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Hallelujah! Lewis has nothing further. FFS I was ready to pull my hair out
UT - Kouri Richins, 33, Author, wife, mom, charged in husband’s unexpected death last year, May 2023 #3
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Carmen's attorney is taking LOTS of notes from this testimony today. Lewis is digging pretty deep into the credibility of the testimony. Lots of re-asking questions related to Thursday's testimony. She just brought up the 'Michael Jackson' reference again.
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Bloodworth is up for final cleanup after Lewis ends her filibuster with Carmen Lauber
A miracle just happened!
Defense: Nothing further
Defense: Nothing further
Lewis tells Carmen she's not being drug tested and she "waits to see what happens following her testimony." Carmen says yes and she's been allowed to move to Las Vegas, but she still lives in Utah. Carmen served 23 days in jail when she was arrested in April 2023. Lewis asks Carmen if she knew what the pills were that she got from Robert Crozier. She doesn't know.
You have absolutely no information about what happened to Eric Richins other than what you were told," Lewis asks. Carmen says that's correct. She says she has no knowledge what killed Eric Richins. Lewis has nothing further. Summit County Prosecuting Attorney Brad Bloodworth will now follow up.
Bloodworth shows a letter from the US District Attorney's Office promising Carmen immunity for her testimony in the trial. He asks Carmen about meeting with prosecutors to prepare for testifying in court. Her attorney was present with her "every single minute for every single meeting." Bloodworth asks about Carmen's anxiety and if she's ever seen a doctor for it. She did earlier in drug court and was diagnosed with anxiety. She was prescribed a non-narcotic - a white oval pill.
@NateNewsNow
You have absolutely no information about what happened to Eric Richins other than what you were told," Lewis asks. Carmen says that's correct. She says she has no knowledge what killed Eric Richins. Lewis has nothing further. Summit County Prosecuting Attorney Brad Bloodworth will now follow up.
Bloodworth shows a letter from the US District Attorney's Office promising Carmen immunity for her testimony in the trial. He asks Carmen about meeting with prosecutors to prepare for testifying in court. Her attorney was present with her "every single minute for every single meeting." Bloodworth asks about Carmen's anxiety and if she's ever seen a doctor for it. She did earlier in drug court and was diagnosed with anxiety. She was prescribed a non-narcotic - a white oval pill.
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letter re immunity for Carmen states she gets full immunity from federal prosecution for purchasing and distributing illicit drugs to Kouri Richens between january and march of 2022 in exchange for her open and transparent cooperation in the prosecution of Kouri.
(screenshot from livestream of day five trial)
It is not the blank check Lewis was portraying it to be. JMO
(screenshot from livestream of day five trial)
It is not the blank check Lewis was portraying it to be. JMO
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after being told by investigators she was receiving a blank check/get out of jail free card Carmen responded with "even if that is the case I still feel a need to step up and take accountability if this is what happened to Eric."
Bloodworth asks Carmen if she continued to behave like an active drug addict from the day she entered drug court until the time she was arrested. Carmen says she occasionally used drugs and an active user will lie. Bloodworth asks if she has been clean since she was arrested in April 2023. She says yes.
Carmen says she has been clean since detectives told her Eric Richins died of a drug overdose. Bloodworth asks if her memory has become clearer since she's become clean. She says yes. It's become clearer as she's had more time to process her involvement in Eric's death. She also says her memory has become clearer since she's reviewed Facebook messages, text messages and other items with her attorneys.
Bloodworth asks about Carmen being told she could get a "giant get out of jail free card" and what Carmen said immediately after she was told that. Carmen doesn't recall. Bloodworth asks for her to be shown the transcript. She looks at the transcript. She told them that even if that was the case, she still needed to step up and take accountability if this was what really happened to Eric.
@NateNewsNow
Carmen says she has been clean since detectives told her Eric Richins died of a drug overdose. Bloodworth asks if her memory has become clearer since she's become clean. She says yes. It's become clearer as she's had more time to process her involvement in Eric's death. She also says her memory has become clearer since she's reviewed Facebook messages, text messages and other items with her attorneys.
Bloodworth asks about Carmen being told she could get a "giant get out of jail free card" and what Carmen said immediately after she was told that. Carmen doesn't recall. Bloodworth asks for her to be shown the transcript. She looks at the transcript. She told them that even if that was the case, she still needed to step up and take accountability if this was what really happened to Eric.
@NateNewsNow
Re-exam now.
This letter was shown to the jury regarding Lauber's agreement with the federal government regarding her testimony.
Brad Bloodworth is asking Lauber about her anxiety saying that a physician diagnosed her and prescribed her with a 'non-narcotic'.
This letter was shown to the jury regarding Lauber's agreement with the federal government regarding her testimony.
Brad Bloodworth is asking Lauber about her anxiety saying that a physician diagnosed her and prescribed her with a 'non-narcotic'.
@NateNewsNow
Bloodworth asks if she thinks the detectives were trying to plant information in her mind. She says no. He asks if she thinks they were trying to help her recall information. She says yes.
Bloodworth moves to admit transcripts of the jail interviews. Lewis objects and says there is "loads of hearsay" in the transcripts. Judge says he is not prepared to rule, but will later because it will require some legal discussion. Bloodworth asks if that legal discussion can be held over the lunch break. Judge says yes.
Bloodworth asks if she thinks the detectives were trying to plant information in her mind. She says no. He asks if she thinks they were trying to help her recall information. She says yes.
Bloodworth moves to admit transcripts of the jail interviews. Lewis objects and says there is "loads of hearsay" in the transcripts. Judge says he is not prepared to rule, but will later because it will require some legal discussion. Bloodworth asks if that legal discussion can be held over the lunch break. Judge says yes.
Well done on the redirect. Excellent!
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Break while attorneys meet w judge to discuss "legal things" (love how this judge does that btw) just says "we have some legal stuff to discuss" as he dismisses jury. very down to earth.
@NateNewsNow
Bloodworth has nothing further. Judge says we will have the legal discussion now so jury is excused. This is not the lunch dismissal, just the discussion over the legalities of admitting the jail interview transcripts. Carmen needs to step into the lobby during the discussion.
1:27 PM · Feb 27, 2026
Bloodworth has nothing further. Judge says we will have the legal discussion now so jury is excused. This is not the lunch dismissal, just the discussion over the legalities of admitting the jail interview transcripts. Carmen needs to step into the lobby during the discussion.
1:27 PM · Feb 27, 2026
Today is the fifth day of the trial. It is scheduled to begin each day at 8:30 a.m. East Idaho News will be posting live written updates all day. Please excuse typos. You can watch the livestream here. The most recent updates are at the top of this page.
11:28 a.m. Judge asks Bloodworth to explain why he wants the interviews in. He says the defense has cherry-picked certain statements to impeach Carmen. To rehabilitate her credibility, the state says all of the interviews need to be admitted so jurors can understand the entire arc. “She is being credible. While she may be confused, she is not untruthful.”
11:25 a.m. Bloodworth has nothing further. Judge says we will have the legal discussion now so jury is excused. This is not the lunch dismissal, just the discussion over the legalities of admitting the jail interview transcripts. Carmen needs to step into the lobby during the discussion.
11:23 a.m. Bloodworth moves to admit transcripts of the jail interviews. Lewis objects and says there is “loads of hearsay” in the transcripts. Judge says he is not prepared to rule, but will later because it will require some legal discussion. Bloodworth asks if that legal discussion can be held over the lunch break. Judge says yes.
11:21 a.m. Bloodworth asks if she thinks the detectives were trying to plant information in her mind. She says no. He asks if she thinks they were trying to help her recall information. She says yes.
11:19 a.m. Bloodworth asks about Carmen being told she could get a “giant get out of jail free card” and what Carmen said immediately after she was told that. Carmen doesn’t recall. Bloodworth asks for her to be shown the transcript. She looks at the transcript. She told them that even if that was the case, she still needed to step up and take accountability if this was what really happened to Eric.
11:17 a.m. Carmen says she has been clean since detectives told her Eric Richins died of a drug overdose. Bloodworth asks if her memory has become clearer since she’s become clean. She says yes. It’s become clearer as she’s had more time to process her involvement in Eric’s death. She also says her memory has become clearer since she’s reviewed Facebook messages, text messages and other items with her attorneys.
11:16 a.m. Bloodworth asks Carmen if she continued to behave like an active drug addict from the day she entered drug court until the time she was arrested. Carmen says she occasionally used drugs and an active user will lie. Bloodworth asks if she has been clean since she was arrested in April 2023. She says yes.
11:12 a.m. Bloodworth shows a letter from the US District Attorney’s Office promising Carmen immunity for her testimony in the trial. He asks Carmen about meeting with prosecutors to prepare for testifying in court. Her attorney was present with her “every single minute for every single meeting.” Bloodworth asks about Carmen’s anxiety and if she’s ever seen a doctor for it. She did earlier in drug court and was diagnosed with anxiety. She was prescribed a non-narcotic – a white oval pill.
11:11 a.m. “You have absolutely no information about what happened to Eric Richins other than what you were told,” Lewis asks. Carmen says that’s correct. She says she has no knowledge what killed Eric Richins. Lewis has nothing further. Summit County Prosecuting Attorney Brad Bloodworth will now follow up.
11:09 a.m. Lewis tells Carmen she’s not being drug tested and she “waits to see what happens following her testimony.” Carmen says yes and she’s been allowed to move to Las Vegas, but she still lives in Utah. Carmen served 23 days in jail when she was arrested in April 2023. Lewis asks Carmen if she knew what the pills were that she got from Robert Crozier. She doesn’t know.
11:06 a.m. “Kouri never asked you for fentanyl, true?” Lewis asks. Carmen responds, “Yes.” Lewis lists several dates and information that was “told to you but you don’t remember.”
11:04 a.m. Lewis brings up the letters that Kouri sent to the court saying Carmen had done community service. Carmen says she asked Kouri to write the letter. Lewis asks Carmen if it’s fair to say she can’t really recall what happened in 2022 or 2023. Carmen asks Lewis to rephrase the question. Carmen says she has a partial memory.
11 a.m. Carmen says her recollection is that while she had the ankle monitor on, she was not supposed to see her daughters. “I couldn’t go down the canyon at all.” Lewis tells Carmen she was not supposed to have contact with Nick as part of her probation and the fact he’s a witness in this case. Carmen says she does not recall that.
10:54 a.m. Lewis asks about Carmen’s current drug court and probation status. Her probation was transferred to another county. One of the conditions of her probation was not to have contact with Nick Von Savage, Lewis asks. Carmen says she isn’t sure. Lewis shows her some documents.
10:48 a.m. Lewis asks about a detective telling Carmen, “Don’t worry, we’re going to get through this so you can get on with your life.” Lewis asks about an interview on May 13 where Carmen was told detectives spoke with Nick Von Savage and learned the last drug purchase was March 9. Investigators then asked Carmen if it was possible she bought pills four times rather than three times, according to the transcript.
10:43 a.m. Lewis refers Carmen to another piece of the transcript where she talked with the investigators about them putting the puzzle pieces together. Lewis asks about Carmen, at one point, sharing that her daughter asking about what happened and Carmen saying she didn’t know. Judge says he’s having a hard time following this and Lewis needs to be more specific laying foundation.
10:41 a.m. Carmen says the detectives told her about the fentanyl. One of the detectives told Carmen, “The goal is to convict Kouri for aggravated murder. These parallel drug investigations are not a priority.” Lewis asks if Carmen recalls that statement. She says she does not. Lewis asks her to refer to the transcript.
10:37 a.m. We are back in court. Lewis asks Carmen to review a portion of the transcript. Lewis mentions the part where Carmen told a detective to get things laid out for her. “That’s because, up to this point, they’d been explaining to you what had happened, correct?” Lewis asks. Carmen told detectives she had a lot of cell phones and some were broken.
10:08 a.m. Attorneys arguing with each other. Judge says it’s time for a restroom break and apologizes that the courtroom is cold “like a meat locker.” He says they are working on it. We are on a break. Judge asks Bloodworth and Lewis to meet with him in his office.
10:03 a.m. Lewis asks Carmen if she told investigators that she made three purchases for Kouri Richins – one from Susan Kohler, two from Robert Crozier. Carmen says that’s correct – what she remembered at the time. One from Susan in February, one from Robert in February and one from Robert on March 9. “I know you’ve changed your story and you now say there’s another story, but this is what you told them a year after these events,” Lewis says.
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11:28 a.m. Judge asks Bloodworth to explain why he wants the interviews in. He says the defense has cherry-picked certain statements to impeach Carmen. To rehabilitate her credibility, the state says all of the interviews need to be admitted so jurors can understand the entire arc. “She is being credible. While she may be confused, she is not untruthful.”
11:25 a.m. Bloodworth has nothing further. Judge says we will have the legal discussion now so jury is excused. This is not the lunch dismissal, just the discussion over the legalities of admitting the jail interview transcripts. Carmen needs to step into the lobby during the discussion.
11:23 a.m. Bloodworth moves to admit transcripts of the jail interviews. Lewis objects and says there is “loads of hearsay” in the transcripts. Judge says he is not prepared to rule, but will later because it will require some legal discussion. Bloodworth asks if that legal discussion can be held over the lunch break. Judge says yes.
11:21 a.m. Bloodworth asks if she thinks the detectives were trying to plant information in her mind. She says no. He asks if she thinks they were trying to help her recall information. She says yes.
11:19 a.m. Bloodworth asks about Carmen being told she could get a “giant get out of jail free card” and what Carmen said immediately after she was told that. Carmen doesn’t recall. Bloodworth asks for her to be shown the transcript. She looks at the transcript. She told them that even if that was the case, she still needed to step up and take accountability if this was what really happened to Eric.
11:17 a.m. Carmen says she has been clean since detectives told her Eric Richins died of a drug overdose. Bloodworth asks if her memory has become clearer since she’s become clean. She says yes. It’s become clearer as she’s had more time to process her involvement in Eric’s death. She also says her memory has become clearer since she’s reviewed Facebook messages, text messages and other items with her attorneys.
11:16 a.m. Bloodworth asks Carmen if she continued to behave like an active drug addict from the day she entered drug court until the time she was arrested. Carmen says she occasionally used drugs and an active user will lie. Bloodworth asks if she has been clean since she was arrested in April 2023. She says yes.
11:12 a.m. Bloodworth shows a letter from the US District Attorney’s Office promising Carmen immunity for her testimony in the trial. He asks Carmen about meeting with prosecutors to prepare for testifying in court. Her attorney was present with her “every single minute for every single meeting.” Bloodworth asks about Carmen’s anxiety and if she’s ever seen a doctor for it. She did earlier in drug court and was diagnosed with anxiety. She was prescribed a non-narcotic – a white oval pill.
11:11 a.m. “You have absolutely no information about what happened to Eric Richins other than what you were told,” Lewis asks. Carmen says that’s correct. She says she has no knowledge what killed Eric Richins. Lewis has nothing further. Summit County Prosecuting Attorney Brad Bloodworth will now follow up.
11:09 a.m. Lewis tells Carmen she’s not being drug tested and she “waits to see what happens following her testimony.” Carmen says yes and she’s been allowed to move to Las Vegas, but she still lives in Utah. Carmen served 23 days in jail when she was arrested in April 2023. Lewis asks Carmen if she knew what the pills were that she got from Robert Crozier. She doesn’t know.
11:06 a.m. “Kouri never asked you for fentanyl, true?” Lewis asks. Carmen responds, “Yes.” Lewis lists several dates and information that was “told to you but you don’t remember.”
11:04 a.m. Lewis brings up the letters that Kouri sent to the court saying Carmen had done community service. Carmen says she asked Kouri to write the letter. Lewis asks Carmen if it’s fair to say she can’t really recall what happened in 2022 or 2023. Carmen asks Lewis to rephrase the question. Carmen says she has a partial memory.
11 a.m. Carmen says her recollection is that while she had the ankle monitor on, she was not supposed to see her daughters. “I couldn’t go down the canyon at all.” Lewis tells Carmen she was not supposed to have contact with Nick as part of her probation and the fact he’s a witness in this case. Carmen says she does not recall that.
10:54 a.m. Lewis asks about Carmen’s current drug court and probation status. Her probation was transferred to another county. One of the conditions of her probation was not to have contact with Nick Von Savage, Lewis asks. Carmen says she isn’t sure. Lewis shows her some documents.
10:48 a.m. Lewis asks about a detective telling Carmen, “Don’t worry, we’re going to get through this so you can get on with your life.” Lewis asks about an interview on May 13 where Carmen was told detectives spoke with Nick Von Savage and learned the last drug purchase was March 9. Investigators then asked Carmen if it was possible she bought pills four times rather than three times, according to the transcript.
10:43 a.m. Lewis refers Carmen to another piece of the transcript where she talked with the investigators about them putting the puzzle pieces together. Lewis asks about Carmen, at one point, sharing that her daughter asking about what happened and Carmen saying she didn’t know. Judge says he’s having a hard time following this and Lewis needs to be more specific laying foundation.
10:41 a.m. Carmen says the detectives told her about the fentanyl. One of the detectives told Carmen, “The goal is to convict Kouri for aggravated murder. These parallel drug investigations are not a priority.” Lewis asks if Carmen recalls that statement. She says she does not. Lewis asks her to refer to the transcript.
10:37 a.m. We are back in court. Lewis asks Carmen to review a portion of the transcript. Lewis mentions the part where Carmen told a detective to get things laid out for her. “That’s because, up to this point, they’d been explaining to you what had happened, correct?” Lewis asks. Carmen told detectives she had a lot of cell phones and some were broken.
10:08 a.m. Attorneys arguing with each other. Judge says it’s time for a restroom break and apologizes that the courtroom is cold “like a meat locker.” He says they are working on it. We are on a break. Judge asks Bloodworth and Lewis to meet with him in his office.
10:03 a.m. Lewis asks Carmen if she told investigators that she made three purchases for Kouri Richins – one from Susan Kohler, two from Robert Crozier. Carmen says that’s correct – what she remembered at the time. One from Susan in February, one from Robert in February and one from Robert on March 9. “I know you’ve changed your story and you now say there’s another story, but this is what you told them a year after these events,” Lewis says.
LIVE UPDATES | Day 5 of Kouri Richins murder trial - East Idaho News
Kouri Richins, a Utah mother of three boys, is accused of fatally poisoning her husband, Eric Richins, in 2022. She is on trial in Summit County, Utah, on charges of aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, insurance fraud and forgery. Today is the fifth day of the trial. It is scheduled...
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if Lewis could use the transcripts to discredit Carmen, why then can't the prosecution use them to rehabilitate her testimony?? One is not considered hearsay but the other is? This part is confusing to me.
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Judge asks Bloodworth to explain why he wants the interviews in. He says the defense has cherry-picked certain statements to impeach Carmen. To rehabilitate her credibility, the state says all of the interviews need to be admitted so jurors can understand the entire arc. "She is being credible. While she may be confused, she is not untruthful."
Judge says they are out-of-court statements and are not permissible. "I don't think I have a basis to admit them wholesale," he says. Judge says the detectives could be called as witnesses. Judge asks Bloodworth how can be overcome the hearsay problem. Bloodworth agrees they are out-of-court statements but says they are not being offered for the truth - they are being offered in to show this is the evolution of her providing information to the detectives.
Judge says there are pieces of the transcript that are admissible as a non-hearsay exhibit, but there is not foundation to admit all of the transcripts. Bloodworth says the transcripts paint a picture that Carmen has been consistent "in the arc of her interview to appreciate the consistency." Judge asks for the page counts of each of the exhibits.
There are 932 pages of transcript combined, according to Lewis. Judge Mrazik summarizes the state's position and the objection from the defense. He denies the request. Carmen Lauber's testimony is done for the day, but she will remain under subpoena. She is being asked to come back into the courtroom.
Judge asks Bloodworth to explain why he wants the interviews in. He says the defense has cherry-picked certain statements to impeach Carmen. To rehabilitate her credibility, the state says all of the interviews need to be admitted so jurors can understand the entire arc. "She is being credible. While she may be confused, she is not untruthful."
Judge says they are out-of-court statements and are not permissible. "I don't think I have a basis to admit them wholesale," he says. Judge says the detectives could be called as witnesses. Judge asks Bloodworth how can be overcome the hearsay problem. Bloodworth agrees they are out-of-court statements but says they are not being offered for the truth - they are being offered in to show this is the evolution of her providing information to the detectives.
Judge says there are pieces of the transcript that are admissible as a non-hearsay exhibit, but there is not foundation to admit all of the transcripts. Bloodworth says the transcripts paint a picture that Carmen has been consistent "in the arc of her interview to appreciate the consistency." Judge asks for the page counts of each of the exhibits.
There are 932 pages of transcript combined, according to Lewis. Judge Mrazik summarizes the state's position and the objection from the defense. He denies the request. Carmen Lauber's testimony is done for the day, but she will remain under subpoena. She is being asked to come back into the courtroom.
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Carmen is dismissed but I believe she can be recalled, she is still sworn and prohibited from talking to or reading about the case or testimony in it.
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