Trending Now - Utah Author Kouri Richins Convicted of Husband's Poisoning Murder
WHO:
Kouri Richins, 35, a Utah mother, real estate agent, and children's book author
Eric Richins, Kouri's husband, deceased
Summit County Sheriff's detective Jeff O’Driscoll, lead investigator
Wendy Lewis, attorney for Kouri Richins
Brad Bloodworth, Deputy Summit County attorney
Carmen Lauber, housekeeper and prosecution witness
WHAT:
Kouri Richins was found guilty on all five counts, including aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder.
Her sentencing is scheduled for May 13th, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. MST.
Prosecutors alleged that Kouri Richins was $7.5 million in debt before her husband's death.
Kouri Richins closed on a $2.9 million mansion the same day Eric Richins died.
The medical examiner determined that Eric Richins had approximately 16,000 ng/ml of quetiapine in his gastric fluid.
Kouri Richins allegedly spent $1.35 million in life insurance proceeds within three months of Eric Richins' death.
Text messages shown during the trial included Kouri Richins stating, "they will not take from me what is mine," and "If I die, Eric did it."
Kouri Richins was found guilty of murder and other charges related to the death of Eric Richins.
The jury deliberated for about three hours before reaching the verdict.
Kouri Richins was convicted of attempted murder for a failed attempt to kill Eric Richins on Valentine’s Day 2022.
She was also found guilty of forgery and insurance fraud.
The amount of fentanyl in the cocktail served to Eric Richins was nearly five times the lethal dose.
Kouri Richins faces a maximum penalty of life in prison without parole for the murder charge.
She was $4.5 million in debt and had opened multiple life insurance policies on Eric Richins without his knowledge.
WHERE:
The trial took place at the Summit County Courthouse in Park City, Utah.
Eric Richins was pronounced dead at their home just outside Park City, Utah.
WHEN:
Eric Richins died on March 4th, 2022.
Kouri Richins was arrested in May 2023.
The trial began in February 2026 and lasted for about three weeks.
WHY:
Prosecutors argued that Kouri Richins wanted to appear "privileged, affluent and successful" and killed her husband to pay off her debts and gain financial control.
Prosecutors argued that Kouri Richins was motivated by financial gain, as she was in significant debt and stood to inherit money from her husband's death.
Evidence suggested she was planning a future with another man, Robert Josh Grossman.
HOW:
Kouri Richins allegedly asked two people for the "Michael Jackson drug," referring to powerful drugs, during the trial.
Kouri Richins allegedly poisoned Eric Richins by mixing fentanyl into a Moscow Mule cocktail.
She had previously attempted to poison him with a fentanyl-laced sandwich on Valentine’s Day 2022.
Prosecutors presented evidence of text messages between Kouri Richins and Grossman discussing plans to leave Eric Richins.
The prosecution claimed Kouri Richins had purchased illicit drugs and had researched lethal doses of fentanyl online.
(UPDATED March 17, 2026 03:46 UTC)
Kouri Richins was found guilty on all five counts, including aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder, with her sentencing set for May 13, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. MST. Prosecutors argued that Richins, who was $7.5 million in debt, killed her husband Eric Richins to gain financial control, having closed on a $2.9 million mansion on the same day he died. During the trial, text messages revealed her intentions, with one stating, "they will not take from me what is mine," and she allegedly asked for the "Michael Jackson drug," referring to powerful substances.
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(UPDATED March 17, 2026 01:27 UTC)
Kouri Richins, a 35-year-old mother and real estate agent from Utah, was found guilty of murder and other charges related to the death of her husband, Eric Richins, who died on March 4, 2022. The jury deliberated for about three hours before convicting her of attempted murder for a previous poisoning attempt, as well as forgery and insurance fraud, with evidence showing she was deeply in debt and had taken out multiple life insurance policies on Eric without his knowledge. Kouri Richins now faces a maximum penalty of life in prison without parole, as prosecutors argued she was motivated by financial gain and had even planned a future with another man while allegedly poisoning Eric with a lethal cocktail.