A mother who later authored a children’s book about coping with grief following her husband’s death has now been convicted of murdering him, after prosecutors said she orchestrated multiple money-making plans tied to his passing.
Eric Richins, a 39-year-old father of three, was found dead at the Utah home he shared with his family on March 4, 2022. Authorities were contacted by his wife, Kouri Richins, who was 31 at the time, and reported finding him “cold to the touch” after she had earlier prepared him a Moscow Mule cocktail.
After Eric’s death, Kouri wrote and released a picture book for children titled Are You With Me?, centered on the loss of a parent. While promoting the book in local media, prosecutors argued she was simultaneously positioning herself to collect a large financial windfall connected to her husband’s death.
Kouri was taken into custody roughly 14 months later, after investigators concluded Eric died from an opioid overdose. During the case, jurors heard that Eric had grown fearful his wife was trying to harm him and had begun making moves to remove her from his will following a string of disturbing incidents.
Prosecutors said Kouri’s planning stretched back years, pointing to evidence that she had taken out $2 million in life insurance policies in Eric’s name without telling him. The policies, jurors were told, were opened between 2015 and 2017.
A neighbor also testified that in December 2021, after an argument at the home, Kouri said it “would be better if he died”.
The trial included testimony about several alleged poisoning attempts. Kouri did not testify, and her defense did not call any witnesses over 13 days, as the court heard from numerous people familiar with the couple’s relationship.
From early in the investigation, suspicion centered on Kouri. Family members reportedly told police they believed she was responsible, and jurors heard that Eric had confided to others that he thought his wife was trying to poison him.
According to court filings referenced by CBS, Eric’s sister testified that he had described an incident on a vacation in Greece years earlier in which he believed Kouri had tried to poison him.
Jurors also heard about an episode shortly before Eric’s death: after being served a sandwich on Valentine’s Day 2022, he experienced breathing problems and developed hives. He reportedly used his son’s epipen and took antihistamines.
The prosecution said the couple clashed over finances, including Eric’s hesitation about buying a $2 million mansion that Kouri planned to “flip” as part of her real estate work. The day after Eric died, the purchase was finalized.
Investigators also alleged Kouri obtained a fatal quantity of opioids through their housekeeper, buying $900 worth of fentanyl pills after earlier efforts failed. Fentanyl is described as an opioid about 100 times stronger than heroin and is used medically in very small doses for pain relief.
In court, the housekeeper said Kouri asked for the “Michael Jackson stuff”, a reference to the singer’s death following a lethal drug combination administered by his doctor.
Digital evidence recovered from Kouri’s phone was presented as a major blow to the defense. Jurors were shown messages and internet searches including: ‘women utah prison’, ‘can cops.uncover deleted.messages iphone’, ‘if someone is poisned what does it go down on the death certificate as’. ‘how long does life insurance companies takento.pay’ and ‘what is a lethal.does.of.fetanyl’.
Prosecutors said the motive was reinforced by her financial situation, including the undisclosed life insurance coverage and more than $4.5 million in personal debt. The court also heard allegations that she was involved in an affair when Eric was given a Moscow Mule containing 15 fentanyl pills.
Summit County prosecutor Brad Bloodworth said: “She wanted to leave Eric Richins but did not want to leave his money.”
The jury returned guilty verdicts on all charges in roughly three hours. In addition to murder, Kouri was also found guilty of attempted murder and convicted on two counts related to falsifying insurance claims and forgery.
She is facing a 25-year prison sentence. Under Utah’s slayer law, she is barred from inheriting or profiting from Eric’s estate following the conviction, despite her claim that she is entitled to $3.6 million from the sale of their assets.