PARK CITY, Utah — A Utah woman who authorities say fatally poisoned her husband then published a children’s book about coping with grief is set to appear in court Monday for the start of a multiday hearing that will determine whether prosecutors have enough evidence against her to proceed with a trial.
Kouri Richins, 34, faces several felony charges for allegedly killing her husband with a lethal dose of fentanyl in March 2022 at their home in a small mountain town near Park City. Prosecutors say she slipped five times the lethal dose of the synthetic opioid into a Moscow mule cocktail that Eric Richins, 39, drank.
Additional charges filed in March accuse her of an earlier attempt to kill him with a spiked sandwich on Valentine’s Day. She has been adamant in maintaining her innocence.
Utah state Judge Richard Mrazik had delayed the hearing in May after prosecutors said they would need three consecutive days to present their evidence. The case was further slowed when Kouri Richins’ team of private attorneys withdrew from representing her. Mrazik determined she was unable to continue paying for private representation, and he appointed public defenders Wendy Lewis and Kathy Nester to take over her case.
In the months leading up to her arrest in May 2023, the mother of three self-published the children’s book “Are You with Me?” about a father with angel wings watching over his young son after passing away. The book could play a key role for prosecutors in framing Eric Richins’ death as a calculated killing with an elaborate cover-up attempt. Prosecutors have accused Kouri Richins of making secret financial arrangements and buying the illegal drug as her husband began to harbor suspicions about her.
Both the defense and prosecution plan to call on witnesses and introduce evidence to help shape their narratives in the case. Mrazik is expected to decide after the hearing whether the state has presented sufficient evidence to go forward with a trial.
Among the witnesses who could be called are relatives of the defendant and her late husband, a housekeeper who claims to have sold Kouri Richins the drugs, and friends of Eric Richins who have recounted phone conversations from the day prosecutors say he was first poisoned by his wife of nine years.
Kouri Richins’ former lead defense attorney, Skye Lazaro, had argued the housekeeper had motivation to lie as she sought leniency in the face of drug charges, and that Eric Richins’ sisters had a clear bias against her client amid a battle over his estate and a concurrent assault case.
A petition filed by his sister, Katie Richins, alleges Kouri Richins had financial motives for killing her husband as prosecutors say she had opened life insurance policies totaling nearly $2 million without his knowledge and mistakenly believed she would inherit his estate under terms of their prenuptial agreement.
In May, Kouri Richins was found guilty on misdemeanor charges of assaulting her other sister-in-law shortly after her husband’s death. Amy Richins told the judge that Kouri Richins had punched her in the face during an argument over access to her brother’s safe.
In addition to aggravated murder, assault and drug charges, Kouri Richins has been charged with mortgage fraud, forgery and insurance fraud for allegedly forging loan applications and fraudulently claiming insurance benefits after her husband’s death.
A Utah judge is set to determine whether the author of a book on grief will stand trial for the death of her husband. The case has garnered widespread attention due to the unique circumstances surrounding the incident.
The author, whose name has not been disclosed to protect her privacy, gained fame for her book on coping with loss and grief. However, her personal life took a tragic turn when her husband was found dead in their home under suspicious circumstances.
Authorities initially believed that the husband’s death was a result of natural causes, but further investigation revealed inconsistencies in the author’s account of the events leading up to his passing. As a result, she was arrested and charged with his murder.
The author has maintained her innocence, claiming that her husband’s death was a tragic accident and not the result of foul play. She has cited her expertise in grief counseling as evidence of her innocence, arguing that she would never harm her loved one.
The upcoming court hearing will determine whether there is enough evidence to proceed with a trial. The judge will consider witness testimonies, forensic evidence, and any other relevant information before making a decision.
The case has sparked debate among legal experts and the public about the intersection of personal tragedy and professional expertise. Some believe that the author’s background in grief counseling should be taken into account when evaluating her innocence, while others argue that no one is above the law, regardless of their profession.
Regardless of the outcome of the hearing, one thing is clear: this case serves as a reminder of the complexities of human behavior and the unpredictable nature of life. It also highlights the importance of seeking justice for victims of crime, no matter who they may be.
As the Utah judge prepares to make a decision in this high-profile case, the author and her supporters are hopeful that the truth will prevail and justice will be served. Only time will tell what the final verdict will be in this tragic tale of loss and grief.
