Inheritance Murder: The $30 Million Motive Behind Steven Riley's Suspicious Death | True Crime Documentary
In the quiet town of Minot, North Dakota, a shocking case unfolded in September 2023 that captivated local residents. Ena Canoer and her longtime boyfriend Steve Riley lived in apartment 912a, an address familiar to local police due to occasional disturbance calls. The couple had struggled financially for years, often relying on friends to make ends meet, but a promised multi-million dollar inheritance from Steve's Irish uncle seemed poised to change their fortunes forever.
Their relationship began over a decade earlier at a homeless shelter Easter dinner in Washington state before they relocated to North Dakota. Despite never marrying, they remained together through difficult times. The anticipated inheritance of approximately $17 million represented a chance to clear debts and start fresh, with plans to visit Steve's family castle in Ireland. However, the story took a tragic turn when Steve fell mysteriously ill the very day his British solicitor was scheduled to arrive with the funds, ultimately resulting in his hospitalization and untimely death under suspicious circumstances.
Key Takeaways
A financially struggling couple's life was about to change with a multi-million dollar inheritance that never materialized.
Following a neighborhood disturbance and mysterious illness, Steve Riley died unexpectedly in the hospital.
Friends raised suspicions about the circumstances of Steve's death, refusing to leave his possessions with his longtime girlfriend.
Background of Ena Canoer and Steve Riley
Financial Difficulties and Expected Windfall
Ena Canoer and Steve Riley lived modestly in Minot, North Dakota. The couple frequently struggled with basic expenses, often depending on Steve's friends for financial support. Their apartment, 912A, was in a neighborhood that saw regular police visits. Despite their financial challenges, by September 2023, the couple anticipated a significant change in their circumstances. They expected to receive a multi-million dollar inheritance that would allow them to clear debts and take an extended vacation.
Relationship Development and Relocation
Ena and Steve's relationship began over a decade earlier at an Easter dinner hosted by a homeless shelter in Washington state. Both had experienced difficult lives before meeting - Ena had endured a challenging childhood marked by alleged abuse, while Steve had experienced two failed marriages and was estranged from most of his family. After meeting, they relocated to North Dakota where they lived together for approximately ten years without marrying.
Steve maintained a close relationship with only one of his sons, Ryan, who had joined the National Guard in Texas about seven years prior. The couple's social circle appeared limited, with only a few close friends like Billy Burkhead and Wes Peterson regularly in their lives.
Medical Crisis and Inheritance Complications
In the months before September 2023, Steve learned from a man claiming to be his uncle Marcus Riley from Ireland that he stood to inherit approximately $17 million. This sum potentially exceeded $30 million when including real estate investments. Following Marcus's reported death, Steve was contacted by a British lawyer named Richard who was supposed to finalize the inheritance.
The attorney was initially expected on August 29th but allegedly experienced travel delays. The rescheduled meeting was set for 2 p.m. on September 3rd at the local airport. However, on that day, Steve reportedly became severely ill. His friends Billy and Wes were with him when he collapsed at the airport where the lawyer never appeared.
After being brought home and treated with cold towels and ice for what Ena described as heat stroke, Steve's condition deteriorated through the night. When paramedics arrived, they were told Steve had been drinking the previous day. Despite medical attention, Steve passed away shortly after being transported to the hospital.
The Confrontation with the Neighbor
Events Leading to Police Presence
In the early morning hours of September 3, 2023, around 4:00 AM, police responded to disturbances at an apartment complex in Minot. An intoxicated resident named Chad had been causing problems throughout the neighborhood, knocking on doors aggressively and behaving in a disorderly manner. The situation escalated when Chad encountered Steven Riley, resulting in a physical altercation that possibly included the two men headbutting each other. Following this confrontation, Steve decided to take a walk to calm down, leaving his girlfriend Ena Canoer at their apartment, #912A.
Ena's Discussion with Law Enforcement
When officers arrived at the scene, they found Ena waiting at the apartment. During their conversation about the incident with Chad, Ena repeatedly steered the discussion toward other matters, particularly mentioning an inheritance Steve was supposedly receiving later that day. She told officers: "He gets inheritance this afternoon, that's why we're moving." Ena explained they planned to pay off their debts and mentioned a lawyer appointment scheduled for 2:00 PM that day. Despite officers' attempts to focus on the altercation with Chad, Ena continued referencing their financial situation, noting she had only been able to contribute $5 toward Steve's fines.
Financial Expectations and Future Plans
Ena provided detailed information about their imminent financial windfall and subsequent plans. According to her statements to police, Steve was meeting with a lawyer at 2:00 PM to finalize paperwork for a multi-million dollar inheritance from an Irish uncle. Their immediate plans included:
Paying off all outstanding debts and bills
Taking a lengthy vacation
Potentially visiting Steve's family castle in Ireland
Retrieving Steve's son's truck in Texas (his son was in the National Guard)
The couple had struggled financially for years, often relying on Steve's friends for assistance with basic necessities. This inheritance—reportedly worth approximately $17 million, with total assets possibly exceeding $30 million—represented a complete transformation of their circumstances. Tragically, Steve Riley would never receive this purported inheritance, as police would return to the same apartment just two days later under very different circumstances.
Events Leading to Steve's Hospitalization
Steve's Deterioration and Absence of Legal Counsel
On September 3, 2023, Steve Riley's health took a sudden and dramatic turn. Earlier that day, Steve had been anticipating a 2:00 PM meeting with a British solicitor named Richard who was supposedly flying in from London to finalize his multi-million dollar inheritance. This inheritance—estimated at $17 million, with potential assets totaling over $30 million—had been a frequent topic of conversation between Steve and his partner Ena Canoer.
Steve spent the morning working on his truck with his friend Billy Burkhead before heading to the airport for the scheduled meeting. The lawyer, who had already postponed an earlier meeting scheduled for August 29th due to plane issues, failed to appear at the appointed time. After waiting at the airport, Steve collapsed and had to be assisted home by his friend Wes Peterson.
Upon returning to their apartment, Wes helped Steve to the couch while Ena attempted to treat him with cold towels and ice. According to accounts, Steve's friends later returned to the airport for an 8:00 PM meeting with the lawyer, who again failed to appear.
Speculations of Heat Stroke and Alcohol Consumption
When paramedics arrived at the apartment, they were told that Steve's condition might be related to heat stroke from working in the garage that morning. Ena also informed first responders that Steve had been drinking beers the previous day, with his last beer consumed around 5:00 AM that morning.
Based on this information, paramedics initially treated Steve under the assumption he was suffering from intoxication. However, his condition continued to deteriorate, and he passed away shortly after being transported to the hospital.
Steve's friend Billy Burkhead disputed these explanations. Having spent most of the previous day with Steve working on the truck and then going to the airport, Billy stated he never saw Steve drinking alcohol that day. He also expressed doubt about the heat stroke theory, noting that Steve had been in good spirits while awaiting his anticipated inheritance.
Billy was so concerned about the circumstances surrounding Steve's sudden decline that he contacted the Minot Police Department. He specifically wanted to prevent Ena from selling Steve's truck—which he considered Steve's most valuable possession—and directly expressed suspicions that Steve may have been poisoned.
The Demise of Steve Riley
Initial Medical Attention and Hospital Entry
Steve Riley's health took a sudden and dramatic turn on September 3, 2023. After experiencing progressive deterioration throughout the day, he collapsed at the airport while supposedly waiting for a British lawyer named Richard who was scheduled to deliver his multi-million dollar inheritance. His friend Wes assisted him home where Ena treated him with cold towels and ice, attributing his condition to heat stroke from working on his truck earlier that day. Despite these efforts, Steve's condition continued to worsen overnight.
When paramedics arrived, they were informed that Steve had been drinking beers the previous day, with his last consumption allegedly at 5:00 a.m. Based on information provided by Ena, medical personnel transported Steve to the hospital under the assumption he was suffering from intoxication. His condition proved far more serious than initially assessed.
Events Leading to Steve's Passing
Steve and Ena had been anticipating a life-changing inheritance of approximately $17 million from an Irish uncle named Marcus Riley. The money was supposedly scheduled for transfer on September 3, requiring only Steve's signature when the British solicitor arrived. Prior to his collapse, Steve had been working on his truck with his friend Billy Burkhead before they departed for the airport to meet the lawyer, who never appeared.
Despite earlier claims of heat stroke and intoxication, questions emerged about the true cause of Steve's decline. His condition deteriorated rapidly after returning home from the airport. Tragically, within hours of his hospital admission, Steve Riley passed away, never receiving the inheritance that had promised to transform the couple's financial struggles.
Subsequent Concerns Raised by Companions
Following Steve's death, his friend Billy Burkhead contacted Minot Police Department with serious suspicions. He directly contradicted Ena's account of events, stating that Steve had been in good spirits the day of his collapse and hadn't been drinking alcohol. Billy explicitly told officers: "We think she poisoned him."
Billy was particularly concerned about protecting Steve's most valued possession—his truck. He feared Ena might sell Steve's belongings before his son Ryan, who was serving in the National Guard in Texas, could arrive. The disparity between Ena's account and Billy's observations raised troubling questions about the circumstances of Steve's sudden death.
Police had previously encountered the couple just days before when responding to a disturbance involving a neighbor named Chad. During that interaction, Ena had repeatedly mentioned the imminent inheritance, telling officers they planned to pay off debts and take a vacation once the money arrived.
Law Enforcement Response and Investigation
Police Return to the Scene
After the initial encounter with Ena and reports about Chad's disruptive behavior, police returned to apartment 912A just two days later under much more serious circumstances. This time, paramedics were also called to the scene, finding Steve unresponsive. Emergency personnel initially treated Steve's condition as alcohol-related based on information provided by Ena. She told them Steve had been drinking beers the previous day, with his last drink supposedly consumed around 5:00 AM. The paramedics transported Steve to the hospital under this assumption. Tragically, Steve passed away shortly after arriving at the medical facility. Officers documented the scene and collected statements from Ena about the events leading to Steve's collapse.
Billy Burkhead's Suspicions and Protective Actions
Billy Burkhead, Steve's close friend who had spent most of the previous day with him, harbored serious concerns about the circumstances surrounding Steve's death. Billy contacted the Minot Police Department to voice his suspicions, specifically stating, "We think she poisoned him." Having worked on Steve's truck with him before their trip to the airport for the scheduled meeting with the supposed lawyer, Billy emphasized that Steve had been in good spirits and contradicted Ena's account. He firmly stated he never saw Steve consume any alcohol that day, casting doubt on the story about intoxication.
Billy took protective measures regarding Steve's possessions, particularly his truck, which he considered Steve's most valuable asset. He expressed concern to officers that Ena might sell Steve's belongings before his son could arrive. When speaking with police, Billy was adamant about preventing Ena from disposing of Steve's property, especially the truck, components of which Billy claimed partial ownership. His actions were motivated by both suspicion about the cause of death and a desire to preserve Steve's belongings for his family.
