Tragic Story Takes Legal Turn
A Utah woman and mother of three has gone from being praised for authoring a children’s book about coping with loss to being accused of killing the husband she wrote about. The trial of Kouri Richins opened this week near Park City, where prosecutors allege she fatally poisoned her spouse in 2022 — allegations she strongly denies.
Once lauded for Are You With Me?, a book she self-published in 2023 to help her sons navigate their father’s sudden death, Richins now faces a host of serious criminal charges.
Multiple Charges in Alleged Poisoning
Prosecutors say the 35-year-old intentionally spiked her husband Eric Richins’ drink with fentanyl in March 2022, leading to a lethal overdose in their home. They contend financial pressures and life insurance incentives drove her actions, pointing to years of mounting debt and numerous policies taken out without his knowledge.
In addition to aggravated murder, the indictment includes counts of attempted murder, forgery, mortgage fraud and insurance fraud. Prosecutors also allege an earlier poisoning attempt around Valentine’s Day 2022, based on testimony that Eric fell gravely ill after a meal prepared by his wife.
Defense Rejects Allegations
Richins has pleaded not guilty to all counts, and her legal team insists she will be exonerated once a jury hears the full story. Her attorneys argue that key witnesses have motives to misrepresent facts and that allegations about fentanyl purchases and drug involvement are unsubstantiated.
The defense also challenges the narrative of premeditation, pointing out that no fentanyl was recovered from the home and that testimony from alleged accomplices is inconsistent.
What’s Next in Court
The month-long trial is now underway, with jurors tasked with untangling a case that mixes grief, family tragedy and serious criminal accusations. With national attention focused on one of Utah’s most unusual legal dramas in years, both sides are expected to present detailed evidence and testimony as the proceedings unfold.
