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

[Seattle1]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1977353080128569537

 

[Megnut]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1977353080128569537

Seems like a BALD ask and overly broad. Sounds like a fishing expedition.

JMO

 

[Warwick7]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1977353080128569537

She is a narcissistic idiot.

 

[Justice101]

She is a narcissistic idiot.

Grasping for straws.

She is lying to her defense attorneys and then she is doubling down when they get discovery data that doesn't meet her story... saying witness are being paid to lie. Which is a FELONY to either pay for testimony OR accept it.

Very very far fetched. IMO.. .an attempted distraction from the planned proceedings.

 

[arielilane]

Prosecutors push back on new claim in Kouri Richins case

In new court filings, Summit County attorneys say Robert Crozier’s affidavit—claiming he sold OxyContin to Carmen Lauber, not fentanyl—is not credible and doesn’t change their case. They argue substantial evidence still supports the aggravated murder charge. Jury selection is set to begin Feb. 10, 2026, with trial slated for Feb. 23, 2026.

Tap the link for the full report.

https://ow.ly/LXua50XefCN

Photo: Rick Boomer, AP

https://x.com/KSLcom

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Prosecutors doubt Robert Crozier's claim he sold OxyContin, not fentanyl, to Carmen Lauber.
• They argue substantial evidence supports Kouri Richins' murder charge despite Crozier's new statement.
• Richins faces trial Feb. 23, 2026, with jury selection starting Feb. 10.

Prosecutors refute alleged dealer's claim in Kouri Richins murder case

Prosecutors say a recent about-face by a man accused of providing fentanyl that killed Kouri Richins' husband is not credible. And they argue there's still plenty of evidence to convict her.

www.ksl.com

Oct. 17

 

[arielilane]

PARK CITY, Utah (Court TV) — Kouri Richins will stay behind bars as she waits for her murder trial after a judge refused to grant her bond, despite new evidence.

Judge cites 'substantial evidence' in denying Kouri Richins' request for bail

Kouri Richins had argued that she should be released on bail after a prosecution witness recanted a portion of his testimony.

www.courttv.com

Kouri’s murder trial is scheduled to begin in February 2026.

 

[Seattle1]

Judge cites 'substantial evidence' in denying Kouri Richins' request for bail

Kouri Richins had argued that she should be released on bail after a prosecution witness recanted a portion of his testimony.

www.courttv.com

11/18/25

Judge Richard Mrazik said in his written decision denying the defense motion that a reasonable jury might not believe the drug dealer’s change of story. Judge Mrazik also said the defense “fails to acknowledge or address the other evidence from which a reasonable jury could find Defendant had a motive to commit the crime charged and exhibited consciousness of guilt.” Evidence prosecutors have already presented against Kouri includes sworn testimony from the housekeeper and records showing Kouri’s financial distress at the time of Eric’s death.

“While Defendant may be able to use [the witness’] recent recantation to poke holes in the State’s case, the holes are not substantial enough to undermine the court’s prior determination regarding substantial evidence,” Judge Mrazik wrote.


Kouri’s murder trial is scheduled to begin in February 2026.

 

[Seattle1]

Judge rules against Kouri Richins' motion to reconsider bail

A judge ruled against Kouri Richins' motion to reconsider bail.The attorneys for Kouri, who is accused of murdering her husband with fentanyl in 2022, asked the

kutv.com

11/18/25

Judge Richard Mrazik, however, said Crozier's retraction "does not render his former statement inadmissible."

"A reasonable jury could choose to credit Mr. Crozier's statements to detectives in May 2023 over his statements in September 2025 given that they were made two years closer in time to the events in question," he said in the court document.

Additionally, Judge Mrazik said that Kouri failed to address the other evidence that she had a motive to kill Eric.

"Mr. Crozier's recent recantation does not affect the weight of that evidence at all," he said.

 

[windrower]

PARK CITY, Utah (Court TV) — Kouri Richins will stay behind bars as she waits for her murder trial after a judge refused to grant her bond, despite new evidence.

Judge cites 'substantial evidence' in denying Kouri Richins' request for bail

Kouri Richins had argued that she should be released on bail after a prosecution witness recanted a portion of his testimony.

www.courttv.com

Kouri’s murder trial is scheduled to begin in February 2026.

Wish our judge in Colorado would have refused bond to Barry Morphew. Talk about a case with substantial evidence.

 

[Seattle1]

Wish our judge in Colorado would have refused bond to Barry Morphew. Talk about a case with substantial evidence.

Unfortunately, the date of BM's offense fell within that very small window (before the amendment to the state constitution was effective), where defendants charged with first-degree murder were entitled to bond, so the Court had no choice here. However, the Judge did have discretion not to revise the initial bond terms she first set for him at $3M CASH ONLY-- which most likely would have kept BM in custody until jurors decided his fate. JMO

 

[Justice101]

This is so refreshing to see a judge us logic and proportion to render a ruling.

 

[Cindizzi]

Summit County foots $1 million bill in Kouri Richins case - Park Record

Summit County has spent approximately $1.2 million on Kouri Richins’ aggravated murder case so far, with $500,000 earmarked for future expenses.

www.parkrecord.com

 

[nyvictoria]

PARK CITY, Utah (Court TV) — Kouri Richins will stay behind bars as she waits for her murder trial after a judge refused to grant her bond, despite new evidence.

Judge cites 'substantial evidence' in denying Kouri Richins' request for bail

Kouri Richins had argued that she should be released on bail after a prosecution witness recanted a portion of his testimony.

www.courttv.com

Kouri’s murder trial is scheduled to begin in February 2026.

I’m really looking forward to this one. She’s toast.

 

[nyvictoria]

Prosecutors push back on new claim in Kouri Richins case

In new court filings, Summit County attorneys say Robert Crozier’s affidavit—claiming he sold OxyContin to Carmen Lauber, not fentanyl—is not credible and doesn’t change their case. They argue substantial evidence still supports the aggravated murder charge. Jury selection is set to begin Feb. 10, 2026, with trial slated for Feb. 23, 2026.

Tap the link for the full report.

https://ow.ly/LXua50XefCN

Photo: Rick Boomer, AP

https://x.com/KSLcom

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Prosecutors doubt Robert Crozier's claim he sold OxyContin, not fentanyl, to Carmen Lauber.
• They argue substantial evidence supports Kouri Richins' murder charge despite Crozier's new statement.
• Richins faces trial Feb. 23, 2026, with jury selection starting Feb. 10.

Prosecutors refute alleged dealer's claim in Kouri Richins murder case

Prosecutors say a recent about-face by a man accused of providing fentanyl that killed Kouri Richins' husband is not credible. And they argue there's still plenty of evidence to convict her.

www.ksl.com

Oct. 17

She’s accusing her sister-in-law of paying witnesses? She’s got a lot of nerve.

Raise your hand if you think she got someone to “persuade” this guy (money, threats?) to change his story.

 

[Niner]

Friday, December 5th:
*Pretrial 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). Bond denied (11/18/25). 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 6/13/25 reference post #486 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...ted-death-last-year-may-2023-3.711978/page-25
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. Next status hearing on 8/1/25.
8/1/25 Update: 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 & could hear with a "thumbs up", then her camera was off for the rest of the hearing. It was just assigning dates for motions, responses, etc. & They set an in-person hearing for 1/7/26 & 1/8/26 when they will argue expert witnesses, the "walk the dog letter", 404B evidence & motions in limine.
8/1/25 Docket updates: State is to send unc0ompleted draft to the defense by 8/15/25; State of send proposal to defense counsel by 9/26/25; State's will call, final witness list & exhibits due by 10/31/25 & defense respond to State by 10/31/25. Defense deadline for Motion in Limine by 11/26/25. Pretrial conference scheduled on 12/5/25. State's deadline on 12/12/25; Defendant's response (file a reply if applicable) by 12/31/25; In-person hearings on 1/7/26 & 1/8/26 @ 9:30am. Defendant's motion to exclude expert witnesses by 1/7/26; Motion to determine admissibility of "walk the dog" letter, State's first notice of intent to offer for 404b evidence & defendant's first Motion in Limine by 1/8/26. Defense's will call, witness list & exhibits due by 2/6/26.
10/2/25 Update: The attorneys for Richins filed a motion on Thursday to reconsider bail in the case after a key witness said he never sold fentanyl to the woman accused of being Richins' drug dealer. Richins' attorneys said that despite this being exculpatory information, which could help prove Kouri’s innocence & that they are required to turn it over to the defense, that did not happen. In an affidavit also filed on Thursday, Robert Crozier said he sold Carmen Lauber OxyContin pills, not fentanyl. Lauber is a key witness in the case, claiming Richins asked her to buy fentanyl for her on two different occasions in early 2022. Lauber said she purchased the fentanyl from Crozier in Draper at a gas station. Crozier, in his affidavit, said he met Lauber & sold her OxyContin 30mg pills. Crozier said he was interviewed the first time about his involvement in the case when he was in jail in May of 2023, and that he was detoxing from drugs at the time & cannot recall details of the interview. In the motion for bail reconsideration, Richins' attorneys said, “If the state cannot place fentanyl in the hands of the defendant, the state has no case.” They argued Kouri should be released on bail until her trial in February.
10/13/25 Update: A new motion filed by Kouri’s defense accuses Eric’s sister, Katie Richins-Benson, of failing to comply with a subpoena requesting financial records for The Eric Richins Living Trust, which Katie controls. Katie’s attorneys provided Kouri’s defense with some of the requested documentation but withheld much of it, claiming that Kouri has no right to the information. Also accuses her sister-in-law of paying witnesses in her criminal trial.
10/1/25 Update: In new court filings, Summit County attorneys say Robert Crozier’s affidavit—claiming he sold OxyContin to Carmen Lauber, not fentanyl—is not credible & doesn’t change their case. They argue substantial evidence still supports the aggravated murder charge despite Crozier's new statement. Jury selection is set to begin Feb. 10, 2026, with trial slated for Feb. 23, 2026.
11/18/25 Update: Judge Richard Mrazik said in his written decision denying [to reconsider bond] the defense motion that a reasonable jury might not believe the drug dealer’s change of story. Judge Mrazik also said the defense “fails to acknowledge or address the other evidence from which a reasonable jury could find Defendant had a motive to commit the crime charged and exhibited consciousness of guilt.” Evidence prosecutors have already presented against Kouri includes sworn testimony from the housekeeper & records showing Kouri’s financial distress at the time of Eric’s death. “While Defendant may be able to use [the witness’] recent recantation to poke holes in the State’s case, the holes are not substantial enough to undermine the court’s prior determination regarding substantial evidence,” Judge Mrazik wrote.

 

[arielilane]

Kouri Richins has hearings scheduled Friday in murder and mortgage fraud cases.

Utah mom accused of fatally poisoning husband with fentanyl expected back in court as trial nears

A pretrial conference in the murder case is scheduled for Friday afternoon ahead of the February 2026 trial. She has pleaded not guilty.

abcnews.go.com

 

[tlcya]

She’s accusing her sister-in-law of paying witnesses? She’s got a lot of nerve.

Raise your hand if you think she got someone to “persuade” this guy (money, threats?) to change his story.

Maybe he got his own special walk the dog type letter from the defendant?

 

[Justice101]

What if the "payment" is only paying recipients listed in his will or on his life insurance policies??

Is that all she is talking about?

 

[arielilane]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1997023551325659492

 

[Niner]

Tried to find an article on her hearing from yesterday & only finding a Youtube video - and it is not giving me much info.

TIA if someone can help me. I have a motions hearings on 1/7 & 1/8/26 in my notes.