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

[aamillaa]

Just catching up on Miller’s cross. Lewis is a disaster. The cross is worse for KR than the direct was, IMO

 

[tlcya]

IMO ER left the divorce attorney's office less focused on divorce and more concerned about his mortality. He took real steps to protect his assets even beyond the original prenup, to ensure his children's interest would be protected. IMO he was very young to be thinking about his death and that reflects that he had real suspicion of KR and her motives and intentions. Did he grow complacent? Did she grow more trustworthy (even if acting)? Or did he feel trapped?

Did he feel like his life was in danger, particularly if he tried to divorce her? We know that's often the most dangerous time...

Did KR play innocent and elfin? Did she deflect, misdirect?

Even if he tried to trust her, IMO once trust is violated, it's never whole again, regardless of how much one wants, needs or hopes it to be.

I feel sad, bad, mad that she polluted his life and then murdered him for the privilege.

JMO

I think Eric was simply overwhelmed by that large packet of forms and information received at his initial consult with Attorney Miller, so, while he stepped back to contemplated whether and when to drop the divorce bomb into their lives, he became very focused and proactive on immediate steps he could take to protect his own financial wellbeing and that of his children in the event something were to happen to him prior to triggering any future divorce from Kouri.

I don't know if he knew or suspected how far Kouri would ultimately go, but it seems clear to me that he was very worried about continued financial exploitation by her putting his and the children's future financial stability at risk.

 

[tlcya]

thanks to those posting updates of today's testimony today. Busy day at the office so I haven't been able to watch/listen as much as I would like.

 

[aamillaa]

I think Eric was simply overwhelmed by that large packet of forms and information received at his initial consult with Attorney Miller, so, while he stepped back to contemplated whether and when to drop the divorce bomb into their lives, he became very focused and proactive on immediate steps he could take to protect his own financial wellbeing and that of his children in the event something were to happen to him prior to triggering any future divorce from Kouri.

I don't know if he knew or suspected how far Kouri would ultimately go, but it seems clear to me that he was very worried about continued financial exploitation by her putting his and the children's future financial stability at risk.

Based on all the back and forth about the estate lawyer. I think ER told the divorce attorney he was worried KR would kill him and why. I think she found it very credible and told him that needed to be priority since things may get murky once they officially started the proceedings.

So, I think he was figuring that out first while also working to do whatever she told him to make sure KR wouldn’t get custody.

ETA: Basically, do everything he needed to “off the record” to have his ducks in a row once the divorce proceedings started.

 

[arielilane]

MIDDAY COURT SCOOP w/ @NateNewsNow from Day 8 of the #KouriRichinsTrial in Park City, Utah

https://x.com/brian_schnee

PM THREAD - DAY 8 #KouriRichinsTrial I'm back in the courtroom. We're running a few minutes behind. Jury is coming in. NEXT WITNESS from the prosecution: Kristal Bowman-Carter, an estate planning attorney from the Park City area.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2029284749454532655

 

[arielilane]

Court is back in session

 

[arielilane]

@NateNewsNow


NEW THREAD: Court is back in session. Next witness is Kristal Bowman-Carter. She is an estate planning attorney. In June 2018, Eric's financial advisor contacted Bowman-Carter and on June 25, 2019, they signed a buy-sell agreement. It's a contract between owners of a company that sets out the terms in advance about what would happen if there is a transfer of a business interest.
3:01 PM · Mar 4, 2026

 

[arielilane]

Media row is very thin this afternoon. I'm seated behind the prosecution.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2029284749454532655

 

[Smelly Squirrel]

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.

His marijuana usage is conveniently flexible.

 

[arielilane]

1:01 p.m. Prosecutor Lindsey Chervenak moves to admit the agreement as evidence. We see it on screen. The agreement says that if one of the partners dies, the decedent’s estate has to purchase the business interest from the surviving partner using life insurance. Cody and Eric each had $2 million life insurance policies and if one of them died, the survivor had to use the life insurance money to buy the other half. Bowman-Carter says this is a common type of agreement in busineses.


12:56 p.m. Court is back in session. Next witness is Kristal Bowman-Carter. She is an estate planning attorney. In June 2018, Eric’s financial advisor contacted Bowman-Carter and on June 25, 2019, they signed a buy-sell agreement. It’s a contract between owners of a company that sets out the terms in advance about what would happen if there is a transfer of a business interest.


Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com

 

[arielilane]

Prosecutors present searches, data, memes in murder case against Kouri Richins

Summit County prosecutors believe data such as call logs and cell phone locations support a guilty verdict.

www.kpcw.org

3/3/2026

 

[arielilane]

Bowman-Carter is reviewing documents highlighting rights belonging to Kouri as it pertains to the Richins estate.

She mentioned that Eric reached out to her and didn't want to communicate via email out of fear that Kouri would read it.

Bowman-Carter said for the first time in her career, she had to draft around the C&E Masonry that was listed in the premarital agreement. Eric Richins wanted everything left for his sons and not his spouse (Kouri).

https://twitter.com/x/status/2029288486726250540

 

[tlcya]

section 8.01 QTIP trust was a subtrust to benefit Kouri on Eric's death.

 

[arielilane]

1:15 p.m. We now see the Eric Richins Living Trust document. Eric was the trustee and manager of the trust. In the event of his death, Eric picked Katie Richins-Benson as the trustee. A trustee is the person who has legal title to the trust and is in charge of administering it to the beneficiary. Bowman-Carter says it was unusual for a spouse not to be picked as the trustee.


1:11 p.m. Bowman-Carter prepared a living will and a trust for Eric. Chervenak shows Bowman-Carter the will and the trust. Chervenak notarized both documents, along with a healthcare directive. Chervenak shows the will on the screen and in the section about burial instructions, he asked to be buried.

1:09 p.m. Bowman-Carter says Eric did not want her to communicate with him via email because he was worried Kouri was reading his email. He wanted to leave everything to his kids. Eric wanted all of his tangible personal property to pass to his sons, who were all very young. Usually those items pass directly to the spouse.


1:03 p.m. Bowman-Carter worked with Eric and had him fill out an intake worksheet. Bowman-Carter reviewed a premarital agreement the day before he signed his estate plan. Part of the agreement says C&E Stone Masonry would remain his own separate property after his marriage to Kouri Richins. Another section highlights that the business is his but if he dies, his interest in the company passes to Kouri.


Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com

 

[arielilane]

POA handles financials too not only property. just saying

 

[tlcya]

He named sister Katie as his POA for property (finance)

 

[arielilane]

Bowman-Carter also drafted Eric Richins' will. She witnessed him sign it.

Bowman-Carter testified that it was unusual Eric Richins did not want his spouse as his 'trustee'. As you may remember, Eric's sister was named the trustee.



OBSERVATION: Kouri is very chatty (or involved) today.

She's always been engaged with note-taking. She's had lengthy remarks with Kathy Nester and Alex Ramos earlier in the day.

Throughout this testimony, she's actively engaged in dialogue with Nester.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2029291388169556445

 

[tlcya]

POA handles financials too not only property. just saying

Yep it allows one's agents to control the following on a principal's behalf

• Real estate transactions.
• Financial institution transactions.
• Stock and bond transactions.
• Tangible personal property transactions.
• Safe deposit box transactions.
• Insurance and annuity transactions.
• Retirement plan transactions.
• Social Security, employment and military service benefits.
• Tax matters.
• Claims and litigation.
• Commodity and option transactions.
• Business operations.
• Borrowing transactions.
• Estate transactions.
• All other property transactions.

The above listed are the basics but POAs can also convey even more specific powers such as the ability to make gifts or transfer items to a trust on behalf of the principal, or apply for government benefits on their behalf.

 

[arielilane]

Yesterday's and today's testimony shows damning evidence against the defendant; and shows money as the motive. Really bad for the defendant.

moo

 

[Megnut]

Oh, Kouri.

Calls the estate planner, livid to find out that the house was in the trust, and not in any way hers.

JMO