Police obtained a search warrant.
Evidence in Plain Sight
Officers combed the Riley-Kenoyer home. Behind a stack of newspapers, they pulled a Windex bottle. It contained antifreeze. A beer bottle held another stash. A coffee mug had lingering residue. Investigators followed the chemical trail straight to Ina. She sat in cuffs during her first mugshot hearing, eyes wide with disbelief.
Courtroom Drama
Prosecutors charged Ina with first-degree murder and poisoning. In pre-trial motions, defense lawyers tried to argue accidental ingestion. They claimed labeling mistakes. They pointed to Syd, the London lawyer who never showed. But emails showed the address was fake. Flight logs proved no attorney ever booked that trip. The inheritance was a sham. Every detail collapsed under cross-examination.
Plea and Sentencing
In May 2025, Ina pleaded guilty to poisoning Steven. She admitted she believed she’d snag half the fortune. She called it a “foolish gamble” spurred by fear of abandonment. The judge gave her 25 years behind bars. No parole until after two decades. As the gavel fell, Ina’s mask cracked. No tears. No apologies. Just a quiet realization that reality—unlike scammed riches—can be unforgiving.
The Scam That Started It All
It turns out the London lawyer was as real as a unicorn. No Irish relative died. The whole inheritance was a digital mirage. Steven and Ina both fell for a classic advance-fee scam. Con artists bank on our greed and trust. They target pristine credit records, middle-aged dreamers, small-town residents. The key is convincing victims to pay fees upfront or sign documents before funds arrive. Most walk away with empty pockets—some end up in tragedy.
This Isn’t an Isolation
Advance-fee schemes aren’t new. In 2024, U.S. citizens reported $650 million lost to inheritance scams—often via email or social media pitches. Antifreeze poisoning, meanwhile, shows up in domestic violence cases across America. It’s a tactic born from convenience and cruelty. When combined—scam plus poison—the results can be fatal.
Legal Lessons in North Dakota
North Dakota probate law doesn’t recognize common-law marriage. Had Ina understood that, she might have spared herself a quarter-century behind bars. Instead, she gambled on a legal fiction. Estate statutes distribute assets to blood kin if no spouse exists. That means an inheritance—even a real one—would have passed to nephews, nieces, or distant cousins first. Always consult an attorney before assuming your rights.
Warning Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore
- Unexpected Windfall
If you’re told you’ll inherit millions, pause. - Upfront Fees or Real-World Meetings Required
Legitimate estates rarely demand you fly overseas unaccompanied. - Secretive Partners
If your significant other suddenly hides financial details, alarm bells should ring. - Off-Label Chemicals in the Home
Ethylene glycol doesn’t belong in coffee mugs or spray bottles.
My Take
This case is tragic on so many levels. Steven’s blind optimism cost him his life. Ina’s cold ambition cost her freedom. Both fell prey to human flaws: greed, mistrust, and misunderstanding of the law. We live in an era where digital deception is as lethal as any weapon. Through their story, I see a warning: verify every inheritance claim. Lay out finances with transparency. And if you ever spot antifreeze in your neighbor’s kitchen, don’t brush it off as a cleaning supply.
Final Thoughts
Human nature hasn’t changed much in centuries. We still chase wealth. We still fear abandonment. We still suffer betrayal. But we also have tools to protect ourselves: legal counsel, solid relationships, and a healthy dose of skepticism. If you receive that too-good-to-be-true email, remember Steven and Ina. Because once you drink that “sweet” offer, you might never wake up again.
