Topline: Attorneys for the Utah mother accused of killing her husband declined to call witnesses as testimony ends.
Published: March 15, 2026 6:00 am ET
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Kouri Richins (via KUTV)
PARK CITY, UT — Prosecutors and defense attorneys rested their cases in the murder trial of Kouri Richins, a Kamas mother accused of fatally poisoning her husband with fentanyl in March 2022.
The prosecution finished its presentation of evidence before the lunch break on March 12, as reported by KSL. Defense attorneys immediately moved for a directed verdict, arguing there was insufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to convict the real estate agent.
Third District Judge Richard Mrazik denied the motion. Following the break, the defense announced it would call no witnesses, and Kouri Richins formally waived her right to testify in her own defense.
Lead investigator Jeff O’Driscoll, a detective with the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, provided the final testimony for the prosecution. According to KBOI, O’Driscoll confirmed that a four-year investigation involving search warrants did not turn up any fentanyl inside the home.
Under questioning from defense attorney Kathy Nester, O’Driscoll confirmed that investigators found no murder weapon or fentanyl connected to the death of Eric Richins.
“There was a boatload of fentanyl in his stomach that came out of the house with him,” O’Driscoll said, as per KSL.
O’Driscoll testified that investigators found a bag of loose hydrocodone pills in a mudroom cabinet. Testing determined those pills did not contain fentanyl.
The court also heard testimony regarding digital evidence found on the defendant’s phone. An investigator previously testified that three memes were viewed on the phone at 8:29 a.m. the morning Eric Richins died.
The images included a picture of Donald Trump saying “I’m really rich” and a woman using cash to wipe tears from her eyes. Investigators could not confirm if Kouri Richins personally viewed the images or who sent them.
O’Driscoll verified that the user of the phone also viewed photos Eric Richins had sent his wife the previous day. These messages were accessed at the same time as the memes.
Before the jury entered, attorneys debated whether to allow testimony about a man who claimed Eric Richins asked him for fentanyl in 2019. Judge Mrazik previously ruled the statement was hearsay.
The judge said if the defense used that tip to argue the investigation was incomplete, prosecutors could introduce a March 2022 jail call. In that call, the boyfriend of Carmen Lauber reportedly said she had “just made money selling fentanyl.”
Defense attorneys chose not to bring up the 2019 tip. Lauber has been a central figure in the case, as prosecutors allege she provided the drugs used in the killing while working for Kouri Richins.
Kouri Richins faces charges of aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, insurance fraud, and forgery. Prosecutors allege she also attempted to poison her husband on Valentine’s Day in 2022.
Jurors will return March 16 for closing arguments and legal instructions. Deliberations will begin after those statements are completed.
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: Defense Rests Without Witnesses
Attorneys for the Utah mother accused of killing her husband declined to call witnesses as testimony ends.
By Kate Byrd
Published: March 15, 2026 6:00 am ET
Kouri Richins (via KUTV)
PARK CITY, UT — Prosecutors and defense attorneys rested their cases in the murder trial of Kouri Richins, a Kamas mother accused of fatally poisoning her husband with fentanyl in March 2022.
The prosecution finished its presentation of evidence before the lunch break on March 12, as reported by KSL. Defense attorneys immediately moved for a directed verdict, arguing there was insufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to convict the real estate agent.
Third District Judge Richard Mrazik denied the motion. Following the break, the defense announced it would call no witnesses, and Kouri Richins formally waived her right to testify in her own defense.
Lead investigator Jeff O’Driscoll, a detective with the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, provided the final testimony for the prosecution. According to KBOI, O’Driscoll confirmed that a four-year investigation involving search warrants did not turn up any fentanyl inside the home.
Under questioning from defense attorney Kathy Nester, O’Driscoll confirmed that investigators found no murder weapon or fentanyl connected to the death of Eric Richins.
“There was a boatload of fentanyl in his stomach that came out of the house with him,” O’Driscoll said, as per KSL.
O’Driscoll testified that investigators found a bag of loose hydrocodone pills in a mudroom cabinet. Testing determined those pills did not contain fentanyl.
The court also heard testimony regarding digital evidence found on the defendant’s phone. An investigator previously testified that three memes were viewed on the phone at 8:29 a.m. the morning Eric Richins died.
The images included a picture of Donald Trump saying “I’m really rich” and a woman using cash to wipe tears from her eyes. Investigators could not confirm if Kouri Richins personally viewed the images or who sent them.
O’Driscoll verified that the user of the phone also viewed photos Eric Richins had sent his wife the previous day. These messages were accessed at the same time as the memes.
Before the jury entered, attorneys debated whether to allow testimony about a man who claimed Eric Richins asked him for fentanyl in 2019. Judge Mrazik previously ruled the statement was hearsay.
The judge said if the defense used that tip to argue the investigation was incomplete, prosecutors could introduce a March 2022 jail call. In that call, the boyfriend of Carmen Lauber reportedly said she had “just made money selling fentanyl.”
Defense attorneys chose not to bring up the 2019 tip. Lauber has been a central figure in the case, as prosecutors allege she provided the drugs used in the killing while working for Kouri Richins.
Kouri Richins faces charges of aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, insurance fraud, and forgery. Prosecutors allege she also attempted to poison her husband on Valentine’s Day in 2022.
Jurors will return March 16 for closing arguments and legal instructions. Deliberations will begin after those statements are completed.
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.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Kouri Richins Trial: Defense Rests Without Witnesses
Attorneys for the Utah mother accused of killing her husband declined to call witnesses as testimony ends.
By Kate Byrd
Published: March 15, 2026 6:00 am ET
Kouri Richins (via KUTV)
PARK CITY, UT — Prosecutors and defense attorneys rested their cases in the murder trial of Kouri Richins, a Kamas mother accused of fatally poisoning her husband with fentanyl in March 2022.
The prosecution finished its presentation of evidence before the lunch break on March 12, as reported by KSL. Defense attorneys immediately moved for a directed verdict, arguing there was insufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to convict the real estate agent.
Third District Judge Richard Mrazik denied the motion. Following the break, the defense announced it would call no witnesses, and Kouri Richins formally waived her right to testify in her own defense.
Lead investigator Jeff O’Driscoll, a detective with the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, provided the final testimony for the prosecution. According to KBOI, O’Driscoll confirmed that a four-year investigation involving search warrants did not turn up any fentanyl inside the home.
Under questioning from defense attorney Kathy Nester, O’Driscoll confirmed that investigators found no murder weapon or fentanyl connected to the death of Eric Richins.
“There was a boatload of fentanyl in his stomach that came out of the house with him,” O’Driscoll said, as per KSL.
O’Driscoll testified that investigators found a bag of loose hydrocodone pills in a mudroom cabinet. Testing determined those pills did not contain fentanyl.
The court also heard testimony regarding digital evidence found on the defendant’s phone. An investigator previously testified that three memes were viewed on the phone at 8:29 a.m. the morning Eric Richins died.
The images included a picture of Donald Trump saying “I’m really rich” and a woman using cash to wipe tears from her eyes. Investigators could not confirm if Kouri Richins personally viewed the images or who sent them.
O’Driscoll verified that the user of the phone also viewed photos Eric Richins had sent his wife the previous day. These messages were accessed at the same time as the memes.
Before the jury entered, attorneys debated whether to allow testimony about a man who claimed Eric Richins asked him for fentanyl in 2019. Judge Mrazik previously ruled the statement was hearsay.
The judge said if the defense used that tip to argue the investigation was incomplete, prosecutors could introduce a March 2022 jail call. In that call, the boyfriend of Carmen Lauber reportedly said she had “just made money selling fentanyl.”
Defense attorneys chose not to bring up the 2019 tip. Lauber has been a central figure in the case, as prosecutors allege she provided the drugs used in the killing while working for Kouri Richins.
Kouri Richins faces charges of aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, insurance fraud, and forgery. Prosecutors allege she also attempted to poison her husband on Valentine’s Day in 2022.
Jurors will return March 16 for closing arguments and legal instructions. Deliberations will begin after those statements are completed.
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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