Author of Grief Book Found Guilty of Murdering Husband

A mother from the United States, who authored a children's book dealing with grief following her husband's death, has been convicted of his murder.

Kouri Richins, 35, faced a jury that found her guilty of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and two counts of insurance fraud on March 16.

The prosecution contended that Richins devised a detailed plan to poison her husband, Eric Richins, 39, to secure a financial gain exceeding $4 million from his life insurance policies.

In substantial financial trouble, she had opened life insurance accounts worth $2 million on her husband’s life without his knowledge.

As the verdict was announced, Richins displayed visible distress, knowing she faces a sentence of 25 years in prison.

The jury deliberated for a mere three hours before reaching their decision.

Eric Richins was discovered deceased in Kamas, Utah, during the morning hours of March 4, 2022. Prosecutors revealed that Kouri had laced his drink with poison while they were celebrating a real estate deal outside their home the evening prior.

An autopsy indicated that Eric had ingested approximately five times the lethal dose of fentanyl, a powerful opioid commonly administered as an anesthetic.

One year after her husband's death, Richins published the book titled "Are You With Me?" aimed at assisting her children in coping with their father's passing.

She promoted the book through local television channel ABC4, expressing her need for a distraction after the tragedy.

The court was informed that Richins had previously attempted to poison Eric on Valentine's Day weeks before his death by contaminating his sandwich. Following a dinner with her, he became significantly ill, developing hives that required the use of his son’s EpiPen and antihistamines.

Richins allegedly purchased $900 worth of fentanyl pills before Eric’s death and subsequently obtained more from their housekeeper.

She had referred to the drug as the 'Michael Jackson stuff', referencing the late pop star’s death attributed to inappropriate medical treatment involving a strong anesthetic.

Forensic investigations revealed searches on Richins’ burner phones for terms like "Utah prison for women," "can cops find deleted iPhone messages?" and inquiries about how deaths by poisoning are recorded on death certificates.

Facing a debt of $4.5 million, Richins allegedly plotted a future with another man she was romantically involved with after the murder.

Unbeknownst to her, Eric had secretly placed a majority of his estate into a trust under his sister's name.

Brad Bloodworth, the Summit County prosecutor, noted that Richins aimed to escape her marriage to Eric while still wanting access to his wealth. He described her as "intensely ambitious," suggesting she believed her only recourse was for Eric to "die."

Richins’ attorney, Wendy Lewis, pointed out that there could be a “reasonable explanation” for the situation, including the claim that Eric was dependent on painkillers.

In addition to the murder conviction, Richins grapples with 24 other fraud charges related to the life insurance policies and is scheduled for a detention hearing on May 19.