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

[arielilane]

@NateNewsNow


NEW THREAD: Judge is back on the bench. He reminds everyone in the courtroom that there can be no audible reactions to the evidence or events in the courtroom. "Sit, be still, no audible reactions to anything. If anyone is unable to follow this instruction, I'll need you to step out."

Jury is back. Lewis continues to question. Asks to admit the docket from drug court. Lewis asks what Roxy 30s are. They are stronger Oxycodone pills. Lewis asks if they are 30 milligrams of Oxycodone. Carmen isn't sure.

Three years ago, Lewis points out that Carmen told detectives the money was left in the fire pit at the Midway home and then the pills were placed there. This contradicts what she said earlier - that the pills were left inside the Midway home.

Lewis points out, in a transcript of Carmen's interview with police, that she told them she never did a hand-to-hand exchange with Kouri. But today she testified that she gave the pills directly to Kouri in her driveway. Carmen said the pills were $600 and she didn't make any money off the deal. Lewis says that's not a very good drug dealer. Carmen says she did it because Kouri was a friend.

Lewis points to another part of the police interview transcript when Carmen told detectives in May 2023 she bought drugs once from Susan and twice from Robert. Today she testified that she bought drugs once from Susan and three times from Robert. Lewis asks about the contradiction. Carmen says it was a lot to process a few years ago.

 

[arielilane]

@NateNewsNow


Carmen told detectives she was going to fight hard to stay in drug court. The detectives told her they were on her side and as long as their relationship continued, they were there for her.


5:52 PM · Feb 26, 2026

 

[arielilane]

@NateNewsNow


Lewis reminds Carmen that she told detectives she had a lot of memory problems and her memory isn't the best. She confirms it. "A lot to process when you're incarcerated," she says. Carmen told investigators she had "fried her brain" using drugs. She has been using drugs since sixth grade.


5:54 PM · Feb 26, 2026


@NateNewsNow


Lewis wants to play something for Carmen and the jury. Bloodworth objects. Judge asks attorneys to approach.


5:57 PM · Feb 26, 2026



A portion of a video is played. It's the detectives interviewing Carmen. We see the video. The investigators tell Carmen that the drug court is looking at giving her a 7-year sentence. The only exception they are willing to make is if Carmen gives up the details that ensure Kouri will get convicted of murder.


6:00 PM · Feb 26, 2026

 

[arielilane]

THIRD member of the public tossed from the trial.

Two have been kicked out of the courtroom for using cell phones (texting; not photographing) and the third was believed to be “sketching” or drawing.

I’m about to hop on @KUTV2News at 4.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2027154559643070952

 

[arielilane]

@NateNewsNow


Carmen says she was willing to do whatever it takes to get the truth out. She told detectives she needed a "blueprint" to lay out what happened. "I'll do whatever it takes," she said to investigators. The detectives told Carmen they would go to the prosecutor and try to work out a deal for her. One of the detectives asked Carmen to write down everything she could remember to help them out for the next meeting. She never did write everything out.


6:02 PM · Feb 26, 2026

 

[arielilane]

@NateNewsNow


Defense pulls up a photo showing dark green pills. Carmen says the pills she got were lighter than the ones in the photo. We see an image of two pills on the screen. Lewis asks if the pills Carmen collected said anything on them. She doesn't know.


6:05 PM · Feb 26, 2026

 

[arielilane]

Wonder if we have to wait for redirect tomorrow.

Edited post

 

[arielilane]

@NateNewsNow


Lewis asks Carmen if she remembers being asked about M30s or Oxys. One of the detectives told her M30s was fentanyl, and she responded that she didn't know much about fentanyl. Lewis asks if Kouri ever asked her to get her fentanyl. She did not, Lewis says. Carmen says she got Roxys from Susan but she could get fentanyl from Robert. Lewis asks about Kouri requesting the Michael Jackson drug. Carmen didn't know what that was and looked it up. It was Propofol.


6:10 PM · Feb 26, 2026


Lewis suggests that detectives put the idea of the fentanyl in Carmen's head - that she didn't deal with fentanyl. Carmen says no, they told her Eric died from fentanyl.


6:13 PM · Feb 26, 2026

 

[aamillaa]

As unlikable as the defense is, I hope prosecution has something under their sleeve. Lots of circumstantial evidence but that’s it so far. MOO

 

[MarciB]

Omg these questions to Carmen.

I think they will backfire

 

[iamshadow21]

As unlikable as the defense is, I hope prosecution has something under their sleeve. Lots of circumstantial evidence but that’s it so far. MOO

Modern cases are primarily composed of circumstantial evidence. There's nothing to worry about.

MOO

 

[arielilane]

@NateNewsNow


Lewis asks about Carmen leaving the drugs in the closet and the number of transactions. Lewis asks Carmen what date she left the pills in the Midway house. She doesn't know the approximate date. Lewis asks what was in the Midway home when she put the pills in the closet. Carmen says it was pretty empty.


6:20 PM · Feb 26, 2026

 

[arielilane]

@NateNewsNow


Lewis asks about Carmen telling detectives her memory was messed up and foggy. It's in the transcript. Carmen says that's correct. In the same interview, Carmen told detectives, "I bought pills for Kouri three times before Eric died." Lewis asks if detectives came back later and told her that number isn't correct - the last purchase happened after Eric died.


6:23 PM · Feb 26, 2026

 

[Katrinepa]

She had to cover her face because she was too self-conscious. She kept just opening her face to whine then covering her face again. Shaking her legs. Then finally she gets up and moves around. I bet she didn't expect the cops would be hanging around for so long. Then Katie shows up. She follows her around and kind of emulates her. Then you have her mother just hovering around making inane comments of her own. It was all so creepy and awkward.

JMO

Her mother didn't hug her, comfort her, but sat a couch cushion away from her. IMPOV, her mom KNEW what she was going to do, or what she was capable of doing.
The only person who seemed to care about the children was Katie, her sister in law. Not their mother or grandmother at all! That says a lot!

 

[aamillaa]

CL is getting under Lewis’ skin. Lewis may end up really losing it before this is over. MOO

 

[arielilane]

Lewis asks Carmen if she told detectives, "Just write it all down and I'll sign it." She says she asked them to write her statement and she could sign it.

@NateNewsNow


Lewis repeatedly asks about Carmen and her memory issues. She met with a detective in May 2023 and he told her because of her cooperation, she is not going to be charged. She replied, "I'm willing to do whatever." The detectives told Carmen they needed to talk with Susan Kohler. They told Carmen that Susan could be charged with murder if her pills led to someone's death.

 

[arielilane]

@NateNewsNow


Lewis asks Carmen about her reaching out to a woman named Nicole Cummings to get something stronger than the prescription Oxy she got from Susan. Carmen asked Nicole if she knew anybody who could get her some pills - some Roxy 30s or blues. Blues mean manmade drugs on the street. In early 2022, did blues at that time not mean fentanyl, Lewis asks. Carmen responds, "blues are blues."


6:33 PM · Feb 26, 2026


When detectives brought up Robert Crozier with Carmen, Lewis asks if she remembered his name. She knew him as a dealer in Ogden and she asked for her phone to help remind her of his name. His name was in her phone.


6:35 PM · Feb 26, 2026

 

[arielilane]

@NateNewsNow


Lewis asking about conflicting stories Carmen apparently had about putting the pills in the firepit versus inside the house. She refers Carmen to the transcript.

6:41 PM · Feb 26, 2026

 

[arielilane]

@NateNewsNow


Lewis points to a comment a detective made that Carmen's cooperation with them is a "giant get out of jail free card." One of the detectives told her "this whole case depends on you" and "you need to finish painting the picture." Carmen says that's correct.


6:45 PM · Feb 26, 2026

 

[arielilane]

Recess for the evening.

Court in session 8:30 am MT (10:30 am ET) TOMORROW