Idaho Woman Gets Life In Prison For Murdering Husband With Benadryl Overdose

An Idaho woman has been sentenced to life in prison Monday for killing her husband after the judge invalidated her explanation for the man’s death.

Lori Isenberg, 67, was charged with second-degree murder last year after her husband was found dead in 2018 with a lethal level of diphenhydramine or Benadryl in his system. Isenberg had made a deal in February to plead guilty to the charge, the Associated Press reported.

Before being accused of murdering her husband, Larry Isenberg, the woman was already serving time for siphoning off $579,000 from the North Idaho Housing Coalition, where she worked, according to KREM.com.

Larry was found dead in Lake Coeur d’Alene in March 2018. That time, the woman told investigators that her husband fell into the lake. But an autopsy revealed that there was no sign of drowning and that the man had lethal levels of diphenhydramine – or Benadryl – in his system.

During her trial on Monday, the woman gave a lengthy explanation in a bid to prove that her husband’s death was an “accident.” She insisted that she was trying to kill herself because of the shame of committing the embezzlement, AP reported.

Lori and her husband were on a boat in the lake before the man was found dead. She told the court that she brought Benadryl with her on the boat that morning so that she could drink it and die by drowning. The woman claimed that she fell asleep on the boat before she had a chance to consume it, KREM.com reported.

“I am so sorry for everything I did. Starting with the embezzlement that resulted in lies, deceit, betrayal, love and trust of the people I love, especially Larry,” Lori said in the court.

The judge, while handing down the sentence, said that the woman’s version of events around her husband’s death "doesn't hold up."

The woman was sentenced to life in prison with 30 years fixed, meaning that she’ll spend 30 years in prison before she’s eligible for release.