Eric Richins, a father with no prior history of drug abuse, mysteriously died in March 2022 from a lethal dose of fentanyl. Prosecutors now argue his death was no accident, and that his wife Kouri Richins was responsible for poisoning him with the opioid.
The trial for Kouri Richins began on Monday, February 23, at the Summit County Courthouse in Coalville, Utah. She is charged with aggravated murder in Eric’s death—and could face life in prison if convicted—along with attempted murder and other counts.
While Richins has maintained her innocence, and even penned a children’s picture book about grief after her husband’s death, prosecutors say she hoped to collect millions of dollars from insurance and start a new life with an alleged fling.
Here’s what we know about Richins and the case so far.
Who Is Kouri Richins, and What Happened in Her Husband’s Death?
Kouri Richins, now 35, is accused of killing her husband Eric Richins, 39, at their home outside of Park City, Utah, on March 4, 2022. According to CBS News, she currently faces almost three dozen counts in total—including aggravated murder, attempted murder, forgery, mortgage fraud, and insurance fraud. The majority of these charges are in a case separate from the trial.
Kouri has pleaded not guilty to the aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, insurance fraud, and forgery charges and maintains she wasn’t involved in her husband’s death.
The Salt Lake Tribune reported that Eric ran a successful stonemasonry business, while Kouri is a real estate investor who flipped houses. The couple also had three sons, who were ages 9, 7, and 5 at the time of Eric’s death, according to his obituary.
Prosecutors allege Richins hid five times the legal amount of the synthetic opioid fentanyl in a Moscow mule cocktail given to Eric. They also claim she tried to poison him a month prior by giving him a sandwich from a local restaurant laced with fentanyl.
Pamela Sue Ulmer, a former forensic pathologist for the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner, testified during the trial that Eric Richins had no signs of fatal heart disease, stroke, or other natural cause of death. Toxicology reports showed a toxic level of fentanyl.
Eric Richins had no prior history of illicit drug use or prescription drug abuse, but defense attorneys argue it’s not definitively known how he ingested the fentanyl.
What Was Kouri Richins’s Possible Motive?
As for a possible motive in the case, prosecutors allege Kouri Richins hoped to profit from millions in insurance money after her husband’s death. They say she hoped to erase debt from her struggling real estate venture—having owed lenders more than $1.8 million—and set up a new life with Robert Josh Grossman, with whom she had a romantic relationship.
According to CNN, Eric Richins’ life was insured for more than $2 million at the time of his death through several polices—including one Kouri allegedly applied for by illegal means.
At the trial, prosecutors shared screenshots of text messages in which Richins told Grossman she wanted to leave her husband and marry him one day. She also allegedly searched “women Utah prison” and “Can cops force you to do a lie detector test?” according to her internet history.
Richins was officially charged with Eric’s murder on May 8, 2023. The trial has experienced multiple delays related to disputes over evidence, representation, and jury selection, according to KUTV.
Did Kouri Richins Really Write a Children’s Book About Grief After Her Husband’s Death?
Richins’s case has garnered additional attention because of a children’s book she wrote after Eric’s death.
Published March 5, 2023, Are You With Me? tells the story of a boy who must grieve the death of his father and looks for his angelic presence amid everyday activities. According to a Goodreads description, the book is “designed to offer comfort and solace to young minds in a way that is both accessible and engaging.”
According to the New York Post, Richins promoted the book on TV and radio programming. “I just wanted some story to read to my kids at night, and so, you know, I was like, ‘Let’s just write one,’” she told the hosts of local talk show Good Things Utah.
How Long Is Kouri Richins’s Trial Expected to Last?
According to CBS News, the trial is expected to run through March 26. Key witnesses expected to testify include Grossman and a housekeeper who claims to have sold fentanyl to Kouri on three occasions.
Richins faces 25 years to life in prison just for the aggravated murder charge if convicted. Her legal team maintains the evidence in the case will prove her innocence.
“Kouri is a mother who wants to go home to her children,” her attorneys said in a statement to CNN. “We are confident this jury will make that possible.”
Follow Biography.com for additional updates from the case going forward.
Tyler Piccotti joined the Biography.com staff as an Associate News Editor and is now the News and Culture Editor. He previously worked as a reporter and copy editor for a daily newspaper recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors. In his current role, he shares the true stories behind your favorite movies and TV shows and profiles rising musicians, actors, and athletes. When he's not working, you can find him at the nearest amusement park or movie theater and cheering on his favorite teams.
