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

[ar3593]

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SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) — The Kamas mother who is accused of killing her husband and writing a children’s book about grief is facing new charges involving the fraud that investigators believe led to the alleged homicide.

Kouri Darden Richins, 35, is facing 26 new felony charges, including five counts of mortgage fraud, five counts of forgery, seven counts of issuing a bad check, seven counts of money laundering, one count of communications fraud, and one count of a pattern of unlawful activity.

She had already been facing two counts of mortgage fraud, two counts of insurance fraud, and three counts of forgery as part of her murder case.

[…]

https://www.abc4.com/richins/kouri-richins-fraud-laundering-charges/

Love seeing narcissistic psychopathic murderers get their comeuppance. She is toast!

MOO

 

[Seattle1]

Gee, I wonder what her motive for murder was. Running her own little pyramid-of-cards scheme, she needed capital to keep the house standing, and she needed not to be found out. Two motives.

 JMO

Every time I see "new charges" announced, I can't help but be curious if they will be for momma, her daughter, or both!

Kouri Richins' mother, Lisa Darden, investigated in 2006 death of 'romantic partner'

An unsealed search warrant revealed new information related to Kouri Richins’ mom, Lisa Darden, which suggested that she could have played a part in planning an

kutv.com

 

[Seattle1]

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[Justice101]

I don't know if I would have enough energy to fight all of those charges.

I would probably plead guilty and just get it over with.

Then again, I am not a sociopath.. (Well, at least I think I'm not)

 

[cujenn81]

I really loathe this woman more than most husband murderers. Maybe it’s because of the many ways that she’s attempted to profit off this poor man. To the extent that she wrote a freaking children’s book about him dying and then used her own children as pawns to promote it! Or maybe it’s because she’s tried to blame everyone under the sun for her crimes. Her sister-in-law. Her friend/housekeeper/drug dealer. Her paramour. (I hate that word, BTW. I’m not really sure why. It feels bourgeois to me. But I can’t think of another word that fits except maybe lover. And that makes me cringe just as much. What about dirty little secret? Toy boy? No, that feels too derogatory towards him when she’s the one who deserves the derogatory treatment. Let’s go with dirty little secret.)

Anyway, I digress. My point is — I really loathe this woman.

 

[Niner]

Friday, August 1st:
*Status Hearing (@ am 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 35) 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).
*Charged (6/27/25) with 5 counts of mortgage fraud, 5 counts of forgery, 7 counts of issuing a bad check, 7 counts of money laundering, 1 count of communications fraud & 1 count of a pattern of unlawful activity. 3rd Judicial District Court Summit County
Jury selection set to begin on 2/10/26 [thru 2/18/26]. Jury will consist of 8 jurors & 4 alternates.
Murder Trial set to begin on 2/23/26 [thru 3/26/26].
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 6/6/25 reference post #469 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...ted-death-last-year-may-2023-3.711978/page-24
6/13/25 Update: Hearing on 6/13/25. The higher court denied the appeal, allowing Kouri’s case to move forward. Now, her trial is scheduled to begin on 2/23/26 through 3/26/26, with jury selection starting 2/10/26. Both Kouri’s defense & prosecutors had asked Judge Mrazik to expand the jury pool & conduct in-person questioning of the jurors, but Mrazik denied the request & the appeals court upheld his ruling. The afternoon of June 13, Richins’ defense attorneys told Mrazik they’d like six days to select jurors. The judge says his team will send questionnaires to 2,000 Summit County residents & 240 can be called in for questioning. The juror questioning, which attorneys call “voir dire,” will be Feb. 10 through Feb. 13, plus Feb. 17 & Feb. 18. 20 potential jurors will be called in the mornings & 20 in the afternoons. Utah requires a panel of eight, with four alternate jurors. Her attorneys say she may or may not take the stand in her own defense. She’ll be in court next on 8/1/25 for a hearing to restart trial preparations. That will include preparing for jury selection & deciding which evidence will be admissible at trial.
6/27/25 Update: Richins is facing 26 new felony charges, including five counts of mortgage fraud, five counts of forgery, seven counts of issuing a bad check, seven counts of money laundering, one count of communications fraud & one count of a pattern of unlawful activity. She had already been facing two counts of mortgage fraud, two counts of insurance fraud & three counts of forgery as part of her murder case.

 

[arielilane]

Kouri Richins had a scheduling hearing today via WebEx. They went over future dates, deadlines, etc.. Nothing really of note, but here is a clip of when she turned her camera on to let the judge know she was there and could hear with a "thumbs up", then her camera was off for the rest of the hearing. We likely won't publish this hearing; it was just assigning dates for motions, responses, etc.. They set an in-person hearing for January 7 & 8 when they will argue expert witnesses, the "walk the dog letter", 404B evidence, and motions in limine.

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[airportwoman]

Every time I see "new charges" announced, I can't help but be curious if they will be for momma, her daughter, or both!

Kouri Richins' mother, Lisa Darden, investigated in 2006 death of 'romantic partner'

An unsealed search warrant revealed new information related to Kouri Richins’ mom, Lisa Darden, which suggested that she could have played a part in planning an

kutv.com

Being a woman in a relationship with another woman would not be condoned there, the way it would be in most other areas, and especially 20 years ago.

Perhaps the apple didn't fall far from the tree after all.

 

[arielilane]

Kouri Richins Appears in Court for Hearing Involving Trial Evidence

https://youtu.be/9rnhDXtxPjU?si=KQqVHTKgt216DwFa via @YouTube

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[arielilane]

Kouri Richins Appears in Court for Hearing Involving Trial Evidence

https://youtu.be/9rnhDXtxPjU?si=KQqVHTKgt216DwFa via @YouTube

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In accordance with recent hearing, I believe most of these dates are accurate; however, dates can be further confirmed once documents are uploaded to the courts website.

Interesting video. Judge Mrazik excellent professional and patient judge. Very good at making sure case in chief are shared. It will be interesting to see both state and defense counsels once trial gets underway next year. moo


August 15, 2025: State is to sent uncompleted draft to the Defense

September 26, 2025: State to send proposal to Defense counsel

October 31, 2025: State’s will call, witness list and exhibits list due
October 31, 2025, Defense respond to State

November 26, 2025 defense deadline (for motion in limine)

December 5, 2025: Pretrial conference scheduled

December 12, 2025: State’s deadline

December 31, 2025: Defendant’s response (file a reply if applicable)

January 7 and January 8, 2026 at 9:30 am, in-person hearings:

January 7: Defendant’s motion to exclude expert witnesses

January 8:
-- Motion to determine admissibility walk the dog letter
-- States first notice of intent to offer for 404b evidence
-- Defendant’s first motion in limine

February 6, 2026: Defense’s will call, witness list and exhibits list

 

[arielilane]

According to defense attorney Wendy Lewis, there’s upwards of 11 terabytes of information the Summit County Attorney’s Office has produced as it gathered evidence for its prosecution of Kouri Richins.

One terabyte is the maximum amount of information a single top-of-the-line iPhone can store.

Kouri Richins defense says it’s swamped with 11 terabytes of potential evidence

The judge presiding over the high-profile murder trial brokered a solution between prosecutors and defense attorneys Friday.

www.kpcw.org

Prosecutor's final exhibits and witness list is due Oct. 31.

The next pretrial conference to discuss how to manage the volume of data is Dec. 5.

 

[JosieMae]

I'm 50/50 on whether she would take a plea deal, if offered. What do you think?

 

[Niner]

In accordance with recent hearing, I believe most of these dates are accurate; however, dates can be further confirmed once documents are uploaded to the courts website.

Interesting video. Judge Mrazik excellent professional and patient judge. Very good at making sure case in chief are shared. It will be interesting to see both state and defense counsels once trial gets underway next year. moo


August 15, 2025: State is to sent uncompleted draft to the Defense

September 26, 2025: State to send proposal to Defense counsel

October 31, 2025: State’s will call, witness list and exhibits list due
October 31, 2025, Defense respond to State

November 26, 2025 defense deadline (for motion in limine)

December 5, 2025: Pretrial conference scheduled

December 12, 2025: State’s deadline

December 31, 2025: Defendant’s response (file a reply if applicable)

January 7 and January 8, 2026 at 9:30 am, in-person hearings:

January 7: Defendant’s motion to exclude expert witnesses

January 8:
-- Motion to determine admissibility walk the dog letter
-- States first notice of intent to offer for 404b evidence
-- Defendant’s first motion in limine

February 6, 2026: Defense’s will call, witness list and exhibits list

Thanks for this summary! I see there is a hearing Dec. 5 - before the January ones.

 

[cocomod]

I would be surprised if she took a plea. She thinks she is the smartest person in the room.

 

[JosieMae]

I would be surprised if she took a plea. She thinks she is the smartest person in the room.

That's why I'm 50/50. People like KR, who have gotten away with lying their entire lives, seem convinced they can manipulate a jury. (Sarah Boone comes to mind.) Reality is foreign to these narcissists. If they could face reality, they would be begging for a plea deal. (Also Sarah Boone).

 

[airportwoman]

I really loathe this woman more than most husband murderers. Maybe it’s because of the many ways that she’s attempted to profit off this poor man. To the extent that she wrote a freaking children’s book about him dying and then used her own children as pawns to promote it! Or maybe it’s because she’s tried to blame everyone under the sun for her crimes. Her sister-in-law. Her friend/housekeeper/drug dealer. Her paramour. (I hate that word, BTW. I’m not really sure why. It feels bourgeois to me. But I can’t think of another word that fits except maybe lover. And that makes me cringe just as much. What about dirty little secret? Toy boy? No, that feels too derogatory towards him when she’s the one who deserves the derogatory treatment. Let’s go with dirty little secret.)

Anyway, I digress. My point is — I really loathe this woman.

Add to it that there's never been any evidence that he may have abused her, or done anything else terrible to her.

 

[Luna20]

Kouri Richins Appears in Court for Hearing Involving Trial Evidence

https://youtu.be/9rnhDXtxPjU?si=KQqVHTKgt216DwFa via @YouTube

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She looks better in this photo. Her face was kind of puffy earlier on, maybe she lost weight?

 

[angelainwi]

She looks better in this photo. Her face was kind of puffy earlier on, maybe she lost weight?

I think she actually just broke down and decided to use the jailhouse makeup available.

 

[Justice101]

Is she actually smart enough to take a plea deal??? Or would she just be blinded by her greed and desire to manipulate yet another set of people (the jury).

it certainly looks like she is toast.. and she may in fact realize it.

 

[squareandrabbet]

That's why I'm 50/50. People like KR, who have gotten away with lying their entire lives, seem convinced they can manipulate a jury. (Sarah Boone comes to mind.) Reality is foreign to these narcissists. If they could face reality, they would be begging for a plea deal. (Also Sarah Boone).

Johnny Depp's ex Amber Heard also comes to mind.