US woman accused of fatally poisoning boyfriend after he received inheritance

A North Dakota woman is accused of fatally poisoning her boyfriend with antifreeze after learning that he planned to break up with her after he received a large inheritance.

Steven Riley Jr, 51, became ill when he met with a lawyer 3 September to get the money, witnesses told investigators, according to Minot police department records. His girlfriend, Ina Thea Kenoyer, called 911 the next day, and paramedics found Riley unresponsive. He was hospitalized and died on 5 September.

Kenoyer, 47, has been charged with a class AA felony murder, the most severe murder charge in North Dakota. She told investigators that she was entitled to some of Riley’s inheritance as his common-law wife and planned to split the money, which she estimated to be about $30m, with his son, the records show.

She is being held without bond at the Ward county detention center and is representing herself, court records show. The Associated Press left voicemail messages for her at the center on Tuesday.