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

[Quiet Time]

Why the Doxycycline and Hydrocodone?

 

[tlcya]

Why the Doxycycline and Hydrocodone?

the Lyme Disease

 

[Justice101]

That's a small class, just my opinion.

Yep, only a AAA school. there are AAAAA schools that have graduating classes well over 2000

 

[Skagirl]

@NateNewsNow

NEW PM THREAD: We are back. Dr. Uhlmer, the medical examiner, continues to answer questions from the prosecutor. She is asked about vitreous fluid from the eyes that was sent to a lab for testing. Nothing was detected in the eye fluid.

Additional tests were performed to determine if there were drugs in Eric's stomach contents that weren't showing up in the blood tests and to try and figure out where the fentanyl was coming from - orally or injected, according to Dr. Uhlmer.

Uhlmer explains how blood and other fluids are taken from the body. There were 15 nanograms per milliliter of fentanyl on Eric's body, Uhmler says. Fentanyl should not have been present in the body, and the amount in his body was toxic.

Uhlmer requested a report of any prescriptions Eric was taking. Her team reviewed at least one year of medical history. Prosecution wants to admit a report, defense raising questions about it. Judge calls all the attorneys to the bench.

We now see a report of medications found with Eric's body. They include testosterone, Doxycycline, Hydrocodone, Disulfiram and Naltrexone.

Uhlmer explains that caffeine and other substances were found in his body. She had questions about some of them because he wasn't reported as to taking any medications that matched the substances.

Uhlmer relied on information from family members on how Eric had been feeling and acting, information from the death investigator, information from law enforcement and she reviewed medical records. Her opinion of the cause of death was drug intoxication by fentanyl.

Eric's manner of death could not be determined. There are classifications that manner of death is divided into - natural, accident, suicide, homicide and undetermined. The investigation was still ongoing when Uhlmer retired, so she thought it best for manner of death to be undetermined.

Uhlmer asked if she spoke with Kouri Richins. She did and filled out a form after the conversation. Prosecutor asks if she has independent recollection of the conversation. Not specifically, no. Kouri provided a lot of health information and the fact Eric had Lyme disease. He was having problems with neuropathy.

Kouri said Eric was not feeling well before his death. His chest hurt, which could have been part of COVID. Kouri told Uhlmer his mom died of a fungal infection three years prior. They swabbed Eric's lungs to make sure there was no sign of fungal pneumonia. Uhlmer had another conversation with Kouri and asked if Eric had a history of drug use. Kouri said just THC gummies.




Edit: to include additional tweets

Interesting to see that the Disulfiram and Naltrexone are both things that help to curb the desire to drink alcohol. Is it possible that the whole "we had a drink to celebrate" per Kouri was another lie? JMO

 

[arielilane]

@NateNewsNow


Prosecution has no further questions. Defense attorney Alex Ramos will now question Dr. Uhlmer.

Ramos asks how retirement is. She says it's good and recommends it. He begins by asking what chronic Lyme is. She says with Lyme disease you can get an antibody response that also infects your body as it's trying to ward off the Lyme infection. You can end up with neuropathy or chronic fatigue syndrome. Ramos asks if it's painful. She says neuropathy can be painful. It varies from person to person.

 

[Greenestdays]

I adore this lady, I want to be like her when I grow up (sadly, I’m already a grownup and nothing like her).

 

[COSCitizen]

Interesting to see that the Disulfiram and Naltrexone are both things that help to curb the desire to drink alcohol. Is it possible that the whole "we had a drink to celebrate" per Kouri was another lie? JMO

No: there is testimony that ER suffered from Lyme Disease, for which he was being treated by a physician, and was prescribed
those two drugs for treatment of his Lyme Disease. However, defendant had told ME that he had not taken them for four months, so possibly the Lyme Disease was in remission.

 

[Luna20]

She couldn't even fake it.

This is actually one of my fave things when following a trial-bad acting.

Seeing the guilty faking it at the scene (no tears). They don’t realize that there are no comparisons between guilty and innocent clews.

Seeing the guilty in court trying to force fake facial expressions (no tears and locking into an expression with no breaking). It’s unnatural to have a fixed resting face throughout the day. It’s no different than wearing a costume mask.

Today I noticed that Kouri has eased up a bit on the fixed face. Someone may have coached her on it. She is guilty though no matter what her face looks like.

 

[Skagirl]

No: there is testimony the ER suffered from Lyme Disease, for which he was being treated by a physician, and was prescribed
those two drugs for treatment of his Lyme Disease. However, defendant had told ME that he taken them for four months, so possibly the Lyme Disease was in remission.

Thanks for the clarification on that. I have a lot to catch up on!

 

[Luna20]

I adore this lady, I want to be like her when I grow up (sadly, I’m already a grownup and nothing like her).

Which lady?

 

[arielilane]

@NateNewsNow


Ramos asks about alcohol in Eric's body and if additional tests were done. Uhlmer says no. Ramos asks if fentanyl was taken along with alcohol. She says that is a question she can't answer because she doesn't think they are answerable.


4:00 PM · Feb 24, 2026

 

[arielilane]

@NateNewsNow


Ramos refers to a report detailing phone calls with the family. He asks Uhlmer if she put the information into the document. Uhlmer summarized what was discussed in each phone call with a family member and took notes. Her team did the same.

Ramos asks if she does this with every call. She says they try because sometimes she might be working somewhere else. Kouri Richins called her on March 17 and Uhlmer put the notes in the document. Ramos asks when the fungal testing was done on Eric's lungs. She says it was likely before the call with Kouri.

Ramos asks Uhlmer about allergic reactions or any indication that Eric experienced these issues. Not that she could tell. Ramos asks if an opioid drug allergy is possible. She says possibly, but she has never seen it.

Ramos asks if any THC gummies were located in the gastric liquid. She says she assumed they would have melted by then. She says there was no measurable THC in the other analysis as well.

 

[tlcya]

I adore this lady, I want to be like her when I grow up (sadly, I’m already a grownup and nothing like her).

she is very cool under the pressure of this cross. Stays respectful in her answers, refuses to opine on things she is not knowledgeable of. Unflappable, intelligent, and yet relatable.

 

[COSCitizen]

Five time the toxic level of fentanyl, and the defense lawyer wants to talk about allergic reactions.

 

[aamillaa]

she is very cool under the pressure of this cross. Stays respectful in her answers, refuses to opine on things she is not knowledgeable of. Unflappable, intelligent, and yet relatable.

Yes! She’s a great witness bc she’s able to break all this down for a layperson to understand.

Which isn’t helping the defense IMHO

 

[Luna20]

Five time the toxic level of fentanyl, and the defense lawyer wants to talk about allergic reactions.

Allergic death is more likely

 

[tlcya]

defense points out that autopsy manner of death was changed from pending to undetermined. Hasn't changed since.

She says that is correct. I hope this annoying Ramos isn't trying to suggest because the report doesn't list homicide as manner of death means he wasn't murdered because that isn't her job to determine if he fentanyl poisoned himself of whether it was foul play.

 

[arielilane]

@NateNewsNow


Ramos admits Eric's preliminary death certificate and it's shown to the jury. It says the immediate cause of death was drug intoxication: fentanyl. The manner of death was changed from pending to not determined. It has not changed since then.


4:19 PM · Feb 24, 2026

 

[tlcya]

this cross examination by Ramos.

 

[arielilane]

@NateNewsNow


Uhlmer asked if she had meetings with the Summit County Sheriff's Office. She had phone calls with them and may have had some meetings, but she doesn't remember. Ramos asks Uhlmer if she can ask for follow-up conversations with Kouri to "try to get a little bit more." She says yes. Ramos says Uhlmer could also ask the detectives if she has some follow-up questions. Uhlmer says she could but "I'm not sure where you're going with this."


4:23 PM · Feb 24, 2026



Ramos asks Uhlmer when she made the manner of death as not determined. It was June 22. Ramos asks Uhlmer if she saw accidental fentanyl overdoses in her line of work. "All the time," she says. She says the number increased from 2018-2022.


4:25 PM · Feb 24, 2026