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

[arielilane]

I’m in Summit County today at the Third District Court House for a hearing in the Kouri Richins case. We’re told they’ll be discussing whether certain experts will be allowed to testify at her trial. They will not be streaming this, so I’ll be here monitoring it.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2022394860821770335

Apologies for my late reporting from Natalie Wadas via X:


One of the main things discussed so far was over the motion to exclude defense experts. The state said they reached an agreement with the defense. That was as follows for three of the experts:

The agreement is within 24 hours of the states expert testifying if a transcript is available or 48 hours if transcript is not available defense will provide the state with a written explanation of testimony of their expert.

Vice versa, the state said they will be giving the defense notice so they can prepare their expert as well.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2022411376342524039

 

[arielilane]

The court released a ruling regarding which evidence will and will not be allowed at trial.​

Kouri Richins has awaited trial for close to three years in Summit County. Her day in court begins Monday, Feb. 23.

Summit County prosecutors, defense ready for 5-week Kouri Richins murder trial to begin

The court released a ruling regarding which evidence will and will not be allowed at trial.

www.kpcw.org

2/19/2026

Kouri Richins’ trial is scheduled at the Summit County Justice Center from Feb. 23 to March 27.

 

[arielilane]

From same article linked

Summit County prosecutors, defense ready for 5-week Kouri Richins murder trial to begin

The court released a ruling regarding which evidence will and will not be allowed at trial.

www.kpcw.org

Feb. 18, Judge ruled what evidence attorneys will be permitted to include during trial:



One of the things the jury won’t be allowed to consider in its decision is Richins’ assault of her sister-in-law after Eric Richins’ death.

Prosecutors will be allowed to present a few redacted pages of a letter Richins wrote in jail. Corrections officers seized the “Walk the Dog” letter they say they found in an LSAT book in her cell.

Various notes investigators found while searching the Richins family home in Francis, Utah, are allowed as well. That includes an orange notebook Mrazik’s ruling says contains apparent journal entries from the day before and day of Eric Richins’ death.

 

[Justice101]

The court released a ruling regarding which evidence will and will not be allowed at trial.​

Kouri Richins has awaited trial for close to three years in Summit County. Her day in court begins Monday, Feb. 23.

Summit County prosecutors, defense ready for 5-week Kouri Richins murder trial to begin

The court released a ruling regarding which evidence will and will not be allowed at trial.

www.kpcw.org

2/19/2026

Kouri Richins’ trial is scheduled at the Summit County Justice Center from Feb. 23 to March 27.

So... it is finally going to happen next week???

 

[Seattle1]

https://www.abc4.com/richins/attorneys-kouri-richins-statement-trial/

2/19/26

Richins’ trial begins Monday, and her attorneys are speaking on their belief that the jury will make the right decision on her innocence.

Kouri has waited nearly three years for this moment: the opportunity to have the facts of this case heard by a jury, free from the prosecution’s narrative that has dominated headlines since her arrest. Now the state must prove the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt. What the public has been told bears little resemblance to the truth. We welcome the courtroom, where evidence is bound by rules, not sensational coverage. Kouri is a mother who wants to go home to her children. We are confident this jury will make that possible.”

— Wendy Lewis, Kathy Nester and Alex Ramos, lawyers for Kouri Richins

The jury trial will commence Monday, Feb. 23, and run for five weeks, Monday through Thursday, until March 27, 2026.

 

[Weki]

https://www.abc4.com/richins/attorneys-kouri-richins-statement-trial/

2/19/26

Richins’ trial begins Monday, and her attorneys are speaking on their belief that the jury will make the right decision on her innocence.



The jury trial will commence Monday, Feb. 23, and run for five weeks, Monday through Thursday, until March 27, 2026.

Oh lord! Why wasn’t a gag order instituted? This is a blatant attempt to influence the jury. State needs to ask the judge for a gag order on Monday. Once the jury has been empaneled they’re not supposed to talk to the media, generally.

Her attorneys are bad. I think this trial will be a mess and not in an interesting way. Just tedious.

 

[Niner]

https://www.abc4.com/richins/attorneys-kouri-richins-statement-trial/

2/19/26

Richins’ trial begins Monday, and her attorneys are speaking on their belief that the jury will make the right decision on her innocence.



The jury trial will commence Monday, Feb. 23, and run for five weeks, Monday through Thursday, until March 27, 2026.

Thanks for this - I did not know - no court on Fridays!

 

[Cindizzi]

 

[Cindizzi]

 

[arielilane]

Opening statements Monday morning in UT v Kouri Richins. Live stream link attached. Kouri Richins is accused of poisoning her husband, Eric Richins, by slipping fentanyl into his drink, reportedly disguised as a Moscow Mule. She faces multiple charges, including aggravated murder and attempted criminal homicide. The Utah mother was arrested in May 2023 in connection with Eric’s death in March 2022. The couple had three young sons. After her husband’s death, Kouri wrote a children’s book titled “Are You With Me?” to help her sons cope with their loss. She has maintained her innocence, with her attorneys saying, “Kouri is a mother who wants to go home to her children. We are confident this jury will make that possible.”

https://youtube.com/live/r5RH8YFFuMw?si=T9gyJEGI0IKpLhGK

https://twitter.com/x/status/2025329477186895902

 

[arielilane]

MURDER TRIAL: Kouri Richins’ attorneys shared a statement before trial begins on Monday, Feb. 23.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2024969172409565390

 

[Seattle1]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2025329477186895902

 

[303gmf]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2025329477186895902

Finally!

 

[legalmomma]

So I decided I’m going to try and watch this trial as a juror might~ without the pre trial drama details. Here we go…

A timeline of the Kouri Richins case as jury selection gets underway in Utah - East Idaho News

PARK CITY, Utah (KSL) — Jury selection got underway Tuesday in the upcoming trial of the Utah mother accused of fatally poisoning her husband and then writing a children’s book about coping with grief. Kouri Richins, of Kamas, Utah, will face trial on charges of aggravated murder and attempted...

www.eastidahonews.com

Timeline of the Richins case​

March 4, 2022 — Kouri Richins calls police early in the morning to report her husband, Eric Richins, is “cold to the touch.” He dies unexpectedly at their home.

June 9, 2022 — Kouri Richins is charged with assault, a class B misdemeanor, in connection with an alleged altercation at her home with her sister-in-law.

March 7, 2023 — Kouri Richins publishes a book titled “Are You With Me?” It is a children’s book about dealing with grief featuring her husband and sons.

May 8, 2023 — Kouri Richins is charged with killing her husband through a fentanyl overdose and is arrested.

May 18, 2023 — Amended charges accuse Kouri Richins of fraud, claiming she took out $2 million in life insurance policies for her husband without his knowledge.

June 12, 2023 — Mrazik denies a request from Kouri Richins for bail, ruling she will stay in jail as the charges move through court.

Sept. 14, 2023 — Prosecutors claim a letter found in Kouri Richins’ jail cell titled “Walk the Dog” outlines false testimony for her mother and brother.

Nov. 3, 2023 – Mrazik denies motions to dismiss Kouri Richins’ charges based on allegations that prosecutors breached professional conduct rules in publishing the “Walk the Dog” letter. He also denied a motion from prosecutors to restrict Richins’ contact with her family and a motion from Richins to remove the Summit County prosecutors from the case.

Jan. 4, 2024 — Court documents reveal that Eric Richins’ autopsy found medications prescribed to Kouri Richins, in addition to fentanyl.



March 25, 2024 – Kouri Richins is charged with attempting to murder her husband on Valentine’s Day, weeks before his death, in amended charges.

May 13, 2024 — Kouri Richins is found guilty in the assault case after not following plea in abeyance conditions in the agreed-upon time period.

May 19, 2024 — A newly unsealed search warrant reveals Kouri Richins’ mother had a romantic partner who also died of a ‘suspicious overdose’ in 2006.

May 20, 2024 — Mrazik allows Kouri Richins’ previous attorney, Skye Lazaro, to withdraw after her firm reported an ethical issue in representing Richins. This led to a delayed preliminary hearing in her case.

May 24, 2024 — Kouri Richins proclaims her innocence in voice recordings sent to national media before new attorneys — Kathryn Nester, Wendy Lewis and Alexander Ramos — are appointed to represent her.

Aug. 27, 2024 — Kouri Richins is ordered to stand trial following testimony at a preliminary hearing.

Nov. 12, 2024 – Mrazik grants a request from Kouri Richins to try mortgage fraud charges separately and denies a request to reconsider bail.

Jan. 23, 2025 — Officers testify about their investigation into Eric Richins’ death as Kouri Richins’ attorneys contest which evidence can be brought into trial.

Feb. 3, 2025 — Court wrestles with questions on the jury questionnaire, concerned about how the questions are phrased in relation to jurors’ recollection of media coverage.

March 17, 2025 — Kouri Richins’ attorneys request that her trial be moved to Salt Lake County.

April 7, 2025 — Mrazik grants a request to delay the trial for Kouri Richins, previously scheduled to begin in April 2025, after denying a request to move the trial to Salt Lake County.

June 6, 2025 — The Utah Supreme Court declines to consider an appeal of the decision to keep Kouri Richins’ jury trial in Salt Lake County

June 13, 2025 — A new jury trial date is set for Kouri Richins in February and March of 2026.

June 27, 2025 — A new case is filed against Kouri Richins, with some mortgage fraud cases moved over from her other case and new charges.

Oct. 8, 2025 – Prosecutors remove charges for drug distribution in Kouri Richins’ case.

Nov. 17, 2025 — Mrazik denies a request from Kouri Richins for yet another bail hearing.

Jan. 8, 2026 — Mrazik makes decisions on what evidence to allow into the trial.

Feb. 2, 2026 — Mrazik denies a second request to move the trial to Salt Lake County after finding there are enough potential jurors who returned questionnaires sent by the court.

Feb. 10, 2026 — Jury selection begins.

Feb. 23, 2026 — Trial for Kouri Richins scheduled to begin

 

[303gmf]

I still want the inside scoop on why Skye whatshername isn’t her attorney!

 

[Niner]

Monday, February 23rd:
*Trial set to begin (@ 8:30am 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 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 began on 2/10/26 & ended on 2/11/26. Jury consists of 8 jurors [2 women & 6 men] & 4 alternates. [4 women].
Murder Trial set to begin on 2/23/26 [thru 3/26/26]. Court in session from Mondays to Thursdays.
Third District Court Summit County Judge Richard Mrazik presiding. Prosecutors Patricia Cassell & Deputy Salt Lake County attorney Brad Bloodworth & Defense attorneys Kathy Nester & Wendy Lewis & Alex Ramos.
Case & court info from 6/5/23 thru 2/2/26 & Jury Selection Day 1-2 (2/10-2/11//26) & thru 2/13/26 reference post #700 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...ted-death-last-year-may-2023-3.711978/page-35
2/13/26 Update: Jury instructions hearing held. Next trial set to begin on Monday, 2/23/26 @ 8:30am.
2/18/26 Update: Judge ruled what evidence attorneys will be permitted to include during trial: One of the things the jury won’t be allowed to consider in its decision is Richins’ assault of her sister-in-law after Eric Richins’ death. Prosecutors will be allowed to present a few redacted pages of a letter Richins wrote in jail. Corrections officers seized the “Walk the Dog” letter they say they found in an LSAT book in her cell. Various notes investigators found while searching the Richins family home in Francis, Utah, are allowed as well. That includes an orange notebook Mrazik’s ruling says contains apparent journal entries from the day before and day of Eric Richins’ death.

 

[arielilane]

https://x.com/brian_schnee
Good morning from Park City, Utah.

The 5-week Kouri Richins murder trial begins at 8:30 AM.

It’s 13° and folks are sitting in camping chairs outside of the Summit County Justice Center trying to get a seat.

I’ll be in the courtroom.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2025931696785539355

 

[arielilane]

Her long-awaited murder trial begins Monday, turning the nation’s appetite for true crime stories to Utah. Richins, now 35, faces five felony charges: one count of aggravated murder, one count of attempted aggravated murder, two counts of insurance fraud and one count of forgery.

Ahead of the trial, her lawyers said in a statement that she is a “mother who wants to go home to her children,” and that they are confident a jury will make that possible.

“Kouri has waited nearly three years for this moment: the opportunity to have the facts of this case heard by a jury, free from the prosecution’s narrative that has dominated headlines since her arrest,” Richins’ attorneys said. “...What the public has been told bears little resemblance to the truth. We welcome the courtroom, where evidence is bound by rules, not sensational coverage.”

Here’s what prosecutors allege in the case:

continued at link

One of Utah’s highest-profile murder trials begins Monday. Here’s what you should know.

One of Utah’s most-watched murder cases heads to trial this week, drawing attention from national news outlets and true crime podcasters.

www.sltrib.com

 

[arielilane]

Folks are lined up waiting to get into the first day of the Kouri Richins trial in Park City, Utah. The first person arrived around 4 a.m. It’s 19 degrees and they’re bundled up!

There are 24 seats for the public in the courtroom. Ten seats are reserved for media. One row is reserved for Eric Richins’ family, another row is reserved for Kouri Richins’ family. The families will alternate which row they are on every other day (between the 2nd and 5th rows).

Richins is accused of fatally poisoning her husband Eric in 2022. She then wrote a children’s book about how to deal with grief.

Court begins daily at 8:30 am. We will be livestreaming on the @EastIDNews YouTube channel with pre-trial coverage beginning at 8.

Thanks to Chad Mortensen for sharing these photos with me. He arrived at the courthouse at 5:45 am. He recently launched a podcast and YouTube channel called Saints and Sinners: True Crime and the History of the West.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2025930986513645574

 

[arielilane]

“They're going to read preliminary instructions, and then they will jump right into opening statements,” Gustin said.

She noted that attorneys spend significant time before trial arguing over what jurors can and cannot hear.

Defense attorney outlines first day of murder trial for Kouri Richins

Richins has pleaded not guilty to killing her husband.

kutv.com

2/23/2026

MORE | Kouri Richins​

• Court officials shift focus to safety, security in highly-anticipated Kouri Richins trial
• 12-person jury selected in murder trial for Kouri Richins
• Jury selection in Richins murder trial opens to media following motion