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

[arielilane]

@NateNewsNow


Nester asks if other experts were hired and paid to do a financial investigation. Katie says a woman named Brooke Harrington was hired by the estate and Katie paid her. Brooke was a financial accountant and was paid $14,625. Nester asks to admit an invoice showing the amount. Judge allows. Date is signed June 21, 2023.


3:25 PM · Feb 23, 2026

 

[tlcya]

Defense implying that the forensics investigator hired by the trust was recommended to the state to act as their expert witness. feigns shock that witness says no, I didn't speak to the prosecution. Now defense pounces, I'm sorry, are you suggesting you never talked to prosecution before Khouri was charged with this crime??!!

 

[arielilane]

@NateNewsNow


Brooke left for a new job after Kouri was charged. Katie says she did not speak to the prosecutors before Kouri was charged. Nester clarifies if she means the actual prosecutors or the investigators. Katie means the actual prosecutors. Nester asks about an email Katie sent to the chief detective detailing everything suspicious Kouri had done over the past years. Katie doesn't recall dates.


3:28 PM · Feb 23, 2026

 

[tlcya]

I grow weary of this defense attorney - she is not gaining any points with the jury IMO and she's acting like a tradesman who is being paid time and materials rather than by the job in that she is milking the clock.

 

[Megnut]

Do we know what Eric's death certificate actually says? I don't remember seeing it. Defense said that it doesn't mention fentanyl overdose in its opening statement?

Manner of death was undetermined. Suicide/homice/accidental overdose.

Iirc it did say fentanyl overdose but no determination for how it occurred.

JMO

 

[browneyes]

The defense is making a huge mistake being so afraid of the sister’s testimony. IMO

 

[arielilane]

Nester gives Katie a timeline and asks her to review it. She asks Katie why she sent the timeline to investigators. Katie says it's because she's not an investigator and Eric's death was suspicious.

Nester asks Katie if she did an investigation into Kouri's businesses. She said she personally did not investigate, but did get information and sent it to the investigators. She also forwarded a message that Kouri wanted her wedding ring back.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2026032677418336374

 

[Megnut]

Kouri's confused little girl's expression is really annoying.

JMO

 

[arielilane]

The defense is making a huge mistake being so afraid of the sister’s testimony. IMO

Agreed. Defense is not helping the defendant.

 

[tlcya]

defense trying to frame this as a situation where decedent's sister is directly responsible for the prosecution of Khouri Richins because she forwarded anything she felt was suspicious to prosecution investigators. As if any loving family member wouldn't do the same exact thing. The implication being made is that KR is only being prosecuted because mean ole Eric's sister hates her.

 

[Seni]

Many thanks to all who are providing updates!

 

[tlcya]

I can't wait for redirect defense should not have opened many of these doors IMO

 

[Justice101]

defense trying to frame this as a situation where decedent's sister is directly responsible for the prosecution of Khouri Richins because she forwarded anything she felt was suspicious to prosecution investigators. As if any loving family member wouldn't do the same exact thing. The implication being made is that KR is only being prosecuted because mean ole Eric's sister hates her.

Of course this won't work but sort of shows that the defense is shooting blanks.

 

[Megnut]

Agreed. Defense is not helping the defendant.

She's beyond help.

 

[arielilane]

Nester asks about other emails and letters that Katie sent or may have sent. Katie is aware of some, she is not aware of others. Nester asks Katie is she remembers how she obtained Kouri's bank records without her permission. Katie says the only bank records she has obtained is through the litigation of the civil lawsuit.

Nester asks about "multiple" conversations she had with investigators before Kouri was arrested. Prosecution objects and Nester says she will re-phrase her question. "Is it fair to say you have regular communication with investigators in the criminal case?" Katie says she has spoken with them after her brother died.

Nester asks how long Kouri remained in the house and who kept up with the house. Katie says in January and February, she paid people to shovel all the snow and make repairs because it became the home of the trust. Nester asks Katie how many times she gave law enforcement access to the house. Katie isn't sure. Nester asks if it was around 10 times. Katie says she put her husband over that portion of the investigation so she doesn't know the exact amount. Nester asks if she gave their private investigator unfettered access to the house. Katie says no. Nester asks of they put cameras in the house. Katie says yes.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2026035133690921399

 

[Megnut]

Anyone else feel like this defense attorney is merely a vehicle Kouri is using to air what Kouri believes are the injustices against herself?

Her petty, vindictive, cruel self is pretty glaring

JMO

 

[MarciB]

I grow weary of this defense attorney - she is not gaining any points with the jury IMO and she's acting like a tradesman who is being paid time and materials rather than by the job in that she is milking the clock.

Nester is trying to make Katie look bad for questioning and investigating her brother's death. not working

 

[tlcya]

defense's little pencil toss when not getting her way is disrespectful. Honey - he didn't kick open doors, you did. MOO

 

[tlcya]

Nester is trying to make Katie look bad for questioning and investigating her brother's death. not working

yeah, if that's the best she's got, she's in big trouble. Just wait til we get to the actual evidence.

 

[arielilane]

Nester says she's almost done. She asks Katie when she obtained her private investigator. It was within a couple of weeks of Eric's death. Nester asks if Katie planned a celebration of life for Eric. Katie says they had the funeral, but she didn't plan a celebration of life. Nestor asks about a celebration of life on April 1. Katie is unaware of one. Nester has no further questions. Bloodworth will now have re-direct questions.

Bloodworth asks about the civil lawsuit and who filed it. Katie says Kouri filed it against Katie as the trustee. Kouri Richins was arrested on May 8, 2023. After she was arrested, the estate no longer employed their attorney, Katie says. Katie says Kouri signed Eric's signature on a home equity loan of $250,000 against Eric's knowledge. Eric also found a bunch of credit cards in his name that he was unaware of, Katie says. Nester objects to the questions and says the prosecution has "kicked the door open" to everything she wanted to ask in her questioning. Judge asks attorneys to approach.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2026036663403856102