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

[arielilane]

10:52 a.m. Next witness is Anne Coates. She is a senior manager of claims at CMFG Life Insurance. Burmester shows a life insurance policy application for $100,000 on Eric Richins. The beneficiary was Kouri Richins. It was received on Feb. 3, 2022. A billing statement was sent to Eric that there would be an automatic withdrawal for the premiums and a welcome letter with the contract.


10:48 a.m. Nester says she has received reports from people that the prosecution is making faces at the jury while the defense is questioning witnesses. Judge says he has a better view than the cameras and he hasn’t seen any faces. Nester says she is going to check timestamps on the livestream.

10:45 a.m. We are back in the courtroom. Jury is not. Wendy Lewis says this morning, Nester received a text message from the state that Carmen Lauber violated drug court. The defense did not know about this. Lewis asks for a mistrial. Bloodworth says he’s not aware of a text message sent this morning. Bloodworth says about ten days ago, the defense submitted a GRAMA request to the sheriff’s office asking for information about Carmen Lauber. Judge says he needs a written motion and the state can respond. Trial will proceed.

Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com​

 

[tlcya]

10:52 a.m. Next witness is Anne Coates. She is a senior manager of claims at CMFG Life Insurance. Burmester shows a life insurance policy application for $100,000 on Eric Richins. The beneficiary was Kouri Richins. It was received on Feb. 3, 2022. A billing statement was sent to Eric that there would be an automatic withdrawal for the premiums and a welcome letter with the contract.


10:48 a.m. Nester says she has received reports from people that the prosecution is making faces at the jury while the defense is questioning witnesses. Judge says he has a better view than the cameras and he hasn’t seen any faces. Nester says she is going to check timestamps on the livestream.

10:45 a.m. We are back in the courtroom. Jury is not. Wendy Lewis says this morning, Nester received a text message from the state that Carmen Lauber violated drug court. The defense did not know about this. Lewis asks for a mistrial. Bloodworth says he’s not aware of a text message sent this morning. Bloodworth says about ten days ago, the defense submitted a GRAMA request to the sheriff’s office asking for information about Carmen Lauber. Judge says he needs a written motion and the state can respond. Trial will proceed.

Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com​

WOW, this defense is desperate. IF anybody has behaved unprofessionally in the courtroom it isn't the prosecution

 

[MarciB]

10:52 a.m. Next witness is Anne Coates. She is a senior manager of claims at CMFG Life Insurance. Burmester shows a life insurance policy application for $100,000 on Eric Richins. The beneficiary was Kouri Richins. It was received on Feb. 3, 2022. A billing statement was sent to Eric that there would be an automatic withdrawal for the premiums and a welcome letter with the contract.


10:48 a.m. Nester says she has received reports from people that the prosecution is making faces at the jury while the defense is questioning witnesses. Judge says he has a better view than the cameras and he hasn’t seen any faces. Nester says she is going to check timestamps on the livestream.

10:45 a.m. We are back in the courtroom. Jury is not. Wendy Lewis says this morning, Nester received a text message from the state that Carmen Lauber violated drug court. The defense did not know about this. Lewis asks for a mistrial. Bloodworth says he’s not aware of a text message sent this morning. Bloodworth says about ten days ago, the defense submitted a GRAMA request to the sheriff’s office asking for information about Carmen Lauber. Judge says he needs a written motion and the state can respond. Trial will proceed.

Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com​

that was so hilarious - kind of like "Mom, Jimmy is making faces at me. Make him STOP!"

 

[aamillaa]

Coates testimony about how a medication leading to death would need to be prescribed by a dr for some of the life insurance benefits….

Maybe that’s why she gave ER the Seroquel. Maybe she thought that would come up on a toxicology report and not the fentanyl.

ETA: I know that still wouldn’t matter bc it wasn’t ER’s prescription but KR seems to have a habit of selective listening to get to a goal.

 

[Justice101]

10:52 a.m. Next witness is Anne Coates. She is a senior manager of claims at CMFG Life Insurance. Burmester shows a life insurance policy application for $100,000 on Eric Richins. The beneficiary was Kouri Richins. It was received on Feb. 3, 2022. A billing statement was sent to Eric that there would be an automatic withdrawal for the premiums and a welcome letter with the contract.

Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com​

Either she intercepted the letter at home before the 14th.. or she knew he would be dead before it got there so as to him not seeing the (unauthorized) life insurance policy.

When again did Kouri by the last batch of fentanyl? Wonder if she bought them before Feb 3rd?

 

[Justice101]

This defense team is bad. Kind of like their client if you asked me

 

[Megnut]

Coates testimony about how a medication leading to death would need to be prescribed by a dr for some of the life insurance benefits….

Maybe that’s why she gave ER the Seroquel. Maybe she thought that would come up on a toxicology report and not the fentanyl.

ETA: I know that still wouldn’t matter bc it wasn’t ER’s prescription but KR seems to have a habit of selective listening to get to a goal.

I'm still not convinced about the Moscow Mule, but I'm certain she gave him a drug cocktail.

JMO

 

[arielilane]

11:07 a.m. Burmester shows some notes on Eric’s policy. Kouri called the life insurance company in April asking for the status of the claims on her husband’s account. She was told the insurance company received a pending death certificate, but they needed the final death certificate. The insurance received the final death certificate that said drug intoxication – fentanyl. The life insurance company called Kouri and asked if fentanyl was prescribed to Eric. There was an extra $50,000 policy that would be paid out if he died because of a prescription provided by a doctor. Kouri said it was not provided by a doctor, and she did not know how Eric got the fentanyl. Kouri called back the next day to say the drug was not prescribed and she didn’t know where it came from. Kouri called again in June and was told the $250,000 claim was paid but the $100,000 claim was still being reviewed. Coates said the $100,000 policy was still being reviewed because it was a new policy. If a death is within two years of a new policy, it becomes a questionable claim. An investigation needed to be done.


11:04 a.m. A check was sent out June 17, 2022, to Kouri Richins in the amount of $251,558.82 to pay for the policy and interest. When customers call the insurance company, reports are kept with notes about the conversations and calls are recorded.

10:58 a.m. The first deduction for the life insurance policy was scheduled for Feb. 14, 2022. Eric had other policies with the company. Another form shows Eric had a $250,000 term life insurance policy. Coates says policies are run twice a year against a Social Security master database to see if people with policies have died. That’s how they learned Eric had passed away in March 2022.


10:52 a.m. Next witness is Anne Coates. She is a senior manager of claims at CMFG Life Insurance. Burmester shows a life insurance policy application for $100,000 on Eric Richins. The beneficiary was Kouri Richins. It was received on Feb. 3, 2022. A billing statement was sent to Eric that there would be an automatic withdrawal for the premiums and a welcome letter with the contract.

Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com​

 

[aamillaa]

Am I crazy for not realizing I can open a life insurance policy for my husband using my email and phone number and no one actually speaking to him to make sure he’s aware????? That’s so surprising to me. I figured something would AT LEAST have to be notarized.

 

[arielilane]

NEXT WITNESS: Anne Coates, CMFG Life Insurance Company next on the stand.

Coates is talking about Kouri calling numerous times to check about payments from policies.

Coates said Kouri called on 6/21/2022 to check on the status of payments. The 250k claim was paid but others were in holding.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2029258796619710556

 

[Justice101]

I'm still not convinced about the Moscow Mule, but I'm certain she gave him a drug cocktail.

JMO

Wouldn't she have had to lace it into something strong so the weird taste would not be detected.

Moscow Mule is allegedly very strong and good disguise.

"A Moscow Mule generally has a strong, bold flavor, primarily driven by the intense, spicy, and tangy kick of ginger beer and fresh lime"

 

[Justice101]

Am I crazy for not realizing I can open a life insurance policy for my husband using my email and phone number and no one actually speaking to him to make sure he’s aware????? That’s so surprising to me. I figured something would AT LEAST have to be notarized.

Guessing under a certain amount, you can just forge their signature and move it along.

 

[Leilei]

Like many attorneys, the Prosecution has a practice of thanking their witnesses and then adding, "the Defense may have some questions for you."

'Nuther thing the Defense whined to the judge about. 'Make them stop doing that.'

Judge (my paraphrase): yeah, not going to do that.

JMO

The look on His Honor's face was priceless.
He's not having it.
IMO.

 

[Skagirl]

I'm still not convinced about the Moscow Mule, but I'm certain she gave him a drug cocktail.

JMO

Agreed-if he really thought she was trying to poison him a few weeks earlier with a sandwich, why would he accept anything from her food or drink-wise. Also what would they be celebrating that would necessitate a drink because it sure wasn't the sale of the really ugly mansion-IMO.

 

[arielilane]

Am I crazy for not realizing I can open a life insurance policy for my husband using my email and phone number and no one actually speaking to him to make sure he’s aware????? That’s so surprising to me. I figured something would AT LEAST have to be notarized.

Edit:
You cannot take out a policy on just anyone. You must have an insurable interest in their life.
Insurable interest means their death would have a financial impact on you.



However, if you have a life insurance policy (through your employer) the beneficiary must be your spouse. If you choose to change that beneficiary to someone else, then the employer requires the spouse's signature on documentation, which shows spouse is in agreement. This portion did not pertain to the defendant or ER.

moo

Edited post

 

[Justice101]

starting to look similiar to Lori Vallo self-representing herself...

 

[arielilane]

11:20 a.m. Ramos asks Coates how they received word that Eric had died. After the company runs their clients’ Social Security files, they use Lexis Nexus to check for obituaries. Ramos asks if there are handwriting comparisons or expert analysis when the applications are received. An employee puts the applications into a computer and the system approves or denies the life insurance applications.


11:17 a.m. Ramos asks when Eric obtained his policies. One was taken out on May 12, 2017, with an application from Eric Richins. The most recent became effective Feb. 4, 2022. That was obtained after the Richins received a mailer from the insurance company. Ramos shows the application on the screen.

11:13 a.m. Burmester asks questions about Kouri being paid out for on the insurance claims. Kouri provided voided checks for the funds to be deposited. Burmester has nothing further. Alex Ramos will cross-examine. He asks her to explain how her company sends out applications. They are sent out to credit union members and others. If they get one in the mail, they can fill it out and send it back in.

Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com​

 

[aamillaa]

Do we know who the defense will be calling for witnesses? If anyone?

 

[JoeFromLB]

Getting a late start here (so many cases to keep track of) and this might seem a dumb question, but how long is this trial expected to last?
Several more weeks? Another month?
Just wondering.

 

[arielilane]

11:31 a.m. After the initial meeting, Miller says almost every single one of her clients advances through the process and gets a divorce. Miller says she has been meeting with some people for ten years who have yet to file and move forward with divorce, but that’s rare. The top reasons people don’t move forward with divorce are they are concerned about their children, their religion and health reasons (insurance).


11:28 a.m. Miller says she and her paralegal have a very strict process with their clients. They have forms they use in every case and in 2008, they started to streamline meetings with their clients. New clients would first meet with the paralegal on the phone. The paralegal vets all the clients. If the client gets past the paralegal, they then meet with Miller. The meeting can be anywhere between 2-4 hours depending on the complexity of their case.


11:26 a.m. Next witness is Christina Miller. Miller is a divorce attorney and has been practicing for 30 years. She has extensive experience with custody arrangements. She has been part of over 2,000 divorces. Most of her clients come from word of mouth.

11:24 a.m. The insurance company asked for Eric’s prior medical records. Marijuana use did come back. Ramos has nothing further. Burmester asks about the frequency of marijuana use. Eric said once or twice a year. Witness is released.

Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com​