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

[Niner]

Thursday, March 5th:
*Trial continues (Day 9) (@ 9:30am MT) - UT - Eric Eugene Richins (39) poisoned [allegedly] with a lethal dose of fentanyl by wife on March. 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 1-7 (2/23-3/3/26) reference post #2403 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...ed-death-last-year-may-2023-3.711978/page-121
3/4/26 Wednesday, Trial Day 8: *State witnesses: Lashawnda Rodgers from New York Life Insurance Company. Brian Freckleton from Freckleton Financial Group [Eric Richins & Cody Wright were clients of Freckleton; handled life insurance].
*During break: Note being read by Wendy Lewis, defense attorney - Carmen Lauber violated drug court & disclosed text messages between Lauber & Detective Maynard. Asks for mistrial. Judge requires a written motion & the state can respond. Trial will proceed.
*State witnesses: Anne Coates [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]. Christina Miller [Eric's divorce attorney; he never filed for divorce]. Kristal Bowman-Carter [an estate planning attorney from the Park City area; she had to draft around the C&E Masonry that was listed in the premarital agreement. Eric Richins wanted everything left for his sons & not his spouse (Kouri). Eric's sister was named the trustee]. Robert Josh Grossman [Kouri’s boyfriend]. Jury shown text messages between Grossman & Kouri. Trial continues on Thursday, 3/5/26 @ 9:30am. No court on Friday, 3/6/26.

 

[Tortoise]

4:26 p.m. Lewis asks if the conversation that Grossman had with Kouri in the mountains was a strange conversation. Grossman says he’s been confused for years and can’t say. The conversation was about life and death, Kouri’s boys, God, shooting a bow, supernatural stuff. At the time the conversation happened, Grossman says the talk was not surprising.


4:23 p.m. Lewis asks Grossman why he told prosecutors that Kouri asked if he had ever killed anyone. He says they had gone a year without speaking to each other, but heard the interview Kouri did about her book. Then he found out she had been arrested. “After I found that out, I was overwhelmed with guilt, sorrow, my wrongdoings, and infidelity.” Grossman tried to get a hold of Eric’s sister. She wasn’t home, so he spoke with her husband. Grossman called the family’s private investigator. The P.I. said Kouri had done it. “That’s changed everything for me,” Grossman says. “I was looking at everything from our past with a different set of goggles on. If she did it, and I could help, that’s what I was gonna do.”

4:19 p.m. Grossman was surprised Eric had died. He didn’t see Kouri for 10 day to two weeks. Lewis asks about the message where Kouri tells Grossman that Eric died of fentanyl poisoning. The text was on April 15, 2022. Lewis asks about the drive Grossman and Kouri took into the Uintah mountains. Lewis asks if Grossman was interviewed by the prosecution team in 2023. He doesn’t remember the specific date/time, but it was warm outside.


4:17 p.m. After reviewing all the text messages from the prosecutor, Grossman says he felt the times were off, or if he was doing bad math because of the time zones. Grossman remembers where he was at, which direction he was facing, when he was told Eric had passed.

4:13 p.m. Lewis asks about meeting for brunch on March 4. Kouri doesn’t show up. He texts her to see what’s happening. It’s not like her to not show up or be a minute late. That’s when Grossman learned Eric died earlier that morning.

4:10 p.m. Grossman mentions that he was having a difficult day. Lewis asks if he remembers why. He doesn’t. Kouri tells him to give it a few days and wait until Friday. The only thing Grossman knew about Friday was brunch and mimosas and Kouri was closing on the house. Lewis asks if, come Friday, the two were going to be together forever. No. Did you ever have any impression that, as of Friday, Eric would be out of the picture. No.


4:08 p.m. Lewis refers to the texts on March 2, 2022, when Kouri talks about closing on the Midway property. Kouri was very excited about the property and said she wanted to get together with Grossman on Friday to celebrate the closing. Lewis asks what the plan was to celebrate. They were supposed to meet mid-morning for brunch and mimosas.

4:06 p.m. Lewis references the Midway mansion texts. Kouri follows up with her dream not being possible, but it’s fun to dream. Lewis asks if the talk about him being with Kouri was more of a fantasy than an expectation. He says yes. More something that he thought he wanted, but he couldn’t picture it in the future.

4:02 p.m. Lewis asks Grossman if he recalls anything about Valentine’s Day 2022. He says he doesn’t remember anything they did that day. He doesn’t remember meeting up with Kouri. Lewis references another text where Grossman told Kouri that he was in love with her. She responded like “your actually in love with me.” This was on Feb. 15, 2022.

4 p.m. Lewis references the text messages Kouri sent Grossman about whether he has taken drugs. They go back and forth. At one point, Kouri says she has a cabinet full of prescriptions but it’s not her thing. Lewis asks Grossman if, on and off, he has used elicit drugs. Fair? He says fair.

3:57 p.m. Lewis asks about a thread of text messages where Grossman and Kouri discussed ending their relationship. Grossman told Kouri she needed to come see him in person if she was saying goodbye forever. He says they could have been tongue-in-cheek but could have also been discussing the end of their relationship. He says the messages sound like “adios” to him.

3:55 p.m. Lewis has questions about some of the text messages and the vacation they were planning. She asks about the Vacation Express reservation that she booked for Grossman for his birthday. The trip was scheduled for April 29, 2022. They never went on the vacation. Grossman says his relationship with Kouri was on-again and off-again over the years.

Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com​

Updated at 4:27 pm, March 4, 2026

4:23 p.m. Lewis asks Grossman why he told prosecutors that Kouri asked if he had ever killed anyone. He says they had gone a year without speaking to each other, but heard the interview Kouri did about her book. Then he found out she had been arrested. “After I found that out, I was overwhelmed with guilt, sorrow, my wrongdoings, and infidelity.” Grossman tried to get a hold of Eric’s sister. She wasn’t home, so he spoke with her husband. Grossman called the family’s private investigator. The P.I. said Kouri had done it. “That’s changed everything for me,” Grossman says. “I was looking at everything from our past with a different set of goggles on. If she did it, and I could help, that’s what I was gonna do.”


How on earth did Lewis think this question would help Kouri?

She just drew attention to Kouri's consciousness of guilt and her interest in comparing notes with him.

On another note, I've tried putting myself in his shoes, and I'm sure he thinks if he hadn't complained about Kouri being married, Eric would still be alive. He needs to understand that it was for Eric's money and escaping her marriage with all his assets, which a divorce wouldn't provide. I don't think she knows what to love is, he was just there because he made her feel loved. He was merely her narcissistic supply. IMO

 

[Tortoise]

I haven't watched this yet. Nate's nightly Courtroom Insider from yesterday. Nate's been in the courtroom this week.

 

[Megnut]

4:23 p.m. Lewis asks Grossman why he told prosecutors that Kouri asked if he had ever killed anyone. He says they had gone a year without speaking to each other, but heard the interview Kouri did about her book. Then he found out she had been arrested. “After I found that out, I was overwhelmed with guilt, sorrow, my wrongdoings, and infidelity.” Grossman tried to get a hold of Eric’s sister. She wasn’t home, so he spoke with her husband. Grossman called the family’s private investigator. The P.I. said Kouri had done it. “That’s changed everything for me,” Grossman says. “I was looking at everything from our past with a different set of goggles on. If she did it, and I could help, that’s what I was gonna do.”


How on earth did Lewis think this question would help Kouri?

She just drew attention to Kouri's consciousness of guilt and her interest in comparing notes with him.

On another note, I've tried putting myself in his shoes, and I'm sure he thinks if he hadn't complained about Kouri being married, Eric would still be alive. He needs to understand that it was for Eric's money and escaping her marriage with all his assets, which a divorce wouldn't provide. I don't think she knows what to love is, he was just there because he made her feel loved. He was merely her narcissistic supply. IMO

And IMO she was testing the water to see if he'd be useful for her, willing to 'remove her husband" or give her access to drugs.

I'm sure these texts were scrubbed (of the most salacious ones), but from what we see, she was leading him on (moved to Utah to work for free? he moved to Utah because she lef him to believe THEY had a future there). She was bread-crumbing him. Then she'd say she wasn't being fair to him blah blah blah to see if he was still hanging in there. So manipulative.

He genuinely cared. For the person he thought she was.

She couldn't have cared less. For anyone.

JMO

 

[Justice101]

This testimony is heart breaking to see a man being manipulated slowly like this. I am actually surprised Kouri didn't ask him in the text if he had any friends who used drugs who could supply them. I also wonder how he knew her housekeeper used drugs?

Yes, she wanted out of the marriage.... but desperately needed Eric's money more than anything. Her money.. then she could sleep with her lover openly... and I'll bet IF they ever get married (which I highly doubt) and Kouri had all the money, I'll bet there would have been a prenup.

Did she get paid any of it before she was arrested? Like the smaller $100K policy she took out on him?

 

[Weki]

Grossman was essentially her employee and living rent free on one of her properties. And then later became a ‘you know what buddy’. Those text messages were corny and seemed insincere on both sides to me. He is a dependent type and he’s a sovereign citizen so that tracks. Of course she didn’t take him seriously! Only arrogance would make him think otherwise but it was also a beneficial arrangement for him. I’m inclined to think they were both using each other. I do think she may have thought about using him to carry out her murderous plot. But at some point realized he would not go along with it. It’s clear from the way he texts that he’s pretty intelligent. He was calling her out on a few things like when she asked him about his drug use. He was not a pushover and that’s why she probably realized he wasn’t gonna just enter a criminal conspiracy with her.

I don’t feel sorry for him at all. I bet he does this kinda thing all the time. He’s a rolling stone type. I agree with the one commenter on here who said there was a performative quality to his time on the stand. I bet he’s perfected that act to get women.

He was up there trying to help her anyway he could. Being a sovereign citizen he’s anti-authority and anti-government. I wonder why he reached out to the Ritchin family back then and why he backtracked on the stand? Hmmm perhaps he thought they would do something for him if he helped convict Kouri? A parasite moving from one host to another was my initial thought on that.

JMO

 

[Justice101]

Grossman was essentially her employee and living rent free on one of her properties. And then later became a ‘you know what buddy’. Those text messages were corny and seemed insincere on both sides to me. He is a dependent type and he’s a sovereign citizen so that tracks. Of course she didn’t take him seriously! Only arrogance would make him think otherwise but it was also a beneficial arrangement for him. I’m inclined to think they were both using each other. I do think she may have thought about using him to carry out her murderous plot. But at some point realized he would not go along with it. It’s clear from the way he texts that he’s pretty intelligent. He was calling her out on a few things like when she asked him about his drug use. He was not a pushover and that’s why she probably realized he wasn’t gonna just enter a criminal conspiracy with her.

I don’t feel sorry for him at all. I bet he does this kinda thing all the time. He’s a rolling stone type. I agree with the one commenter on here who said there was a performative quality to his time on the stand. I bet he’s perfected that act to get women.

He was up there trying to help her anyway he could. Being a sovereign citizen he’s anti-authority and anti-government. I wonder why he reached out to the Ritchin family back then and why he backtracked on the stand? Hmmm perhaps he thought they would do something for him if he helped convict Kouri? A parasite moving from one host to another was my initial thought on that.

JMO

I didn't watch the actual testimony but him acting is entirely possible based on the descriptions you all have said.

 

[Justice101]

Sorry, to ask stupid questions that many of you have already seen many times but what was (were) the initial things that the investigators found that made Kouri a suspect?

Did the housekeeper come forward about the drugs?

Did they search Kouri's phone and find all the missing texts?

Did others in the family and his friend, come forwards to the investigators saying that Eric had told them that he thought Kouri was trying to kill him?

Is the PCA public knowledge and posted anywhere?

thanks

 

[Justice101]

IMO, they are both grifters from way back. She saw to improve her status in life with ER and then brought on JG to take care of the love fantasy. I just cant get past the almost incestuous relationship in the R family . At what point is it marital money and marital possessions in a marriage?? I get that she stole but a wife of 9 years doesn;t even get what she is allowed by law in a normal divorce??? KatR gives her permission??? Does her strange husband CB ask her permission to spend her/their money. I think KoR is guilty but the arrangements she was living under while married and in that family would not go well with me, all JMO.

Yes I see your point but Kouri probably thought this arrangement would improve her lifestyle never having to worry about money again. it happens.

 

[tlcya]

4:23 p.m. Lewis asks Grossman why he told prosecutors that Kouri asked if he had ever killed anyone. He says they had gone a year without speaking to each other, but heard the interview Kouri did about her book. Then he found out she had been arrested. “After I found that out, I was overwhelmed with guilt, sorrow, my wrongdoings, and infidelity.” Grossman tried to get a hold of Eric’s sister. She wasn’t home, so he spoke with her husband. Grossman called the family’s private investigator. The P.I. said Kouri had done it. “That’s changed everything for me,” “I was looking at everything from our past with a different set of goggles on. If she did it, and I could help, that’s what I was gonna do.”


How on earth did Lewis think this question would help Kouri?

She just drew attention to Kouri's consciousness of guilt and her interest in comparing notes with him.

On another note, I've tried putting myself in his shoes, and I'm sure he thinks if he hadn't complained about Kouri being married, Eric would still be alive. He needs to understand that it was for Eric's money and escaping her marriage with all his assets, which a divorce wouldn't provide. I don't think she knows what to love is, he was just there because he made her feel loved. He was merely her narcissistic supply. IMO

BBM exactly. Lewis should never have asked that question. I know she was trying to highlight the point that he thought his love was innocent until that mean old PI the family (estate) hired said Kouri was guilty. But The answer Josh gave rang as truth, in retrospect, he believes she did it and was gutted by his own association with the crime, even tangentially. This is another nail in her client's proverbial coffin.

 

[Justice101]

BBM exactly. Lewis should never have asked that question. I know she was trying to highlight the point that he thought his love was innocent until that mean old PI the family (estate) hired said Kouri was guilty. But The answer Josh gave rang as truth, in retrospect, he believes she did it and was gutted by his own association with the crime, even tangentially. This is another nail in her client's proverbial coffin.

Agree. Except we haven't heard the defense's side of all of this.

Will there be a witness saying Eric used drugs in his past?
Will there be any new witnesses brought forward by the defense?

 

[aamillaa]

The state hasn’t brought up any evidence related to the VDay sandwich poisoning, right? I wonder if something’s coming since they added that attempted charge.

 

[tlcya]

Agree. Except we haven't heard the defense's side of all of this.

Will there be a witness saying Eric used drugs in his past?
Will there be any new witnesses brought forward by the defense?

I suspect the defense will attempt to portray Eric Richins as a philandering, financially controlling, drug addled, bully, who kept Kouri under his thumb and who tried to stomp on her dream of being a mover and shaker, all while simultaneously claiming their client had nothing to do with his death.

MOO They will take a two pronged approach: Eric killed himself with illicit drug abuse, but also he was a mean abuser who would have deserved to die IF our client had killed him, which, of course, she didn't.

 

[aamillaa]

Also - thinking about the last two days, if I was a juror:

Forensic accountant:
Direct - KRs finances were a mess
Cross - KR sent an email about her marriage being an inconvience

Divorce Attorney
Direct - ER thinking about a divorce
Cross - nothing really stands out

Estate Attorney
Direct - ER didn’t trust KR
Cross - KR stole $250k from ER and was trying to force cremation, maybe had a bankruptcy lawyer

RG
Direct - Has an affair with KR
Cross - She wrote a book after ERs death and RG wasn’t surprised, RG starting thinking she was guilty BEFORE talking to LE and HE reached out to ER family, investigators, etc, KR asked ER if he ever killed anyone


WHAT IS THE DEFENSE DOING?!?! If KR is convicted, I think she may have a shot at ineffective consul bc this is RIDICULOUS

 

[aamillaa]

MOO They will take a two pronged approach: Eric killed himself with illicit drug abuse, but also he was a mean abuser who would have deserved to die IF our client had killed him, which, of course, she didn't.

Snipped by me.

I agree. And I wonder if that’s why state used RG’s redirect to focus on his AND KR’s opinion ER was a “phenomenal father”

 

[Megnut]

Also - thinking about the last two days, if I was a juror:

Forensic accountant:
Direct - KRs finances were a mess
Cross - KR sent an email about her marriage being an inconvience

Divorce Attorney
Direct - ER thinking about a divorce
Cross - nothing really stands out

Estate Attorney
Direct - ER didn’t trust KR
Cross - KR stole $250k from ER and was trying to force cremation, maybe had a bankruptcy lawyer

RG
Direct - Has an affair with KR
Cross - She wrote a book after ERs death and RG wasn’t surprised, RG starting thinking she was guilty BEFORE talking to LE and HE reached out to ER family, investigators, etc, KR asked ER if he ever killed anyone


WHAT IS THE DEFENSE DOING?!?! If KR is convicted, I think she may have a shot at ineffective consul bc this is RIDICULOUS

That's just it -- ineffective strategy is not ineffective counsel. They are putting on an effective defense but it's a strategy. IMO you don't get a new trial because of a failed strategy.

 

[Megnut]

Do we know why there's a delay this morning?

 

[Megnut]

Snipped by me.

I agree. And I wonder if that’s why state used RG’s redirect to focus on his AND KR’s opinion ER was a “phenomenal father”

Another backfire.

Angling for the jury to seize on KR's compliment as some kind of proof she wouldn't then kill him.

But south overwhelming evidence that she did kill him, it goes to her ruthless motive. She didn't care about him as a father. His death was a means to secure cash.

Cold. As. Hell.

JMO

 

[JoeFromLB]

So I'm looking at the latest headline, Kouri's boyfriend crying on the stand?!
This is like a bad soap opera, except an innocent man was killed.
I'll be glad when this is over and she's sent away.

 

[Megnut]

Live in about 30m