UT - Kouri Richins, 33, Author, wife, mom, charged in husband’s unexpected death last year, May 2023 #3

[Niner]

Dispute over 'Walk the Dog' letter intensifies in Kouri Richins' murder case

Kouri Richins, charged with aggravated murder for allegedly poisoning her husband with fentanyl in 2022, appeared in court for a motion hearing on evidence supp

kutv.com

Mar. 5, 2025

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Kouri Richins, charged with aggravated murder for allegedly poisoning her husband with fentanyl in 2022, appeared in court for a motion hearing on evidence suppression.

The hearing focused on a phone seized by Summit County Sheriff's detectives and at that point, the "Walk the Dog" letter became contentious.

Defense attorney Kathy Nester argued that the search warrant did not authorize the seizure of Richins' phone, as it was not on her person.
[.....]
Chief prosecutor Brad Bloodworth from the Summit County Attorney's Office countered that there was a break in the sequence of events, saying the defense had not met the burden to suppress the evidence.
[.....]
Judge Mrazik stated he would take the motions under advisement and issue written rulings. Anticipating a motion to move the trial out of Summit County to ensure a fair and impartial trial, Judge Mrazik told the defense team that any motion for a change of venue is to be filed by March 14, and that the State will have fourteen days to reply. The Court will hear the argument on that motion on April 7.

Further motion hearings have been scheduled for March 17 and 18. Additional motion hearings are scheduled on April 7 and 8. During the motion hearing on Tuesday, Judge Mrazik scheduled a hearing on April 18 to address a motion to strike certain jurors for cause based on their responses on the jury questionnaire. Jury selection in State of Utah vs. Kouri Darden Richins is scheduled to begin on April 22.

 

[neesaki]

I hope they show jurors the video of her looking down doiing her best to stifle her laughter, when the prosecutor was quoting what she told her friend about how she tried so, so hard to revive him. That right there would be enough for me to convict her.
She truly disgusts me.

 

[Justice101]

I guess I did not see the actual video of her regarding that.

 

[neesaki]

I guess I did not see the actual video of her regarding that.

 

[casesensitive]

I hope they show jurors the video of her looking down doiing her best to stifle her laughter, when the prosecutor was quoting what she told her friend about how she tried so, so hard to revive him. That right there would be enough for me to convict her.
She truly disgusts me.

People's lips can look like they are beginning to smile before they cry. That is what I saw before she lowered her head and cried. She is not that stupid to smile during the quotes of her trying to revive him. jmo

 

[JosieMae]

More fake crying, which she's not very good at either.

 

[neesaki]

Nah,I'm not that naive.

 

[Megnut]

I hope they show jurors the video of her looking down doiing her best to stifle her laughter, when the prosecutor was quoting what she told her friend about how she tried so, so hard to revive him. That right there would be enough for me to convict her.
She truly disgusts me.

Duper's delight.

JMO

 

[Niner]

Monday, March 1th:
*Motions Hearing (@ 9:30am MT) - UT - Eric Eugene Richins (39) poisoned with a lethal dose of fentanyl by wife on Mar. 3, 2022 in Kamas. - *Kouri Darden Richins (33/now 34) arrested (5/8/23) & charged (6/5/23) & arraigned (8/27/24) with 2nd degree aggravated murder & 3 counts of possession of drugs with intent to distribute. [These charges were dismissed on 3/25/24-see recharges]. Re-charged (3/25/24) with 2 counts of 1st degree criminal homicide aggravated murder (DV), 2 counts of 2nd degree distribution of a controlled substance [charges dismissed 11/12/24], 2 counts of 2nd degree mortgage fraud (Iron Bridge Financial & Boomerang Finance), 2 counts of 2nd degree insurance fraud & 2 counts of 3rd degree forgery. Plead not guilty (8/27/24). Held without bond. Bond denied (6/12/23). DA will not seek DP (8/18/23). 3rd Judicial District Court Summit County
*Civil case vs Katie Richins Benson. Property dispute.
Civil case [#221200316]: After Kouri failed to show evidence she complied with the agreement, Justice Court Judge Brendan McCullagh found Kouri guilty of the assault on 5/13/24.
Murder Trial set to begin on 4/28/25 with jury selection on 4/21/25. (Trial thru 5/22/25).
Third District court Judge Richard Mrazik presiding. Prosecutors Patricia Cassell & Deputy Salt Lake County attorney Brad Bloodworth & Defense attorneys Kathy Nester & Wendy Lewis.
Case & court info from 6/5/23 thru 2/20/25 reference post #420 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...ted-death-last-year-may-2023-3.711978/page-21
2/21/25 Update: Judge Richard Mrazik has denied a defense motion to reopen an evidentiary hearing regarding potential untruthfulness by lead Detective Jeff O'Driscoll. Defense attorneys motioned to suppress statements Richins made to two detectives in her murder case. In denying the motion, the judge said their knowledge of whether she did or did not have an attorney was not relevant, because judicial proceedings had not started at that point in the case. The decision allows the case to proceed, with additional hearings scheduled for March. Richins was in court Friday a part of a hearing over the selection of jurors for her trial, which was scheduled to begin in April. Her defense is expected to make other challenges to law enforcement testimony. They’ve asked the court to order prosecutors to hand over statements pertaining to investigators’ credibility as witnesses. Judge Mrazik is waiting for more briefings from either side before ruling on that. And the defense is also expected to claim other missteps by investigators, including whether Richins was informed of her Miranda rights in some interviews. He may take up some of those issues at the next court hearing on 3/4/25 @ 9:30am That was initially when he planned to decide which evidence can be used in the trial. The judge pushed those hearings back to 3/17/25 & 3/18/25 @ 9:30am.
3/4/25 Update: Richins appeared in court for a motion hearing on evidence suppression. The hearing focused on a phone seized by Summit County Sheriff's detectives & at that point, the "Walk the Dog" letter became contentious. Defense attorney Kathy Nester argued that the search warrant did not authorize the seizure of Richins' phone, as it was not on her person. Chief prosecutor Brad Bloodworth from the Summit County Attorney's Office countered that there was a break in the sequence of events, saying the defense had not met the burden to suppress the evidence. Judge Mrazik stated he would take the motions under advisement & issue written rulings. Anticipating a motion to move the trial out of Summit County to ensure a fair & impartial trial, Judge Mrazik told the defense team that any motion for a change of venue is to be filed by 3/14/25 & that the State will have fourteen days to reply. The Court will hear the argument on that motion on 4/7/25. Further motion hearings have been scheduled for 3/17/25 & 3/18/25. Additional motion hearings are scheduled on 4/7/25 & 4/8/25. During the motion hearing on Tuesday, Judge Mrazik scheduled a hearing on 4/18/25 to address a motion to strike certain jurors for cause based on their responses on the jury questionnaire. Jury selection in State of Utah vs. Richins is scheduled to begin on 4/22/25.

 

[Justice101]

More fake crying, which she's not very good at either.

The laughing was genuine... and maybe even understandable. probably due to the words she had used.. "I pumped so damn hard."

The cry was definitely fake.

She realized she was in full view smiling and wanted to make it look like she wasn't.

 

[Warwick7]

The laughing was genuine... and maybe even understandable. probably due to the words she had used.. "I pumped so damn hard."

The cry was definitely fake.

She realized she was in full view smiling and wanted to make it look like she wasn't.

Yup!

 

[imstilla.grandma]

In court documents, Richins’ attorneys cite Rule 29 of the Utah Rules of Criminal Procedure, the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments and Article I section 12 of the Utah State Constitution as reasons to move the trial

Kouri Richins' attorneys request trial move to Salt Lake County

Kouri Richins is accused of killing her husband in May 2023. Her attorneys have requested her trial be moved from Summit County to Salt Lake County.

ksltv.com

In their motion to move Richins’ trial, scheduled for April, attorneys pointed out multiple news articles about the case.

“These twelve stories were just the beginning of a media campaign that has continued to vilify Ms. Richins. Since her arrest these three news sources alone have published over 140 stories to date about Ms. Richins, with new stories being published weekly,” the motion said.

Kouri Richins' defense attorneys want trial moved out of Summit County

Defense attorneys for the Utah mother accused of killing her husband by drugging him with fentanyl have asked the judge to move her trial out of Summit County,

kjzz.com

 

[Megnut]

In court documents, Richins’ attorneys cite Rule 29 of the Utah Rules of Criminal Procedure, the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments and Article I section 12 of the Utah State Constitution as reasons to move the trial

Kouri Richins' attorneys request trial move to Salt Lake County

Kouri Richins is accused of killing her husband in May 2023. Her attorneys have requested her trial be moved from Summit County to Salt Lake County.

ksltv.com

In their motion to move Richins’ trial, scheduled for April, attorneys pointed out multiple news articles about the case.

“These twelve stories were just the beginning of a media campaign that has continued to vilify Ms. Richins. Since her arrest these three news sources alone have published over 140 stories to date about Ms. Richins, with new stories being published weekly,” the motion said.

Kouri Richins' defense attorneys want trial moved out of Summit County

Defense attorneys for the Utah mother accused of killing her husband by drugging him with fentanyl have asked the judge to move her trial out of Summit County,

kjzz.com

Newsflash, Defense attorneys: the media didn't villify Kouri. Her actions did.

JMO

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, March 18th:
*Motions Hearing (@ 9:30am MT) - UT - Eric Eugene Richins (39) poisoned with a lethal dose of fentanyl by wife on Mar. 3, 2022 in Kamas. - *Kouri Darden Richins (33/now 34) arrested (5/8/23) & charged (6/5/23) & arraigned (8/27/24) with 2nd degree aggravated murder & 3 counts of possession of drugs with intent to distribute. [These charges were dismissed on 3/25/24-see recharges]. Re-charged (3/25/24) with 2 counts of 1st degree criminal homicide aggravated murder (DV), 2 counts of 2nd degree distribution of a controlled substance [charges dismissed 11/12/24], 2 counts of 2nd degree mortgage fraud (Iron Bridge Financial & Boomerang Finance), 2 counts of 2nd degree insurance fraud & 2 counts of 3rd degree forgery. Plead not guilty (8/27/24). Held without bond. Bond denied (6/12/23). DA will not seek DP (8/18/23). 3rd Judicial District Court Summit County
*Civil case vs Katie Richins Benson. Property dispute.
Civil case [#221200316]: After Kouri failed to show evidence she complied with the agreement, Justice Court Judge Brendan McCullagh found Kouri guilty of the assault on 5/13/24.
Murder Trial set to begin on 4/28/25 with jury selection on 4/21/25. (Trial thru 5/22/25).
Third District court Judge Richard Mrazik presiding. Prosecutors Patricia Cassell & Deputy Salt Lake County attorney Brad Bloodworth & Defense attorneys Kathy Nester & Wendy Lewis.
Case & court info from 6/5/23 thru 2/21/25 reference post #429 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...ted-death-last-year-may-2023-3.711978/page-22
3/4/25 Update: Richins appeared in court for a motion hearing on evidence suppression. The hearing focused on a phone seized by Summit County Sheriff's detectives & at that point, the "Walk the Dog" letter became contentious. Defense attorney Kathy Nester argued that the search warrant did not authorize the seizure of Richins' phone, as it was not on her person. Chief prosecutor Brad Bloodworth from the Summit County Attorney's Office countered that there was a break in the sequence of events, saying the defense had not met the burden to suppress the evidence. Judge Mrazik stated he would take the motions under advisement & issue written rulings. Anticipating a motion to move the trial out of Summit County to ensure a fair & impartial trial, Judge Mrazik told the defense team that any motion for a change of venue is to be filed by 3/14/25 & that the State will have fourteen days to reply. The Court will hear the argument on that motion on 4/7/25. Further motion hearings have been scheduled for 3/17/25 & 3/18/25. Additional motion hearings are scheduled on 4/7/25 & 4/8/25. During the motion hearing on Tuesday, Judge Mrazik scheduled a hearing on 4/18/25 to address a motion to strike certain jurors for cause based on their responses on the jury questionnaire. Jury selection in State of Utah vs. Richins is scheduled to begin on 4/22/25.
3/17/25 Update: In the defense motion [filed Monday, 3/17/25] to move Richins’ trial, scheduled for April, attorneys pointed out multiple news articles about the case. In their argument that Richins could not get a fair trial in Summit County, defense attorneys quoted Malcolm X. In court documents, Richins’ attorneys cite Rule 29 of the Utah Rules of Criminal Procedure, the Sixth & Fourteenth Amendments & Article I section 12 of the Utah State Constitution as reasons to move the trial. The Court has not responded yet to motion. Motions hearing continues on 3/18/25.

 

[arielilane]

Defense attorneys for Kouri Richins, the Kamas mother of three accused of poisoning her husband with a fatal dose of fentanyl in March 2022, are asking a Summit County judge to move her murder trial to a courtroom in Salt Lake County.

Kouri Richins defense asks to move jury trial to Salt Lake County - Park Record

Third District Court documents filed by lawyers Wendy Lewis and Kathy Nester on Monday argue local, national and international news coverage about the case has “permeated Summit County” and impacts her right to a fair trial.

www.parkrecord.com

3/18/2025

Motion to Change Venue

Court documents allege informal interviews inducted residents, the prospective jury members, “do not want to make an enemy of” the Richins family and almost 27% said they knew someone that had a direct or indirect connection to the family. Only 3.5% of Salt Lake County surveytakers had the same response.

Additionally, stakeholder engagement survey found that common comments made about Kouri Richins include:

• “She killed her husband with a poisoned Moscow mule.”
• “She looked up how much fentanyl it would take to kill him.”
• “She was having affairs with rich men.”
• “She was broke and desperate and killed him for insurance money.”
• “She killed him so she could buy a mansion with her lover with the life insurance.”
• “I’ve read all about that girl in the newspapers. She is so guilty.”
• “Why are we wasting our money paying for the defense of a guilty person when there are so many other things our taxpayer dollars could go to?”
• “Why does she get free money?”
• “Good luck to her, that girl has no chance going up against that family in this county.”

 

[Seattle1]

3/18/25

“A fair and impartial jury cannot be found in Summit County because of the extensive publicity that is ongoing and inflammatory. The inflammatory nature of the publicity has included inaccurate information and inadmissible information. The publicity has been extremely pervasive in the small community of Summit County. Remediations, such as enlarging the jury pool will not cure the problem,” the 58-page filing states. See link below for pdf.

Kouri Richins defense asks to move jury trial to Salt Lake County - Park Record

Third District Court documents filed by lawyers Wendy Lewis and Kathy Nester on Monday argue local, national and international news coverage about the case has “permeated Summit County” and impacts her right to a fair trial.

www.parkrecord.com

 

[Niner]

So - next I have motions hearings on 4/7 & 4/8. @arielilane - correct? TIA!

 

[Seattle1]

Further motion hearings have been scheduled for March 17 and 18. Additional motion hearings are scheduled on April 7 and 8. During the motion hearing on Tuesday, Judge Mrazik scheduled a hearing on April 18 to address a motion to strike certain jurors for cause based on their responses on the jury questionnaire. Jury selection in State of Utah vs. Kouri Darden Richins is scheduled to begin on April 22.

From the Court Calendar:


2:00 PM In Person Hearing
3/26/2025


THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT - SILVER SUMMIT DISTR (Hearing location is in PARK CITY - More Info)
District Court


KOURI RICHINS
vs.
KATIE RICHINS-BENSON
RICHARD MRAZIK
COURTROOM B
MOTION HEARING

Case # 220500076
Property Rights
View Case Details


2:00 PM In Person Hearing
3/26/2025

THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT - SILVER SUMMIT DISTR (Hearing location is in PARK CITY - More Info)
District Court


KOURI RICHINS
vs.
KATIE RICHINS-BENSON
RICHARD MRAZIK
COURTROOM B
MOTION HEARING

Case # 230500230
Property Rights
View Case Details


9:30 AM In Person Hearing
4/7/2025

THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT - SILVER SUMMIT DISTR (Hearing location is in PARK CITY - More Info)
District Court


STATE OF UTAH
vs.
KOURI DARDEN RICHINS
RICHARD MRAZIK
COURTROOM B
MOTIONS HEARING

Case # 231500139
State Felony
View Case Details


9:30 AM In Person Hearing
4/8/2025

THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT - SILVER SUMMIT DISTR (Hearing location is in PARK CITY - More Info)
District Court


STATE OF UTAH
vs.
KOURI DARDEN RICHINS
RICHARD MRAZIK
COURTROOM B
MOTIONS HEARING

Case # 231500139
State Felony
View Case Details

9:00 AM In Person Hearing
4/14/2025

THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT - SILVER SUMMIT DISTR (Hearing location is in PARK CITY - More Info)
District Court


STATE OF UTAH
vs.
KOURI DARDEN RICHINS
RICHARD MRAZIK
COURTROOM B
MOTIONS HEARING

Case # 231500139
State Felony
View Case Details


9:00 AM In Person Hearing
4/15/2025

THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT - SILVER SUMMIT DISTR (Hearing location is in PARK CITY - More Info)
District Court


STATE OF UTAH
vs.
KOURI DARDEN RICHINS
RICHARD MRAZIK
COURTROOM B
MOTION HEARING

Case # 231500139
State Felony
View Case Details


https://legacy.utcourts.gov/cal/search.php?t=p&c=&p=RICHINS+KOURI&j=&f=&l=&b=&d=all&loc=all

 

[Niner]

From the Court Calendar:


2:00 PM In Person Hearing
3/26/2025


THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT - SILVER SUMMIT DISTR (Hearing location is in PARK CITY - More Info)
District Court


KOURI RICHINS
vs.
KATIE RICHINS-BENSON
RICHARD MRAZIK
COURTROOM B
MOTION HEARING

Case # 220500076
Property Rights
View Case Details


2:00 PM In Person Hearing
3/26/2025

THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT - SILVER SUMMIT DISTR (Hearing location is in PARK CITY - More Info)
District Court


KOURI RICHINS
vs.
KATIE RICHINS-BENSON
RICHARD MRAZIK
COURTROOM B
MOTION HEARING

Case # 230500230
Property Rights
View Case Details


9:30 AM In Person Hearing
4/7/2025

THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT - SILVER SUMMIT DISTR (Hearing location is in PARK CITY - More Info)
District Court


STATE OF UTAH
vs.
KOURI DARDEN RICHINS
RICHARD MRAZIK
COURTROOM B
MOTIONS HEARING

Case # 231500139
State Felony
View Case Details


9:30 AM In Person Hearing
4/8/2025

THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT - SILVER SUMMIT DISTR (Hearing location is in PARK CITY - More Info)
District Court


STATE OF UTAH
vs.
KOURI DARDEN RICHINS
RICHARD MRAZIK
COURTROOM B
MOTIONS HEARING

Case # 231500139
State Felony
View Case Details

9:00 AM In Person Hearing
4/14/2025

THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT - SILVER SUMMIT DISTR (Hearing location is in PARK CITY - More Info)
District Court


STATE OF UTAH
vs.
KOURI DARDEN RICHINS
RICHARD MRAZIK
COURTROOM B
MOTIONS HEARING

Case # 231500139
State Felony
View Case Details


9:00 AM In Person Hearing
4/15/2025

THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT - SILVER SUMMIT DISTR (Hearing location is in PARK CITY - More Info)
District Court


STATE OF UTAH
vs.
KOURI DARDEN RICHINS
RICHARD MRAZIK
COURTROOM B
MOTION HEARING

Case # 231500139
State Felony
View Case Details


https://legacy.utcourts.gov/cal/search.php?t=p&c=&p=RICHINS+KOURI&j=&f=&l=&b=&d=all&loc=all

Thanks for that update on the next hearing!

 

[Niner]

Wednesday, March 26th:
*Motions Hearing (@ 2pm MT) - UT - Eric Eugene Richins (39) poisoned with a lethal dose of fentanyl by wife on Mar. 3, 2022 in Kamas. - *Kouri Darden Richins (33/now 34) arrested (5/8/23) & charged (6/5/23) & arraigned (8/27/24) with 2nd degree aggravated murder & 3 counts of possession of drugs with intent to distribute. [These charges were dismissed on 3/25/24-see recharges]. Re-charged (3/25/24) with 2 counts of 1st degree criminal homicide aggravated murder (DV), 2 counts of 2nd degree distribution of a controlled substance [charges dismissed 11/12/24], 2 counts of 2nd degree mortgage fraud (Iron Bridge Financial & Boomerang Finance), 2 counts of 2nd degree insurance fraud & 2 counts of 3rd degree forgery. Plead not guilty (8/27/24). Held without bond. Bond denied (6/12/23). DA will not seek DP (8/18/23). 3rd Judicial District Court Summit County
*Civil case vs Katie Richins Benson. Property dispute.
Civil case [#221200316]: After Kouri failed to show evidence she complied with the agreement, Justice Court Judge Brendan McCullagh found Kouri guilty of the assault on 5/13/24.
Murder Trial set to begin on 4/28/25 with jury selection on 4/22/25. (Trial thru 5/22/25).
Third District court Judge Richard Mrazik presiding. Prosecutors Patricia Cassell & Deputy Salt Lake County attorney Brad Bloodworth & Defense attorneys Kathy Nester & Wendy Lewis.
Case & court info from 6/5/23 thru 3/4/25 reference post #434 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...ted-death-last-year-may-2023-3.711978/page-22
3/17/25 Update: In the defense motion [filed Monday, 3/17/25] to move Richins’ trial, scheduled for April, attorneys pointed out multiple news articles about the case. In their argument that Richins could not get a fair trial in Summit County, defense attorneys quoted Malcolm X. In court documents, Richins’ attorneys cite Rule 29 of the Utah Rules of Criminal Procedure, the Sixth & Fourteenth Amendments & Article I section 12 of the Utah State Constitution as reasons to move the trial. The Court has not responded yet to motion. Motions hearing continues on 3/18/25.
3/18/25 Update: Third District Court documents filed by lawyers Wendy Lewis & Kathy Nester on Monday argue local, national & international news coverage about the case has “permeated Summit County” & impacts her right to a fair trial. They have asked the Judge to move the trial to Salt Lake County. The motion to change venue comes after the Utah Supreme Court rejected a joint request from prosecutors & the defense to conduct jury selection in person & expand the pool to Salt Lake County. Justices denied the request, requiring the two sides to conduct jury selection virtually amongst Summit County residents. See link for more info: https://www.parkrecord.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/document-3.pdf Next motions hearing on 3/26/25 @ 2pm & then motions hearings on 4/7/25 & 4/8/25 @ 9:30am & motions hearing on 4/14/25 & 4/15/25 @ 9am.