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

[arielilane]

How old were the boys?

9, 7, & 5 yrs of age

Eric Richins Obituary March 4, 2022 - Walker Mortuary

View Eric Richins's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

www.walker-mortuary.com

 

[tlcya]

defense trying to make something about trust funds being used for the private investigator when the trust was meant to benefit the boys. This is SOP prosecution will clean it up in redirect.

Guess what? That was an appropriate use of those trust funds. I am imagining that Eric's will poured anything not currently titled to the trust into it at the time of his death. Meaning when they are trying to split hairs about what the estate should pay for or the trust, they are at the end of the day one and the same. JMO

 

[arielilane]

@NateNewsNow


Lewis asks if other people have entered the home. Benson says anything taken out of the home was the children's belongings, like clothes or a stuffed animal. Benson would go collect the items and take them to the boys. Lewis begins asking about Mr. Gabler, the private investigator. He was initially paid by Benson and then paid by the trust. Lewis asks if he was paid $100,000 out of the trust. He was. "The trust meant for the three boys?" Yes. "But that money was used to pay for an investigator?" Correct.


4:37 PM · Feb 23, 2026

 

[Megnut]

She is SHAMELESS.

Trying to make her BIL look somehow unscrupulous for using trust money to pay for an investigation into Kouri.

The trust was set up to PROTECT his boys. That they had to protect them from Kouri is not the BIL's fault. That's on Kouri.

JMO

 

[arielilane]

@NateNewsNow


Lewis asks if the private investigator was supplying evidence to Summit County investigators and if Benson was receiving correspondence meant for investigators. Benson did. Prosecutors ask to approach the bench.


4:40 PM · Feb 23, 2026

 

[tlcya]

She is SHAMELESS.

Trying to make her BIL look somehow unscrupulous for using trust money to pay for an investigation into Kouri.

The trust was set up to PROTECT his boys. That they had to protect them from Kouri is not the BIL's fault. That's on Kouri.

JMO

exactly. But if this is all they got it is slim to nothin.

 

[Megnut]

Picturing this poor dad, trying to comfort and distract five littles, while his littlest was ill and vomiting, my God, these are good people.

Kouri is the quintessential black widow.

Thank Heaven's ER put so many safeguards in place and that his family was so quivk to act, protecting the children.

Sickening they should have to.

JMO

 

[arielilane]

@NateNewsNow


Sidebar over. Lewis shows an email to Benson, asks him to look at the date and then asks about Gabler (the private investigator) sending information to Summit County detectives about Kouri's possible involvement in her husband's death. Benson was included on the emails. He confirms. Judge says we will take an afternoon recess.


4:44 PM · Feb 23, 2026

 

[Warwick7]

@NateNewsNow


Nester says PI took Eric's computer after he died. Nester says Eric's family hired experts and paid them all a bunch of money. They will be witnesses to testify against Kouri. Nester says Eric's family had constant communication with the prosecutor. "You're not going to hear a single one of Eric's family, Kouri's investors, her friends, her broker, her accountant, her lawyer, her marriage counselor - not one of those people is ever going to be able to tell you what happened in those six hours."


12:04 PM · Feb 23, 2026

I am way behind.... But, um, yeah, that's how it work defense atty.

PI took Eric's computer after he died. He said Eric's family hired experts. They paid them all their large fee, duh. They will be witnesses to testify against Kouri. Um that's how it works.
Nester says Eric's family had constant communication with the prosecutor, duh.
Not Kouri's investors, her friends, her broker, her accountant, her lawyer, her marriage counselor - not one of those people is ever going to be able to tell you what happened in those six hours. DUH!

 

[tlcya]

defense back on cross with Benson about PI having access to residence. What she is hoping to get is some sort of doubt that the the PI planted or otherwise tampered with evidence.

 

[tlcya]

Give it up lady, your client did this, not Benson, not the PI

 

[Warwick7]

IMO the defense can't prove who checked his phone that night.,

Bam!!! It's only based on supposition. Glad you posted that.

 

[arielilane]

Back from the break. Lewis asks if the private investigator was allowed in the home a number of times. He was. Benson says he was with him every single time he went in the home. He was. Lewis asks if Benson was with him with the private investigator moved things around the home. Benson was.

Lewis asks if the private investigator would find things and move them around the house. Benson says the PI documents everything he does so if items were moved around, he would document is. "He's very specific about recording what he does." Lewis asks if the PI ever video recorded. Benson isn't sure. Cameras were installed in the home recording what was being done. Lewis asks if the video was turned over to the prosecutor. He says they overwrite every 60 days, and if he were subpoenaed, they would provide the video recordings.

Lewis asks if the PI ever took anything out of the home. Benson believes he took some documents but isn't sure. Lewis asks Benson if he stayed with the PI when they were in the home together. "For the most part, yes." Lewis asks if the PI was ever allowed to wander around while Benson sat on the couch. Benson says he typically was with him at all times. Lewis asks if the PI was looking for things to help the prosecution. No, Benson says. He was doing his own investigation.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2026055843309822237

 

[arielilane]

@NateNewsNow


Lewis asks who has been in and out of the home in the last 60 days. Benson says he has, the defense's private detective and the sheriff's deputies.


5:08 PM · Feb 23, 2026

 

[arielilane]

I am way behind.... But, um, yeah, that's how it work defense atty.

PI took Eric's computer after he died. He said Eric's family hired experts. They paid them all their large fee, duh. They will be witnesses to testify against Kouri. Um that's how it works.
Nester says Eric's family had constant communication with the prosecutor, duh.
Not Kouri's investors, her friends, her broker, her accountant, her lawyer, her marriage counselor - not one of those people is ever going to be able to tell you what happened in those six hours. DUH!

you havent missed much. AI can catch you up.

 

[tlcya]

redirect should be quick. Long day of testimony

 

[arielilane]

@NateNewsNow


Lewis asks about the morning Eric died and when Benson went over the house. Lewis asks Benson if he has ever seen Kouri grieving immediately after losing someone close to her in her life. Benson had not. Lewis asks about the playroom and Benson going upstairs with the kids. Lewis asks what was visible for the kids to see of Eric being wheeled out. He was covered with a sheet.


5:11 PM · Feb 23, 2026

 

[Warwick7]

@NateNewsNow


Prosecution has no further questions. Defense attorney Kathyn Nester says she is very sorry for his loss and has no questions for him. Eugene Richins is dismissed. Katie Richins Benson is the next witness.


12:57 PM · Feb 23, 2026

What????
She just humiliated and shamed his son, but has the audacity to say she's sorry for his loss???
And no questions...

 

[arielilane]

Defense has no further questions. Prosecutor has follow-up questions. He asks Benson if he has a distinct recollection of seeing the body being wheeled out. Benson says he does. Benson is asked about the private investigator and says if he ever found anything of interest, he would immediately call the sheriff's office.

Prosecutor has nothing further. Lewis wants to ask one follow-up question. She says that any time the PI found something of interest, he would call the sheriff's office and tell them to get a warrant. Benson believes that's true. No further questions.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2026058707960836407

 

[tlcya]

deputy Vincent Nguyen being sworn. he was a responding officer. Body cam footage coming up.