The rice riots can be seen as a factor leading to the coup d'état one year later when Samuel Doe seized power. Tolbert was killed during the coup on April 12 and 13 members of the Administration, including the deputy minister of agriculture, were executed ten days later. Warned that her life was in danger, Chenoweth hid in a closet in her home and waited until after dark before fleeing. She managed to escape and walked her children to safety in Sierra Leone, before they made their way to the United States.