The widely publicized trial of Kouri Richins ended in March 2026, with a jury finding the Utah mother of three guilty of first-degree aggravated murder in the death of husband Eric Richins on March 4, 2022. Then at Kouri’s sentencing, it was her three young sons with Eric who took the spotlight.
On May 13, Judge Richard Mrazik ordered Richins, 35, to spend the rest of her life in prison without chance of parole for the aggravated murder conviction, in addition to lighter sentences for other four counts. Richins has repeatedly denied killing her husband with a poisoned cocktail, referring to the claims as an “absolute lie,” and vowed to appeal the verdict.
A focal point of Mrazik’s ruling was delivering the best outcome for Kouri and Eric’s three sons: Carter, Ashton, and Weston. Their victim statements were read aloud during the hearing, highlighting the grief and shock their entirely family still faces.
Not surprisingly, information about the couple’s children was kept extremely private following Richins’s arrest. But as we’ve learned more about them, here’s what we know regarding their lives today.
How Many Children Did Kouri Richins and Eric Richins Have?
Kouri and Eric Richins had three children: sons Carter, Ashton, and Weston. They were 9, 7, and 5, respectively, at the time of his death in March 2022. That would make them around 13, 11, and 9 years old now.
According to his obituary from Walker Mortuary, Eric “was a family man, who always strove to be the absolute best father and husband” and “did absolutely everything in his power to provide his family with every possible opportunity to learn, grow, and have fun.”
Richins was officially charged with Eric’s murder on May 8, 2023.
Why Did Kouri Richins Publish a Book for Her Children?
Richins’s case and trial garnered added attention because of her behavior following Eric’s death. Most notably, Richins published a children’s book in 2023 she claimed was meant to help her three young sons deal with the loss of their father.
Released March 5, 2023—almost a year to the day following Eric’s death—Are You With Me? is authored by Kouri D. Richins and tells the story of a boy who must grieve the death of his father. The child looks for his parent’s angelic presence amid everyday activities.
Richins promoted the book on the local television program Good Things Utah. “I just wanted some story to read to my kids at night,” she told the hosts in a clip shown by 48 Hours, “and so, you know, I was like, ‘Let’s just write one.’”
However, Richins’s trial brought more details about the book to light. According to KSL.com, the prosecution showed text messages suggesting Richins’s book was actually penned by a ghostwriter. Summit County sheriff’s detective Jeff O’Driscoll, a witness during the trial, said that texts between Richins and her brother discussed the cost of the book and how much money would be made for each copy sold.
Where Are Kouri Richins’s Children Now?
According to a report from the Park Record newspaper in Park City, Utah, in November 2024, a juvenile court ruled to give Eric Richins’s family custody of the three boys.
At the time, attorneys for Kouri were attempting to petition for new conditions for bail and pre-trial release, which was denied. Per the report, they claimed Richins participated in multiple classes while in prison and showed no sign of violence over the 17 months following her arrest.
“As a mother, there is no way Kouri Richins is leaving her children no matter what they’re being told. … She would never leave her children,” lawyer Kathryn Nester said, dismissing the idea Richins would be a flight risk. “She literally has no resources to leave the country, to resettle in another place. She would have no ability to support herself.”
The Salt Lake Tribune confirmed in May 2026 that Carter, Ashton, and Weston are currently being raised by their aunt, Katie Richins-Benson, and her husband. Little has been shared publicly about their day-to-day life.
In a court filing ahead of Richins’s sentencing, one of the three boys provided a statement expressing fear of what she might do if released from prison. “I’m afraid if she gets out, she will come after me and my brothers, my whole family. I think she would come and take us and not do good things to us, like hurt us,” the filing read.
At Kouri’s sentencing, therapists read aloud victim statements from each of the children, identified only by their initials. The oldest, C.R., described her as “always drunk or gone,” and another, A.R., wrote Richins “only cared about yourself and your stupid boyfriends.”
Is Kouri Richins in Contact with her Children?
During her sentencing, Richins claimed family members have blocked her attempts to speak to her children for more than two years, including phone calls from jail and Christmas cards.
Richins explained she wanted to use her statement during the hearing to offer advice to her three sons and express a desire to reconcile with them. “You boys are my world, the reason I continue to wake up every day and fight to come home. You’re my reason for living,” she said, before later telling them to “be like your dad.”
She claimed the kids had been “influenced into thinking that dad was murdered” by family members and again denied any role in Eric’s death.
However, pending a future appeal that might affect her verdict, any future communication she could have with her children will be from within prison walls.
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.
