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

[arielilane]

11:11 a.m. The next exhibit is the America First bank account statement from July 2021. The three accounts in the summary statement shows she had around $630,000 at the end of the month. Next exhibit is another America First bank account statement. Defense objects to all of these exhibits. Judge allows them in.


11:06 a.m. The emails are shown on the screen for the jury. There is back and forth about Kouri’s credit score and amount of money in her bank. Bloodworth admits an exhibit showing a promissory note showing she had monthly payments on a loan. She had to refinance or pay it off by Jan. 8, 2022. Kouri tried to refinance the loan, Karrington says.


11:04 a.m. Bloodworth introduces an email string between Iron Bridge Financial and Kouri Richins. Defense objects – one reason is hearsay. Judge tells jury they about about to see an email string. Says they can consider what Kouri says, but can only consider the other parts of the email for the effect they had on the listener, not for the truth of the matter.


11:02 a.m. Next exhibit is a bank statement from C&E Stone Masonry. It’s the account statement for May 2021. Ending balance of three accounts is around $210,000.

10:59 a.m. Kouri applied for a loan from Iron Bridge Financial. We see an exhibit on the screen showing an America First Credit Union bank statement. We see another exhibit showing a bank statement for K. Richins Realty using a PO Box in Kamas. There are two accounts listed on the bank statement.

Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com​

 

[tlcya]

KR was ballsy AF with all this financial shenanigans ie. fraud.

 

[COSCitizen]

I think to be successful at house flipping you have to have a knack for finding run-down, but structurally sound, properties that can be updated cosmetically in a fairly short time before selling. Bonus if you can do a lot of the work yourself, and are a decent general contractor. The structural soundness is important because the house needs to pass inspection for a mortgage since you may not be able to find a cash buyer.

However, it sounds like she might have been trying to turn out luxury / upscale homes for a big bonus. And putting in custom upgrades can be very, very expensive. And then you have to make sure that you are able to choose designs that will appeal to people who are prepared to be quite picky about what they are paying for.

MOO

 

[tlcya]

If I am the jury I am connecting all the dots by now,

motive=pure greed and a wish to maintain the lifestyle the victim provided to the defendant without having to take accountability for her misdeeds.

She can sit there and look all meek and mild but behind that facade her greed comes shining through and every single objection from defense during this financial testimony just hammers if home further for the jury. JMO

 

[tlcya]

she claims 147 employees but her bank records show she paying people outside of a payroll situation in a day labor by the job cash under the table sort of way. So, legally zero employees.

 

[Megnut]

Look at all that skirting at counsel tables. Ankle shackles, Anyone?

 

[Megnut]

How is she not in federal court over IRS fraud?

 

[Skagirl]

Yeah I would hope the jury wouldn't think "gee just what an unfortunate accident for her husband to die while she was in millions of dollars worth of debt, just an unfortunate coincidence" MMO

 

[303gmf]

Look at all that skirting at counsel tables. Ankle shackles, Anyone?

That’s crazy!

 

[arielilane]

Needed a refresher. Curious about her ability to get loans w/her debt to income ratio. Linked an informative interesting article.
It sounds like the defendant used her POA to take out $250K HELOC on ER’s premarital home w/o him being aware. The action raised concerns about her financial practices and her ability to secure loans. Forgery. Covered in trial.

Kouri Richins charged with dozens of financial crimes in new case - Park Record

Kouri Richins, the 35-year-old Kamas mother accused of fatally poisoning her husband in March 2022 and then writing a children’s book about grief, now faces more than two dozen felony charges for financial crimes in a newly filed case stemming from the broader homicide investigation. The Summit...

www.parkrecord.com

6/27/2025

 

[arielilane]

11:22 a.m. Next exhibit is the operating agreement of K. Richins Realty. It shows Doreen Kouri owns 81% of the company, Kouri owns the rest. Next exhibit is a bank account statement for Kouri’s personal account.


11:21 a.m. Judge asks Nester and Bloodworth to approach the bench before this next exhibit is admitted.

11:17 a.m. Next exhibit prosecutor wants to admit is a document from Excel Financial Service and its principal. It’s Kouri’s resume of sorts and she says she has 147 employees. Kouri’s bank statements are around $1,500-$2,000 – not enough to pay 147 people. Bloodworth asks Karrington if she found any evidence that Kouri ever profited $1 million on her deals combined. Karrington says no.

11:13 a.m. Next exhibit is America First bank statement showing C&E Stone Masonry information.



Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com

Updated at 11:25 am, March 3, 2026

 

[Megnut]

At least this explains why she's gone to trial (with all this evidence against her). Brass.

She's full of herself and doesn't think the rules apply to her.

I look forward to the jury applying the rules to her.

JMO

 

[Skagirl]

11:22 a.m. Next exhibit is the operating agreement of K. Richins Realty. It shows Doreen Kouri owns 81% of the company, Kouri owns the rest. Next exhibit is a bank account statement for Kouri’s personal account.


11:21 a.m. Judge asks Nester and Bloodworth to approach the bench before this next exhibit is admitted.

11:17 a.m. Next exhibit prosecutor wants to admit is a document from Excel Financial Service and its principal. It’s Kouri’s resume of sorts and she says she has 147 employees. Kouri’s bank statements are around $1,500-$2,000 – not enough to pay 147 people. Bloodworth asks Karrington if she found any evidence that Kouri ever profited $1 million on her deals combined. Karrington says no.

11:13 a.m. Next exhibit is America First bank statement showing C&E Stone Masonry information.



Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com

Updated at 11:25 am, March 3, 2026

I wonder if she actually got her GC license. She's probably going to claim she meant 14 or 17 employees even when the evidence still doesn't support that many workers.

 

[arielilane]

11:31 a.m. There is some confusion over an exhibit number. Spotted another juror taking a sip of a Diet Coke. Benches in the courtroom are padded. Someone tell Ada County (where the Daybell trials were held. No padding – just solid wood pews.)


11:25 a.m. More bank statements are admitted as evidence. Kouri is taking notes at the defense table. Some jurors taking notes, one is having a drink (looks like a Dr. Pepper), they all seem attentive and focused.

Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com​

 

[arielilane]

I think to be successful at house flipping you have to have a knack for finding run-down, but structurally sound, properties that can be updated cosmetically in a fairly short time before selling. Bonus if you can do a lot of the work yourself, and are a decent general contractor. The structural soundness is important because the house needs to pass inspection for a mortgage since you may not be able to find a cash buyer.

However, it sounds like she might have been trying to turn out luxury / upscale homes for a big bonus. And putting in custom upgrades can be very, very expensive. And then you have to make sure that you are able to choose designs that will appeal to people who are prepared to be quite picky about what they are paying for.

MOO

Agreed.

She was in over her head.

 

[arielilane]

BrookeK, forensic accountant, my fav witness thus far. Besides the interesting testimony, she’s extremely knowledgeable, documentation, and testimony showing motive. I imagine this not the defendant's fav witness. moo

 

[tlcya]

So much evidence KR is a lying liar pants.

 

[Megnut]

I wish the State could break up this testimony just for a minute to remind the jury that ER was the victim to this. I trust they'll do that at closing but...

It's awful to think that ER was aware of marital strain, was likely torn at the prospect of divorce/custody.

He must have vent that, alongside his business, his life as a husband and father was paramount.

But we are seeing now, in excruciating financial detail, how little KR cared about him or for her children, sentenced to grow up without him. She had a lovah but that was probably just narc supply, no real loyalty to him. No loyalty to anyone, outside her supreme self.

And now we see that her revolving debt was so far out of control, the murder of ER and acquisition of his money would merely have delayed her absolute bankruptcy. She was already beyond the point of no return.

ER had reason to distrust her but he couldn't possibly have realized how little his wife valued his life. He was nothing but a means to an end, an end that was already out of her reach. She knew it was collapsing and she killed him anyway.

I feel for his family and children.

How easily she murdered him, his life meant nothing to her.

Yet, to those who genuinely loved him, he was worth more than money could ever buy.

JMO

 

[Megnut]

I wonder if she actually got her GC license. She's probably going to claim she meant 14 or 17 employees even when the evidence still doesn't support that many workers.

She had ZERO employees. That was probable. No pay stubs, no withholding, no tax forms. IMO she hired cheap labor off the books.

JMO

 

[arielilane]

11:46 a.m. Karrington was able to track the $45,000. The money was wired to Kouri’s account from Chelsea on Jan. 12 in two separate transactions. The balance was in the negative when the money hit the account. Almost half of the money was then transferred to Kouri’s family joint checking account, Karrington says. The rest of the money was used to pay debt.


11:41 a.m. Chelsea says she needs to count her cash. She has 40. She needs to do her taxes. Kouri responds that if she can do 45, the rest can be wrapped up in the loan. Chelsea says she can do 45 – then follows up and says she has $45,000. Kouri tells her to deposit it into her bank account and then wire it to Kouri. Kouri will then wire it to the title company, she says. Kouri sends her the bank info. so Chelsea can wire the money. Then writes, “I’m kinda nervous. ha!” Chelsea responds, “I’m so excited but I’m scared as hell.” Kouri writes back that it’s “sooo much money.”

11:37 a.m. We now see a text stream between Chelsea and Kouri. It’s from early January 2022. They are talking about finances and down payment. Kouri asks what she wants to put down as down payment. Kouri says she needs $59,000 even though Chelsea only has $47,000. Kouri says they will be seller financing it from her. The home will be in Kouri’s name and then in two weeks, they will close to put it in Chelsea’s name.


11:34 a.m. Bloodworth asks Karrington about wire transfers in January 2022. Karrington says they were from Chelsea Barney to Kouri Richins for the purpose of buying the 299 Barney House. Defense objects to the exhibit. The judge is allowing the exhibit in.

Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com​