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Utah Woman on Trial for Alleged Fentanyl Poisoning of Husband, Publishing Grief Book
PARK CITY, UT – What began as a seemingly perfect marriage in a quiet Utah community has now unraveled into a high-profile murder trial, drawing national attention. Kouri Richins, 36, stands accused of aggravated murder, attempted criminal homicide, false/fraudulent insurance claims, and forgery in the 2022 death of her husband, Eric Richins. She has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The case gained notoriety after Richins published a children’s book on grief following her husband’s death and later appeared on NBC’s “Dateline” proclaiming her innocence.
A Celebration Turned Tragedy
According to prosecutors, the couple was celebrating a property sale at their home in March 2022 when Eric Richins died hours later in their bedroom from a fatal dose of fentanyl. Chief prosecutor Bradley Bloodworth alleged in his opening statements that Kouri Richins “murdered Eric for his money and to get a fresh start at life.”
Bloodworth told the jury that on the night of Eric’s death, Kouri Richins was in debt and had exchanged “Love you” texts with her boyfriend before preparing a drink for her husband. Eric Richins’ estate was valued at $4 million, which Kouri allegedly believed she would inherit.
However, defense attorney Kathryn Nester painted a different picture, playing a 911 call where Kouri Richins appeared to be crying as she reported her husband wasn’t breathing, describing it as “the sounds of a wife becoming a widow.” Nester argued that while a “celebratory shot” and Moscow Mule were consumed, the cups were never tested for evidence, and an empty pill bottle with a 2016 expiration date was found near Eric’s body.
“What you will never hear, after four years of investigation… is how that fentanyl got inside of him because there is zero evidence of that,” Nester stated.
Details Emerge of Alleged Poisoning Attempts and Financial Motives
Court documents detail a troubled marriage beneath the surface of apparent marital bliss. Prosecutors allege Kouri Richins had significant debt and fraudulently obtained life insurance policies on her husband without his knowledge, totaling nearly $2 million.
It is also alleged that Richins attempted to poison her husband on multiple occasions. One incident, on Valentine’s Day 2022, reportedly involved Eric breaking out in hives after eating a sandwich prepared by Kouri, leading him to tell a friend he believed she was trying to poison him.
An earlier incident during a trip to Greece also saw Eric become violently ill after consuming a drink his wife gave him, prompting him to tell his sister he suspected Kouri was trying to kill him. Prosecutors claim Richins purchased fentanyl pills from her housekeeper, though the housekeeper’s alleged source has denied providing fentanyl.
In a move unbeknownst to his wife, Eric Richins reportedly consulted a divorce lawyer and an estate planning lawyer in 2020. He changed his will, forming a living trust, and designated his sister as the beneficiary of his $500,000 life insurance policy, rather than his wife.
A Mother’s Grief or a Cunning Deception?
A year after Eric’s death, Richins published “Are You With Me?”, a children’s book aimed at helping children cope with grief. She promoted it on local news, citing her own children’s struggles after their father’s passing. Just a month after that interview, in May 2023, she was arrested and charged in connection with his death.
Richins has consistently maintained her innocence, stating in jailhouse recordings shared with NBC’s “Dateline,” “I’m anxious to prove my innocence. I’m anxious to get to trial. And I’m ready to give this one heck of a fight.”
However, prosecutors have presented a six-page letter found hidden in Richins’ jail cell, allegedly written to her mother, attempting to coach her brother on how to “testify falsely” by suggesting Eric purchased drugs from Mexico. Prosecutors argue this letter demonstrates Richins’ “consciousness of guilt.”
The trial, delayed multiple times due to extensive media coverage, continues in Summit County. Judge Richard Mrazik has instructed jurors not to discuss or research the case.