Kouri Richins, a Utah mother of three and children’s book author, is currently facing charges of attempted murder, aggravated murder, and drug possession after being accused of fatally poisoning her husband, Eric Richins, with illicit fentanyl in an attempt to collect life insurance funds. Richins, now 35, has recently spoken out publicly for the first time since her husband’s death, expressing her frustration at being portrayed negatively by the media and stating that it is time to start speaking up.
Her defense team recently filed a request to withdraw from her case, citing irreconcilable differences, which Richins has stated was not her choice. Another filing also sought to disqualify state prosecutors due to alleged violations that compromised adversarial fairness. Prosecutors claim that Richins killed her husband to collect millions in life insurance and flip a mansion that was under construction at the time of his death, an investment that his family says he did not approve of.
On the night of Eric’s death, he, Kouri, and her mother were celebrating the closure of the mansion in question. Kouri allegedly spiked her husband’s drink with fentanyl, leading to his death. A medical examiner determined that Eric had more than five times the lethal amount of fentanyl in his system, as well as a large amount of Quetiapine, an atypical antipsychotic medication. The following day, Kouri closed the deal on the mansion alone after her husband’s passing.
In addition to the charges related to her husband’s death, Richins is also facing allegations of attempted murder in connection with an incident where she tried to poison her husband’s sandwich on Valentine’s Day. Eric noticed something was wrong and took steps to counteract the poison, surviving the attempt. Despite the accusations against her, Richins has maintained her innocence in her husband’s death.
In the aftermath of her husband’s passing, Richins wrote a children’s book titled “Are You With Me?” about grief, which she promoted through local media appearances. She has expressed her determination to fight the charges against her, stating that she is prepared for the battle ahead. Richins remains steadfast in her innocence and is continuing to push for a fair legal process as she faces the allegations surrounding her husband’s death.
