Topline: A Summit County detective testifies about a suspicious letter found in the Utah mom’s prison cell.
Published: March 14, 2026 6:00 am ET
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Background: Kouri Richins, in court May 2024 (via AP); inset: Eric and Kouri Richins (via Skye Lazaro)
PARK CITY, UT — A lead investigator testified March 10 that a letter found in Kouri Richins’ jail cell outlined a false narrative for her family to tell her defense attorney.
Summit County Sheriff’s Detective Jeff O’Driscoll, the final witness for the prosecution, presented the six-page document titled “Walk the Dog!!” to the jury. Prosecutors allege the letter, found inside a book in Richin’s cell in 2023, instructed her mother to tell her brother he needed to say Eric Richins obtained fentanyl from Mexico, as reported by KSL.
The letter stated the brother should tell attorneys he knew Eric Richins “just gets high every night,” according to the testimony. Richins wrote that the connection to Mexico and drugs had to be made to “bring her home.” Defense attorneys argued the letter contained a fictional story.
Kouri Richins, 35, is charged with aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder. She is accused of fatally poisoning her husband, Eric Richins, on March 4, 2022. The defense team rested its case without calling a single witness, according to Fox 13 Utah.
O’Driscoll testified he reviewed Eric Richins’ prescription history and found it limited. He said he found text messages between the couple regarding the use of THC gummies but no evidence of heavy drug use.
The detective also testified about a children’s book Kouri Richins wrote about grief following her husband’s death. O’Driscoll said Richins claimed on a television program that it was the first children’s book about losing a parent.
The sheriff’s office received the book in an anonymous package with a note describing Richins as a devoted wife. A subpoena to Amazon later revealed Richins’ mother sent the package. O’Driscoll said texts showed a ghostwriter wrote the book for $10,000.
Jurors heard recorded phone calls between Richins and her mother, Lisa Darden. In one call, Richins denied allegations that she had poisoned a sandwich, calling the claims a lie.
O’Driscoll testified that investigators identified Carmen Lauber through phone records. Lauber, a house cleaner for the family, previously testified she sold drugs to Richins. Police searched Lauber’s home and found drug paraphernalia, a firearm and a copy of Eric Richins’ obituary.
The detective said Lauber participated in six interviews totaling 10 hours. He testified that Lauber initially minimized her involvement but eventually admitted to burying drugs in a fire pit at a home as directed by Richins.
Lauber briefly returned to the witness stand March 11. She confirmed she violated drug court conditions by attending a concert and possessing alcohol.
The prosecution also presented a journal entry written by Richins from the night before her husband died. The entry described the couple having a celebratory drink after Eric Richins returned from a hunting trip in Mexico.
In the entry, Richins wrote about finding her husband cold and rocking in a corner while responders performed CPR. She wrote that she vomited after learning he had died.
During cross-examination, defense attorney Kathy Nester questioned O’Driscoll about gaps in the investigation. O’Driscoll admitted he did not know how the fentanyl entered Eric Richins’ system beyond oral ingestion.
He also confirmed investigators did not test the specific pills allegedly passed from Lauber to Richins. O’Driscoll acknowledged a Google search on Eric Richins’ phone about driving distances to Mexico, where the husband had been hunting.
Richins faces additional charges of insurance fraud and forgery. O’Driscoll is scheduled to return to the stand March 12.
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 Trial: Top Investigator Reveals ‘Walk the Dog!!’ Letter
A Summit County detective testifies about a suspicious letter found in the Utah mom’s prison cell.
By Kate Byrd
Published: March 14, 2026 6:00 am ET
Background: Kouri Richins, in court May 2024 (via AP); inset: Eric and Kouri Richins (via Skye Lazaro)
PARK CITY, UT — A lead investigator testified March 10 that a letter found in Kouri Richins’ jail cell outlined a false narrative for her family to tell her defense attorney.
Summit County Sheriff’s Detective Jeff O’Driscoll, the final witness for the prosecution, presented the six-page document titled “Walk the Dog!!” to the jury. Prosecutors allege the letter, found inside a book in Richin’s cell in 2023, instructed her mother to tell her brother he needed to say Eric Richins obtained fentanyl from Mexico, as reported by KSL.
The letter stated the brother should tell attorneys he knew Eric Richins “just gets high every night,” according to the testimony. Richins wrote that the connection to Mexico and drugs had to be made to “bring her home.” Defense attorneys argued the letter contained a fictional story.
Kouri Richins, 35, is charged with aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder. She is accused of fatally poisoning her husband, Eric Richins, on March 4, 2022. The defense team rested its case without calling a single witness, according to Fox 13 Utah.
O’Driscoll testified he reviewed Eric Richins’ prescription history and found it limited. He said he found text messages between the couple regarding the use of THC gummies but no evidence of heavy drug use.
The detective also testified about a children’s book Kouri Richins wrote about grief following her husband’s death. O’Driscoll said Richins claimed on a television program that it was the first children’s book about losing a parent.
The sheriff’s office received the book in an anonymous package with a note describing Richins as a devoted wife. A subpoena to Amazon later revealed Richins’ mother sent the package. O’Driscoll said texts showed a ghostwriter wrote the book for $10,000.
Jurors heard recorded phone calls between Richins and her mother, Lisa Darden. In one call, Richins denied allegations that she had poisoned a sandwich, calling the claims a lie.
O’Driscoll testified that investigators identified Carmen Lauber through phone records. Lauber, a house cleaner for the family, previously testified she sold drugs to Richins. Police searched Lauber’s home and found drug paraphernalia, a firearm and a copy of Eric Richins’ obituary.
The detective said Lauber participated in six interviews totaling 10 hours. He testified that Lauber initially minimized her involvement but eventually admitted to burying drugs in a fire pit at a home as directed by Richins.
Lauber briefly returned to the witness stand March 11. She confirmed she violated drug court conditions by attending a concert and possessing alcohol.
The prosecution also presented a journal entry written by Richins from the night before her husband died. The entry described the couple having a celebratory drink after Eric Richins returned from a hunting trip in Mexico.
In the entry, Richins wrote about finding her husband cold and rocking in a corner while responders performed CPR. She wrote that she vomited after learning he had died.
During cross-examination, defense attorney Kathy Nester questioned O’Driscoll about gaps in the investigation. O’Driscoll admitted he did not know how the fentanyl entered Eric Richins’ system beyond oral ingestion.
He also confirmed investigators did not test the specific pills allegedly passed from Lauber to Richins. O’Driscoll acknowledged a Google search on Eric Richins’ phone about driving distances to Mexico, where the husband had been hunting.
Richins faces additional charges of insurance fraud and forgery. O’Driscoll is scheduled to return to the stand March 12.
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
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Kouri Richins Trial: Top Investigator Reveals ‘Walk the Dog!!’ Letter
A Summit County detective testifies about a suspicious letter found in the Utah mom’s prison cell.
By Kate Byrd
Published: March 14, 2026 6:00 am ET
Background: Kouri Richins, in court May 2024 (via AP); inset: Eric and Kouri Richins (via Skye Lazaro)
PARK CITY, UT — A lead investigator testified March 10 that a letter found in Kouri Richins’ jail cell outlined a false narrative for her family to tell her defense attorney.
Summit County Sheriff’s Detective Jeff O’Driscoll, the final witness for the prosecution, presented the six-page document titled “Walk the Dog!!” to the jury. Prosecutors allege the letter, found inside a book in Richin’s cell in 2023, instructed her mother to tell her brother he needed to say Eric Richins obtained fentanyl from Mexico, as reported by KSL.
The letter stated the brother should tell attorneys he knew Eric Richins “just gets high every night,” according to the testimony. Richins wrote that the connection to Mexico and drugs had to be made to “bring her home.” Defense attorneys argued the letter contained a fictional story.
Kouri Richins, 35, is charged with aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder. She is accused of fatally poisoning her husband, Eric Richins, on March 4, 2022. The defense team rested its case without calling a single witness, according to Fox 13 Utah.
O’Driscoll testified he reviewed Eric Richins’ prescription history and found it limited. He said he found text messages between the couple regarding the use of THC gummies but no evidence of heavy drug use.
The detective also testified about a children’s book Kouri Richins wrote about grief following her husband’s death. O’Driscoll said Richins claimed on a television program that it was the first children’s book about losing a parent.
The sheriff’s office received the book in an anonymous package with a note describing Richins as a devoted wife. A subpoena to Amazon later revealed Richins’ mother sent the package. O’Driscoll said texts showed a ghostwriter wrote the book for $10,000.
Jurors heard recorded phone calls between Richins and her mother, Lisa Darden. In one call, Richins denied allegations that she had poisoned a sandwich, calling the claims a lie.
O’Driscoll testified that investigators identified Carmen Lauber through phone records. Lauber, a house cleaner for the family, previously testified she sold drugs to Richins. Police searched Lauber’s home and found drug paraphernalia, a firearm and a copy of Eric Richins’ obituary.
The detective said Lauber participated in six interviews totaling 10 hours. He testified that Lauber initially minimized her involvement but eventually admitted to burying drugs in a fire pit at a home as directed by Richins.
Lauber briefly returned to the witness stand March 11. She confirmed she violated drug court conditions by attending a concert and possessing alcohol.
The prosecution also presented a journal entry written by Richins from the night before her husband died. The entry described the couple having a celebratory drink after Eric Richins returned from a hunting trip in Mexico.
In the entry, Richins wrote about finding her husband cold and rocking in a corner while responders performed CPR. She wrote that she vomited after learning he had died.
During cross-examination, defense attorney Kathy Nester questioned O’Driscoll about gaps in the investigation. O’Driscoll admitted he did not know how the fentanyl entered Eric Richins’ system beyond oral ingestion.
He also confirmed investigators did not test the specific pills allegedly passed from Lauber to Richins. O’Driscoll acknowledged a Google search on Eric Richins’ phone about driving distances to Mexico, where the husband had been hunting.
Richins faces additional charges of insurance fraud and forgery. O’Driscoll is scheduled to return to the stand March 12.
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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