Kouri Richins, the Utah mother who authored a children's book about grief while facing murder charges, was found guilty on all counts by a jury in Summit County on Monday.
Background
Eric Richins died in March 2022 at the couple's home just outside Park City, Utah. Prosecutors alleged that Kouri Richins mixed and served her husband a Moscow Mule cocktail she had spiked with fentanyl. The drink contained nearly five times the amount considered a deadly dose of the opioid, according to court filings.
During the investigation, Eric Richins' family members told law enforcement they suspected his wife was involved. His sister recalled that he had believed Kouri Richins tried to kill him during a trip to Greece several years prior. Court documents also revealed that Eric Richins broke out in hives and experienced difficulty breathing after eating a sandwich his wife made for him on Valentine's Day 2022, just weeks before his death.
One of Richins' neighbors testified that she had told her around Christmas 2021 that it would be better if her husband were dead, following an argument between the couple. Additionally, court filings showed Eric Richins was considering divorcing his wife and had argued with her over whether to purchase a $2 million mansion that she could "flip" for her real estate business.
The Charges
Richins, 35, faced multiple felony charges including aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder, both carrying maximum sentences of life in prison. The prosecution presented evidence that she was the beneficiary of multiple life insurance policies on her husband—four policies she had purchased without his knowledge between 2015 and 2017. Eric Richins had attempted to remove her from his life insurance policies and his will shortly before his death.
She also faced additional charges for mortgage fraud and forgery, after allegedly signing to close on a multimillion-dollar real estate deal the day after her husband died. The jury deliberated for approximately three hours before returning the verdict.
Key Takeaways
- Kouri Richins was convicted on all charges in the fentanyl poisoning death of her husband Eric Richins
- The Moscow Mule served to her husband contained nearly five times a deadly dose of fentanyl
- Prosecutors argued she was motivated by insurance money and estate disputes over a $2 million mansion
- Eric Richins' family told police they suspected his wife after he reported a prior poisoning attempt in Greece
- The defense called no witnesses and Richins declined to testify during the three-week trial
- A sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 13 in Summit County Courthouse
What's Next
Richins is scheduled to appear for sentencing on May 13 at the Summit County Courthouse in Park City, Utah. She will face the possibility of life imprisonment on the most serious charges. The case drew national attention not only because of the nature of the allegations but also because Richins had authored a children's picture book titled "Are You with Me?" about coping with the loss of a loved one, which she promoted on local television while out on bail.
The trial lasted approximately three weeks and included 13 days of testimony. The prosecution painted Richins as a killer who sought to take her husband's money, while the defense maintained its not guilty plea throughout proceedings.