Larry Isenberg’s tragic death while sailing on Lake Coeur d’Alene in February 2018 has raised suspicions due to new evidence. Initially believed to be an accidental drowning, the autopsy revealed that Isenberg may have actually died from a lethal dose of Benadryl. This revelation came at a time when his wife, Lori, and her daughters were facing charges related to an embezzlement case. Lori’s questionable actions, including attempts to sell Isenberg’s assets and suspicious internet search history, added to the mounting doubts. In 2021, while already serving time for embezzlement, Lori pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in an Alford Plea. The case will be revisited on NBC Dateline in an episode titled “Kill Switch.”
The incident occurred on a chilly morning on February 13, 2018, when Larry Isenberg and his wife Lori set out to watch the sunrise on Lake Coeur d’Alene. Unfortunately, Larry fell overboard and drowned, according to Lori’s account. She claimed he was feeling unwell and had a medical episode that caused him to fall into the water while attempting to fix the boat’s motor.
Lori contacted the authorities two hours after the incident, explaining that she didn’t want to leave the area where her husband had drowned and had left her phone at home. Despite an initial search by the authorities, Larry’s body remained undiscovered.
The search for Larry Isenberg lasted for three weeks until his body was finally found on March 1, 2018. The subsequent autopsy revealed an unusually high level of diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in Benadryl, in his system at the time of death. The amount detected was 70 times the recommended dosage, and no evidence of drowning was found.
Shortly after Lori’s arrest on embezzlement charges related to her previous job at a nonprofit organization, Larry’s body was discovered. However, Lori had already fled the region, and she remained a fugitive for two months before surrendering to authorities. Reports revealed that four of Lori’s daughters had assisted her in the embezzlement scheme.
In early 2019, Lori and her four daughters pleaded guilty to wire fraud and received various sentences. Lori was sentenced to five years in prison, while her daughters were given probation and community service.
Authorities grew suspicious of Lori’s involvement in her husband’s murder when they discovered that she had liquidated their joint accounts and transferred assets to herself, her daughters, and her sister after Larry’s death. Changes were also found in Larry’s will, favoring Lori’s children over his own. Furthermore, Lori’s internet search history contained disturbing queries related to water currents, drowning, and boat accidents.
While serving her sentence for fraud and embezzlement, Lori was charged with premeditated murder in February 2020. A year later, she entered an Alford Plea for second-degree murder and was sentenced to a minimum of 30 years in prison.
NBC Dateline will air an episode titled “Kill Switch” on Sunday, May 28, shedding light on the case surrounding Larry Isenberg’s poisoning and subsequent murder.