Dateline: Kill Switch - Who was Larry Isenberg and what happened to him? Disturbing details of the 2018 murder, revealed 

Larry Isenberg was born in Idaho. He completed his graduation from the University of Idaho with a degree in forestry and began working in the lumber industry.

Isenberg died in February 2018, apparently in a tragic accident on Lake Coeur d'Alene.

However, it turned into a story of fraud, theft, and murder. Larry Isenberg was 68 when he received a fatal dose of Benadryl, which was given by his wife, Lori Isenberg.

Spokesman.com states that Lori Isenberg was sent to life in prison for spiking her husband's drink. This was in furtherance of a grander plan to hide her embezzlement of more than half a million dollars from her boss, the North Idaho Housing Coalition.

The false case, laden with deceit and manipulation, ruined Larry's friends and family who sought justice for a man that they had deemed loving and generous. The Dateline show goes into the gruesome details of this case, investigating what happened before Larry died and the investigation that uncovered Lori Isenberg's sinister secrets.

---

The death of Larry Isenberg and Early Investigation

On February 13, 2018, Larry Isenberg's body was discovered in Lake Coeur d'Alene after a thirty-day search. Lori Isenberg first reported that her husband had slipped overboard while checking their boat's dead motor. She said she had fallen and struck her head while attempting to rescue him and waited for two hours before calling 911.

According to Spokesman.com, she explained to detectives that she had left her phone at home and believed Larry had gone down with his phone. But the autopsy found a fatal dose of Benadryl in Larry's system, and suspicion of foul play was raised.

Lori's account of what happened when Larry died also varied, further undermining her credibility. In a letter to friends, she wrote that Larry had fallen while leaning over the motor. These contradictions, along with the autopsy findings, convinced investigators that Larry's death was not an accident but a premeditated murder.

---

Lori Isenberg's embezzlement and motive

Weeks following Larry's passing, Lori Isenberg was indicted on charges of stealing around $500,000 from the North Idaho Housing Coalition. Her daughters were also involved in the scam, Spokesman.com reports, since they also took some of the embezzled money. Lori eventually pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud and was sentenced to prison for five years.

Lori said she began stealing to help her daughters and grandchildren, who were financially struggling. She explained that she could not inform Larry Isenberg of her plans to offer financial assistance, so she stole from her employer. Dean Isenberg, Larry's son, said Lori began stealing from Larry before stealing from the coalition.

In fear of being exposed and the repercussions, Lori supposedly decided to murder her husband.

---

Trial, sentencing, and family impact

Lori Isenberg was ultimately indicted on first-degree homicide by use of poison. She subsequently pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of second-degree homicide with an Alford plea, admitting to nothing but acknowledging the evidence against her.

During her sentencing hearing, Lori stated she had spiked a drink with Benadryl for herself but that Larry had accidentally consumed it. Judge Scott Wayman rejected her rationalization, saying

"Your truth doesn't hold up in light of all the evidence," as reported by Spokesman.com.

Larry Isenberg's family showed their sadness and outrage at Lori during the sentencing. His daughter, Jessica McPherson, testified about the "hole in my soul" caused by her father's death and the series of deceptions and manipulation that followed.

Lori's stepdaughter, Amber Barnes, called Larry a loving father figure and criticized Lori's actions, saying,

"Larry gave his life to Lori. He loved her. He trusted her, and she killed him."

Lori Isenberg was sentenced to a life term with a minimum of 30 years in prison.

---

The episode "Kill Switch" aired on September 25, 2024, at 4:00 AM on NBC. The episode deals with the Lori and Larry Isenberg case, explaining the horrifying circumstances of Larry's death and the actions taken afterward by Lori. It re-aired on March 14, 2025, at 9 PM ET/PT on NBC.