Kouri Richie's wrote a children’s book to help her sons grieve the death of their father. Now she’ll stand trial for his murder
The Utah mother published a children's book on grief before being accused of killing her husband for financial gain.
Kouri Richins, a Utah mother of three, is set to stand trial for the murder of her husband, Eric Richins, who died in March 2022 due to a fentanyl overdose.
A jury will hear opening statements as prosecutors present evidence that Richins allegedly poisoned her husband to access his financial assets and pursue a relationship with another man.
Richins has pleaded not guilty to charges that include aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder.
If convicted of the most severe charge, she could face a life sentence in prison.
Richins’ arrest came shortly after she published a children's book intended to help her sons cope with their father's death.
Prosecutors assert she killed Eric Richins for financial reasons, citing life insurance policies totaling over $2 million and claims of mismanagement of finances in their marriage.
Furthermore, they allege she attempted to poison him days before his death.
The case has drawn significant attention due to the circumstances surrounding Eric Richins' death and Kouri Richins' actions leading up to that night.
Investigators report that Kouri brought cocktails to their bedroom to celebrate a work success, and when she returned later, she found Eric unresponsive.
Autopsy results confirmed a lethal dose of fentanyl in his system.
Prosecutors indicate that Kouri had asked for fentanyl in the months leading to his death and deleted numerous messages from her phone related to the alleged drug transactions.
As the trial commences, Kouri Richins is also facing separate financial charges, with additional implications for her real estate business, which has struggled financially.
Her attorneys maintain that their client looks forward to presenting her case in court, arguing that the prosecution must prove the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.