Accused of Poisoning Husband with Fentanyl

A Utah mother of three, who once published a children's book on how children overcome the grief of losing a father, is accused by prosecutors of murdering her own husband with fentanyl to inherit a $4 million estate.

In opening statements at the Park City court on Monday, prosecutor Bradley Bloodworth alleged that Kouri Richins, 35, mixed fentanyl into her husband Eric Richins' Moscow Mule on March 3, 2022. According to the prosecution, the motive was money and the desire to maintain an image of wealth and success, while her real estate business was drowning in approximately $4.5 million of debt.

Prosecution's Arguments

The prosecutor stated that Richins could not receive assets if divorced due to a prenuptial agreement, but would be the beneficiary if her husband died. She was previously suspected of attempting to poison her husband on Valentine's Day.

On the night of the incident, the victim drank a cocktail containing a fentanyl dose five times the lethal level. The defendant's phone was unlocked at 3:06 AM, but the 911 call was made at 3:21 AM. She later deleted phone data and searched for phrases like "can police recover deleted messages" and "luxury prison for the rich."

A year after her husband's death, Richins released the children's book "Are You With Me?" which discusses helping children cope with the grief of losing a father. The prosecutor argued that the defendant "leveraged her personal image and story to maintain an appearance of success."

The prosecution also presented evidence of messages between Richins and a man believed to be her lover, along with international travel plans booked before her husband's death.

Defense's Arguments

Defense attorney Kathryn Nester countered that Eric Richins died from taking painkillers for chronic back and knee pain. The defense argued that the victim's family had pressured authorities and hired a private investigator to accuse Richins.

The attorney played back the 911 call, in which Richins cried and said, "My husband's not breathing. He's cold."

Next Steps

Richins pleaded not guilty to charges including aggravated murder, attempted murder, and possession of a controlled substance. She has been held in custody since her arrest, just two months after promoting her book.

The case continues to attract significant attention in the Park City community, where the family was once viewed as a model of success.