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

[AnyNameIWish]

Rewinding waaaaay back to Monday, when we heard from Katie Richins...

I'm wondering why the defense didn't start with something like "Before your brother married Kouri, what was your relationship like with Kouri?"

"Did she attend family gatherings?"

"Did you and Kouri spend time together as moms outside of being with Eric?'

"Did your family like Kouri when Eric decided to marry Kouri?"

I really would have liked to know how that relationship was, before the money problems, infidelity, lies.

 

[Megnut]

Rewinding waaaaay back to Monday, when we heard from Katie Richins...

I'm wondering why the defense didn't start with something like "Before your brother married Kouri, what was your relationship like with Kouri?"

"Did she attend family gatherings?"

"Did you and Kouri spend time together as moms outside of being with Eric?'

"Did your family like Kouri when Eric decided to marry Kouri?"

I really would have liked to know how that relationship was, before the money problems, infidelity, lies.

I'm going to guess that maybe there were some.... concerns.

I wonder if the moment KR signed the prenuptial was the same moment she started planning for how to unwrite it.

4+ million in debt. She was that doesn't happen overnight but I do suspect it tumbles fast, like juggling, it's all good while the balls are all in the air, but do one and they all fall down.

That she was taking out lines of equity without his knowledge is NOT the mark of a shrewd businessperson. Shrew maybe, but not shrewd.

Crazy that she was juggling debt, deals, the lovah, her marriage and family, then soliciting and acquiring drugs, it's beyond manic.

What a trail of destruction she has caused.

JMO

 

[SteveS]

Why all the oxys?

1. If she gave them to ER (without his knowledge), maybe she could create a history of addiction?

2. Maybe she didn't want to ask for fentanyl outright. Wanted to establish a path. Get drugs, pay, get more drugs, pay. That's where her "investor friend" came in. Drugs aren't for me, I just want to help my friend.

The jury will have to work at this. It's not a linear case.

ER died of fentanyl. Where did it come from? Either him or not him. There's no digital trail that suggests he had a part in it, no history of hard drugs. No recreational use, no indication of self harm.

If not him, then whom?

Well, there's a conduit for drugs. Was it the avenue for fentanyl? There's an indication that KR may have reached out to multiple sources... there is a nexus there.

Plus there's an actual digital trail that corroborates what the questionable witnesses testified to...

And that check...

Once you start laying it out, to try to reason to an alternate explanation becomes a gymnastics exercise. It gets into the realm outside of reasonable doubt. "It's not beyond ALL doubt." Could fentanyl arrived at the house by unknown means, could it have been taken by ER for unknown reasons, could KR's texts, steps, actions, logs all have alternative, harmless explanations?

This ^ is exactly where I am as well. I'm not bothered by the fuzzied details.

No one wants to admit actual knowledge of selling/buying the fentanyl that definitely caused ER's death. But they all admit moving some unusual illegal drug (that they hem and haw about what it was). In the trial they can pretend it was (or might have been) oxy's if they wish, but that doesn't mean they moved any oxy's at all. I can think of plenty of reasons why they would want to pretend it was something different, or that they didn't know. I don't have to have each of THEM say it was f in order to be sure that's what it was.

Why? We are certain f was in ER's stomach, in a dosage that would kill a horse. There were no extraneous med bottles around, for ER have ingested it on his own, before he keeled over dead. Nor would he take THAT quantity unless he was trying to be dead. Only KR was there that night to have put that in his drink to kill ER. Although, we have to keep in mind that KR was the one who told the story of that evening, and it could all be fiction. But only she was there to have poisoned him, that was her own account that it was only them.

 

[Megnut]

This ^ is exactly where I am as well. I'm not bothered by the fuzzied details.

No one wants to admit actual knowledge of selling/buying the fentanyl that definitely caused ER's death. But they all admit moving some unusual illegal drug (that they hem and haw about what it was). In the trial they can pretend it was (or might have been) oxy's if they wish, but that doesn't mean they moved any oxy's at all. I can think of plenty of reasons why they would want to pretend it was something different, or that they didn't know. I don't have to have each of THEM say it was f in order to be sure that's what it was.

Why? We are certain f was in ER's stomach, in a dosage that would kill a horse. There were no extraneous med bottles around, for ER have ingested it on his own, before he keeled over dead. Nor would he take THAT quantity unless he was trying to be dead. Only KR was there that night to have put that in his drink to kill ER. Although, we have to keep in mind that KR was the one who told the story of that evening, and it could all be fiction. But only she was there to have poisoned him, that was her own account that it was only them.

Exactly.

While the Defense labors to try to explain away each bit of evidence with alternate explanations, when you lay those actual bits out, the truth comes into focus. A thousand what ifs become a bridge too far. The logical, the reasonable conclusion is that KR devised a plan to remediate her debt. By killing her husband.

There isn't a credible alternative.

JMO

 

[Weki]

This ^ is exactly where I am as well. I'm not bothered by the fuzzied details.

No one wants to admit actual knowledge of selling/buying the fentanyl that definitely caused ER's death. But they all admit moving some unusual illegal drug (that they hem and haw about what it was). In the trial they can pretend it was (or might have been) oxy's if they wish, but that doesn't mean they moved any oxy's at all. I can think of plenty of reasons why they would want to pretend it was something different, or that they didn't know. I don't have to have each of THEM say it was f in order to be sure that's what it was.

Why? We are certain f was in ER's stomach, in a dosage that would kill a horse. There were no extraneous med bottles around, for ER have ingested it on his own, before he keeled over dead. Nor would he take THAT quantity unless he was trying to be dead. Only KR was there that night to have put that in his drink to kill ER. Although, we have to keep in mind that KR was the one who told the story of that evening, and it could all be fiction. But only she was there to have poisoned him, that was her own account that it was only them.

One argument defense can make is that Eric wanted Oxy for his pain, the gummies weren’t enough and she got it for him. Everyone thought it was oxy but it was fentanyl. That he knew he was taking the drugs and she didn’t murder him. Just presenting this as a possible defense theory. It seems to me defense is trying to show he had a habit of taking narcotics.

Katie’s relationship with Eric or Kouri is not really relevant. The defense has to address why that fentanyl was there. That’s why it was important to show that Katie didn’t know about all the drugs he may have taken or was taking. That’s all they need from Katie.

Kouri will testify is my guess.

 

[MarciB]

Like others here, I think the State had to make the best of questionable witnesses. You get what you get.

They knew they might lose some ground with them. But they're about to gain big ground.

The State has the goods. The next witnesses will destroy the Defense. Digital forensics is the new DNA.

That tweezers... that could be a major smoking gun.

ER too. He took telling steps to protect his financial interest from her. He had suspicions... and events bear it out. She WAS stealing from him (line of credit without his knowledge), she was in serious debt... and she had a lovah --

But also -- she told her lovah her dream -- to buy the mansion as a wedding venue -- if she needed to SELL the mansion to halve her debt, just how was she planning to afford KEEPING it?

She knew she was about to come into a great deal of money, or so she thought.

It was MATH to her.

KR, ER, three boys, $4 million in debt, sidepiece. Not acceptable to her.

KR, sidepiece, no debt. Flip the financial script from dining in debt to flush. Perfectly acceptable to her. ER, the means to that end.

Cold as hell.

JMO

Carmen is sympathetic and seemed to want to do the right thing, but Robbie went rogue and his testimony was a disaster. I believe the prosecution should have seen it coming and didn't vet him properly

 

[rescuemom]

This ^ is exactly where I am as well. I'm not bothered by the fuzzied details.

No one wants to admit actual knowledge of selling/buying the fentanyl that definitely caused ER's death. But they all admit moving some unusual illegal drug (that they hem and haw about what it was). In the trial they can pretend it was (or might have been) oxy's if they wish, but that doesn't mean they moved any oxy's at all. I can think of plenty of reasons why they would want to pretend it was something different, or that they didn't know. I don't have to have each of THEM say it was f in order to be sure that's what it was.

Why? We are certain f was in ER's stomach, in a dosage that would kill a horse. There were no extraneous med bottles around, for ER have ingested it on his own, before he keeled over dead. Nor would he take THAT quantity unless he was trying to be dead. Only KR was there that night to have put that in his drink to kill ER. Although, we have to keep in mind that KR was the one who told the story of that evening, and it could all be fiction. But only she was there to have poisoned him, that was her own account that it was only them.

There was an empty outdated Hydrocodone medicine bottle on the nightstand, then included in the body bag when transferred and I have yet to see that it has ever been addressed or tested. What if, ER did buy meds in Mexico and kept them in that bottle and one of them was fentynal mixed in with others and he simply did not know that that one pill would kill him. To me reasonable doubt. Again she is not my favorite person but possibly not a murderer. OTOH, maybe she was trying to get him addicted to pills to the point he could not function. All JMO.

 

[MarciB]

There was an empty outdated Hydrocodone medicine bottle on the nightstand, then included in the body bag when transferred and I have yet to see that it has ever been addressed or tested. What if, ER did buy meds in Mexico and kept them in that bottle and one of them was fentynal mixed in with others and he simply did not know that that one pill would kill him. To me reasonable doubt. Again she is not my favorite person but possibly not a murderer. OTOH, maybe she was trying to get him addicted to pills to the point he could not function. All JMO.

I don't believe that is reasonable doubt. It is pretty far out

 

[texaslb218]

Like others here, I think the State had to make the best of questionable witnesses. You get what you get.

They knew they might lose some ground with them. But they're about to gain big ground.

The State has the goods. The next witnesses will destroy the Defense. Digital forensics is the new DNA.

That tweezers... that could be a major smoking gun.

ER too. He took telling steps to protect his financial interest from her. He had suspicions... and events bear it out. She WAS stealing from him (line of credit without his knowledge), she was in serious debt... and she had a lovah --

But also -- she told her lovah her dream -- to buy the mansion as a wedding venue -- if she needed to SELL the mansion to halve her debt, just how was she planning to afford KEEPING it?

She knew she was about to come into a great deal of money, or so she thought.

It was MATH to her.

KR, ER, three boys, $4 million in debt, sidepiece. Not acceptable to her.

KR, sidepiece, no debt. Flip the financial script from dining in debt to flush. Perfectly acceptable to her. ER, the means to that end.

Cold as hell.

JMO

Your analysis captures the vile coldness of greed and narcissism.

 

[Megnut]

Carmen is sympathetic and seemed to want to do the right thing, but Robbie went rogue and his testimony was a disaster. I believe the prosecution should have seen it coming and didn't vet him properly

I think they knew ahead of time he was going to be a disaster (in particular he recently recanted on febtanyl iiuc) but better to get him out early and take their lumps. It will be KR's own actions that corroborate the combined testimony of these witnesses which will ultimately convict her.

JMO

 

[Megnut]

sThere was an empty outdated Hydrocodone medicine bottle on the nightstand, then included in the body bag when transferred and I have yet to see that it has ever been addressed or tested. What if, ER did buy meds in Mexico and kept them in that bottle and one of them was fentynal mixed in with others and he simply did not know that that one pill would kill him. To me reasonable doubt. Again she is not my favorite person but possibly not a murderer. OTOH, maybe she was trying to get him addicted to pills to the point he could not function. All JMO.

The Defense, so far, has tried to poke holes in testimony and evidence but doesn't seem to have a cohesive theory which raises reasonable doubt. A series of what ifs isn't really how reasonable doubt works. It becomes  unreasonable once a thousand alternative explanstions are required to create another explanation.

A secret addiction.
Hidden purchases.
AND you'd have to excuse all of KR's actions, texts, debt, etc.

The Defense isn't even suggesting that KR acquired the drugs for ER, at his behest. More like, they want us to disbelieve both supplier witnesses.

Peculiar strategy.

And finally, the key witness is dead. So we have to listen with deliberate ear for his whisper. IMO it can't be discounted that he saw a divorce attorney after a suspected poisoning and that line of credit she took out, AND while he didn't get divorced, he did change the beneficiaries on his accounts. That's not nothing.

Her own actions will convict her.

JMO

 

[Weki]

The sandwich poisoning proof is coming only from the sister so far. The defense strategy seems to be to show that the sister had it out for Kouri from the get go and is biased to the point she would say anything to get Kouri convicted. As someone else raised, why didn’t the state probe Katie about how her relationship was like with Kouri prior to the murder? Actually, I am now changing my mind that it would’ve been good for the jury to hear if they had a positive relationship leading up to the murder to counter the defense strategy that Katie is out for blood.

The defense can raise multiple doubts and all they have to do is get one juror to buy one of the doubts.

So far my sense is that it seems like there’s a ton of MOTIVE evidence and the drug purchase and that’s it. Am I missing something else? Also, the fact that that drug dealer basically recanted on the stand after getting a deal should be unacceptable to the state. I hope they go ahead and reverse the deal and he’s charged. I know the trial is supposed to take 4 weeks and I can see why based on how last week went. It’s gonna be a slog.

 

[tricia]

Hey, we are doing a special livestream tonight to go over the details in the Kouri Richins case. We go live at 8 PM Eastern tonight. CLICK THIS LINK TO JOIN US OR click the video below. See you tonight.

 

[nyvictoria]

I’m trying to catch up but I’m only up to trial day 3. I had no idea this trial had started.

So far, the defense doesn’t seem to have much of anything with which to defend poor Kouri. Another heinous killer trying to shrink down to little girl size in her chair à la Arias and Anthony.

Between Eric’s suspicions of her, the money, the fraud, the drug buys and the boyfriend, she’s toast.

She should be on her knees, thanking Eric’s family for not wanting the DP. If not for them, IMO the State would have gone for it and (also IMO) they likely would have been successful. She’s a dead inside shell of evil.

ETA: I hate that they call Kouri an author. IMO she used ChatGPT or similar AI to write that book. Google is supposedly indexing all ChstGPT saved convos and they will be searchable. I wonder if there’s a saved convo for a children’s book on grief?

 

[AnyNameIWish]

@nyvictoria

Lucky you day 3 was super short. You'll catch up.

The way the defense attorneys treated Carmen Lauber vs Robert Crozier... such a contrast. You will notice.

So much of the tech evidence has yet to come and I cannot wait to see her facial expressions.

You are so correct, the family of Eric laying off the death penalty is the only thing that will save Kouri!!!! She absolutely should be thankful at the end of the day.

I think most of us believe Kouri just had a ghostwriter write the book. The book is self published and it's not like she got a Book Deal. As for the art I can't say, is the artist credited?

Let us know what you think once you're through with Day 5!

 

[AnyNameIWish]

@Weki

About the breakfast sandwich on 2/14... Katie described it in court. Eric told Katie... are there texts?? I think? I can't remember. I hope there is actual documented evidence that this was at least discussed between Katie and Eric since we know Eric didn't go to the ER and no samples of the sandwich were taken, sadly.

I would imagine judge wouldn't allow mention of something like this without actually seeing that Eric complained of feeling sick to someone via text or social media and the state has proof??

 

[scorpio24]

@Weki

About the breakfast sandwich on 2/14... Katie described it in court. Eric told Katie... are there texts?? I think? I can't remember. I hope there is actual documented evidence that this was at least discussed between Katie and Eric since we know Eric didn't go to the ER and no samples of the sandwich were taken, sadly.

I would imagine judge wouldn't allow mention of something like this without actually seeing that Eric complained of feeling sick to someone via text or social media and the state has proof??

I believe there is also a business associate who will testify that Eric told him the same thing: that he thought his wife tried to poison him.

 

[Weki]

@Weki

About the breakfast sandwich on 2/14... Katie described it in court. Eric told Katie... are there texts?? I think? I can't remember. I hope there is actual documented evidence that this was at least discussed between Katie and Eric since we know Eric didn't go to the ER and no samples of the sandwich were taken, sadly.

I would imagine judge wouldn't allow mention of something like this without actually seeing that Eric complained of feeling sick to someone via text or social media and the state has proof??

Yes, in opening Bloodworth said Eric spoke to associates/friends after he ate the sandwich and he was not being himself. I’m not sure if these witnesses are going to say Eric told them he thought Kouri had poisoned him.

 

[Niner]

Monday, March 2nd:
*Trial continues (Day 6) (@ 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 1 count of 1st degree criminal homicide aggravated murder (DV), 2 counts of 2nd degree distribution of a controlled substance [charges dismissed 11/12/24], 1 count of attempted aggravated urder, 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 (2/20/26).
*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 began 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 Lindsay Chervenask, Fred Burmester & Summit County Deputy 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 2/18/26 r& Trial Day 1-4 (2/23-2/26/26) reference post #1600 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...ted-death-last-year-may-2023-3.711978/page-80
2/27/26 Friday, Trial Day 5: State witnesses: Carmen Lauber [Kouri’s former housekeeper] back on stand. Anna Isbell [Hayden Jeffs girlfriend (Jeffs, former Richins handyman, passed away in 2024) & a friend of Kouri in high school]. Robert Crozier [drug dealer that Carmen obtained drugs from]. Eric Haskell [works with the Salt Lake City Police Dept; Sergeant over special investigations for narcotics unit for undercover work]. Salt Lake County DA's Office in the Special Investigations Unit Marcos Garaycochea [processed & extracted data from 3 different cell phones related to the case using the Cellebrite program].
*Judge Mrazik received a motion to dismiss. Says he will not grant a mistrial. Trial continues on Monday, 3/2/26.

 

[Kemug]

Your analysis captures the vile coldness of greed and narcissism.

So does the above photo of her!