Topline: Trial began for the Utah mom accused of killing husband to fund a lavish lifestyle.
Published: February 26, 2026 8:00 am ET
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Kouri Richins on trial for murder at the Summit County Courthouse in Park City, Utah on Feb. 23 (via AP Photo)
PARK CITY, UT — Prosecutors portrayed an Utah mother and children’s book author as a killer motivated by greed during the first day of her trial on Feb. 23 for the fentanyl overdose of her husband.
Kouri Richins, 35, faces felony charges including aggravated murder and attempted murder for the March 2022 death of Eric Richins at their home. As per USA Today, prosecutors alleged she gave her husband five times the lethal dose of fentanyl in a cocktail. She is also accused of attempting to poison him with a fentanyl-laced sandwich a month before his death.
In opening statements on Feb. 23, Summit County prosecutor Brad Bloodworth told the jury that Richins was $4.5 million in debt. According to Bloodworth, she believed she would inherit an estate worth more than $4 million upon her husband’s death. The Associated Press reported that Bloodworth characterized the killing as a way for Richins to maintain a lavish lifestyle and pursue a new partner.
“The evidence will prove that Kouri Richins murdered Eric for his money and to get a fresh start at life,” Bloodworth told the jurors. “More than anything, she wanted his money to perpetuate her facade of privilege, affluence and success,” he continued.
Defense attorney Kathryn Nester urged jurors to wait for the full defense case. She began by playing a recording of the 911 call from the night Eric Richins died. Nester said the sounds of Richins sobbing on the call were those of a wife becoming a widow.
The defense argued that Eric Richins had Lyme disease and an addiction to painkillers. Nester suggested he may have died of an accidental overdose and showed the jury photos of an empty pill bottle on his bedside table.
However, body camera footage from the night of the death showed Kouri Richins telling police her husband had no history of using illicit drugs. She told a Summit County sheriff’s deputy that her husband might have taken a THC gummy before he went to sleep.
Katie Richins-Benson, the sister of the deceased, testified that their mother was a drug counselor who taught them about the dangers of substance use. She also testified that when she arrived at the home the night of the death, Richins appeared well-put together with her hair done.
Before her arrest in May 2023, Richins self-published a children’s book titled “Are You with Me?” about a father watching over his son after death. Prosecutors alleged the book was part of a calculated cover-up and noted she promoted the work on local media.
According to court documents, Richins had opened several life insurance policies on her husband without his knowledge. The benefits of those policies totaled nearly $2 million.
Prosecutors also presented text messages between Richins and Robert Josh Grossman, a man they alleged she was having an affair with. In the messages, she reportedly wrote about leaving her husband and gaining millions in a divorce.
Bloodworth also presented evidence of internet searches found on Richins’ devices. These included queries for “luxury prisons for the rich America” and whether police can force a person to take a lie detector test.
A key witness in the trial is expected to be Carmen Lauber, a housekeeper who claims she sold fentanyl to Richins. The defense argued that Lauber is motivated to lie for legal protection, as she was granted immunity by detectives.
Defense attorneys noted that no fentanyl was found in the house. They also pointed to a sworn affidavit from Lauber’s drug dealer, who stated he only sold her the prescription opioid OxyContin, not fentanyl.
The trial is scheduled to continue through March 26. Richins faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted of the murder charge.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Kouri Richins Accused of Poisoning Husband Before Penning Children’s Grief Book
Trial began for the Utah mom accused of killing husband to fund a lavish lifestyle.
By Kate Byrd
Published: February 26, 2026 8:00 am ET
Kouri Richins on trial for murder at the Summit County Courthouse in Park City, Utah on Feb. 23 (via AP Photo)
PARK CITY, UT — Prosecutors portrayed an Utah mother and children’s book author as a killer motivated by greed during the first day of her trial on Feb. 23 for the fentanyl overdose of her husband.
Kouri Richins, 35, faces felony charges including aggravated murder and attempted murder for the March 2022 death of Eric Richins at their home. As per USA Today, prosecutors alleged she gave her husband five times the lethal dose of fentanyl in a cocktail. She is also accused of attempting to poison him with a fentanyl-laced sandwich a month before his death.
In opening statements on Feb. 23, Summit County prosecutor Brad Bloodworth told the jury that Richins was $4.5 million in debt. According to Bloodworth, she believed she would inherit an estate worth more than $4 million upon her husband’s death. The Associated Press reported that Bloodworth characterized the killing as a way for Richins to maintain a lavish lifestyle and pursue a new partner.
“The evidence will prove that Kouri Richins murdered Eric for his money and to get a fresh start at life,” Bloodworth told the jurors. “More than anything, she wanted his money to perpetuate her facade of privilege, affluence and success,” he continued.
Defense attorney Kathryn Nester urged jurors to wait for the full defense case. She began by playing a recording of the 911 call from the night Eric Richins died. Nester said the sounds of Richins sobbing on the call were those of a wife becoming a widow.
The defense argued that Eric Richins had Lyme disease and an addiction to painkillers. Nester suggested he may have died of an accidental overdose and showed the jury photos of an empty pill bottle on his bedside table.
However, body camera footage from the night of the death showed Kouri Richins telling police her husband had no history of using illicit drugs. She told a Summit County sheriff’s deputy that her husband might have taken a THC gummy before he went to sleep.
Katie Richins-Benson, the sister of the deceased, testified that their mother was a drug counselor who taught them about the dangers of substance use. She also testified that when she arrived at the home the night of the death, Richins appeared well-put together with her hair done.
Before her arrest in May 2023, Richins self-published a children’s book titled “Are You with Me?” about a father watching over his son after death. Prosecutors alleged the book was part of a calculated cover-up and noted she promoted the work on local media.
According to court documents, Richins had opened several life insurance policies on her husband without his knowledge. The benefits of those policies totaled nearly $2 million.
Prosecutors also presented text messages between Richins and Robert Josh Grossman, a man they alleged she was having an affair with. In the messages, she reportedly wrote about leaving her husband and gaining millions in a divorce.
Bloodworth also presented evidence of internet searches found on Richins’ devices. These included queries for “luxury prisons for the rich America” and whether police can force a person to take a lie detector test.
A key witness in the trial is expected to be Carmen Lauber, a housekeeper who claims she sold fentanyl to Richins. The defense argued that Lauber is motivated to lie for legal protection, as she was granted immunity by detectives.
Defense attorneys noted that no fentanyl was found in the house. They also pointed to a sworn affidavit from Lauber’s drug dealer, who stated he only sold her the prescription opioid OxyContin, not fentanyl.
The trial is scheduled to continue through March 26. Richins faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted of the murder charge.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Kouri Richins Accused of Poisoning Husband Before Penning Children’s Grief Book
Trial began for the Utah mom accused of killing husband to fund a lavish lifestyle.
By Kate Byrd
Published: February 26, 2026 8:00 am ET
Kouri Richins on trial for murder at the Summit County Courthouse in Park City, Utah on Feb. 23 (via AP Photo)
PARK CITY, UT — Prosecutors portrayed an Utah mother and children’s book author as a killer motivated by greed during the first day of her trial on Feb. 23 for the fentanyl overdose of her husband.
Kouri Richins, 35, faces felony charges including aggravated murder and attempted murder for the March 2022 death of Eric Richins at their home. As per USA Today, prosecutors alleged she gave her husband five times the lethal dose of fentanyl in a cocktail. She is also accused of attempting to poison him with a fentanyl-laced sandwich a month before his death.
In opening statements on Feb. 23, Summit County prosecutor Brad Bloodworth told the jury that Richins was $4.5 million in debt. According to Bloodworth, she believed she would inherit an estate worth more than $4 million upon her husband’s death. The Associated Press reported that Bloodworth characterized the killing as a way for Richins to maintain a lavish lifestyle and pursue a new partner.
“The evidence will prove that Kouri Richins murdered Eric for his money and to get a fresh start at life,” Bloodworth told the jurors. “More than anything, she wanted his money to perpetuate her facade of privilege, affluence and success,” he continued.
Defense attorney Kathryn Nester urged jurors to wait for the full defense case. She began by playing a recording of the 911 call from the night Eric Richins died. Nester said the sounds of Richins sobbing on the call were those of a wife becoming a widow.
The defense argued that Eric Richins had Lyme disease and an addiction to painkillers. Nester suggested he may have died of an accidental overdose and showed the jury photos of an empty pill bottle on his bedside table.
However, body camera footage from the night of the death showed Kouri Richins telling police her husband had no history of using illicit drugs. She told a Summit County sheriff’s deputy that her husband might have taken a THC gummy before he went to sleep.
Katie Richins-Benson, the sister of the deceased, testified that their mother was a drug counselor who taught them about the dangers of substance use. She also testified that when she arrived at the home the night of the death, Richins appeared well-put together with her hair done.
Before her arrest in May 2023, Richins self-published a children’s book titled “Are You with Me?” about a father watching over his son after death. Prosecutors alleged the book was part of a calculated cover-up and noted she promoted the work on local media.
According to court documents, Richins had opened several life insurance policies on her husband without his knowledge. The benefits of those policies totaled nearly $2 million.
Prosecutors also presented text messages between Richins and Robert Josh Grossman, a man they alleged she was having an affair with. In the messages, she reportedly wrote about leaving her husband and gaining millions in a divorce.
Bloodworth also presented evidence of internet searches found on Richins’ devices. These included queries for “luxury prisons for the rich America” and whether police can force a person to take a lie detector test.
A key witness in the trial is expected to be Carmen Lauber, a housekeeper who claims she sold fentanyl to Richins. The defense argued that Lauber is motivated to lie for legal protection, as she was granted immunity by detectives.
Defense attorneys noted that no fentanyl was found in the house. They also pointed to a sworn affidavit from Lauber’s drug dealer, who stated he only sold her the prescription opioid OxyContin, not fentanyl.
The trial is scheduled to continue through March 26. Richins faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted of the murder charge.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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