Kouri Richins is set to undergo trial for the alleged murder of her husband, Eric Richins.
Eric passed away in March 2022, with suspicions that Kouri poisoned him fatally.
Authorities suspect she mixed fentanyl into a cocktail he consumed, leading to his death at the age of 39.
The medical examiner later found that Eric had five times the lethal dose of fentanyl in his system.
After Eric’s death, Kouri authored a children’s book for kids coping with the loss of a parent, particularly focusing on her own children whom she shared with Eric.
The book, titled Are You With Me?, ‘follows the story of a child who has lost their father but who is reminded that his presence still exists all around them, just like an angel watching over them’.
In May 2023, Kouri was charged and arrested in connection to Eric’s murder. She also faced additional allegations of attempting to kill him weeks before his death, which did not succeed.
Reports indicate that the 34-year-old bought a sandwich for Eric and laced it with fentanyl. He survived the incident by using his son’s EpiPen after breaking out in hives from consuming the sandwich.
Kouri now faces 11 charges, including attempted murder, various counts of forgery, intent to distribute a controlled substance, mortgage fraud, and insurance fraud, as reported by the New York Times.
Recent updates reveal that a judge has ruled for Kouri to stand trial, which is expected to take place next year.
On the second day of her preliminary hearing on Tuesday (August 27), Utah state Judge Richard Mrazik determined that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence for a jury trial.
During the hearing, Kouri pleaded not guilty to all the charges, according to CBS News.
Jury selection is scheduled to begin on April 28, 2025.
Prosecutors believe that Kouri’s motive for allegedly killing her husband was financial gain, given the debt she was in. They also claim she was planning a future with a man she was allegedly having an affair with.
Kouri’s lawyers, however, are optimistic about the outcome.
“We firmly believe the charges against Kouri do not withstand thorough scrutiny and are confident that a jury will find the same,” they stated following the judge’s decision on Tuesday.