Lawyers representing a Utah children’s book author accused of fatally poisoning her husband have alleged that the prosecution’s team is intimidating witnesses, just as jury selection for her highly anticipated murder trial is approaching.
On January 25, Kouri Richins’ defense team submitted a motion requesting the judge to compel prosecutors to disclose all communications with trial witnesses. They cited messages purportedly containing threats of arrest, potential jail time, and the withdrawal of granted immunity.
The court document reveals an account from one witness who reported feeling harassed by a lead detective associated with the prosecution. When this witness opted not to undergo “prep” for her testimony and asked for questions in writing, the detective allegedly threatened her with arrest and incarceration for non-compliance.
The defense team has labeled this behavior as “blatant witness intimidation.”
Kouri Richins, a Utah mother of three and author of a children’s book about dealing with grief following her husband’s death, is seen speaking with her attorney, Kathy Nester, during a court hearing on August 26, 2024, in Park City, Utah. (Rick Bowmer/AP Photo via Pool)
The motion also cites claims from another witness who alleged that a county investigator threatened to revoke previously granted immunity unless they agreed to further meetings with the prosecution. This witness had already cooperated and was initially assured that they were not implicated in any wrongdoing.
The defense argues the alleged conduct may violate Utah’s witness intimidation statute and the state’s Victim and Witness Rights Act, and says the communications must be disclosed under federal rules requiring prosecutors to turn over information that could affect witness credibility.
Prosecutors declined to comment publicly, saying they will respond to the motion through the court because the case is close to trial.
Kouri Richins, the Utah mom of three and children’s book author accused of poisoning her husband to death, now wants charges against her dismissed. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, Pool/ Facebook)
Richins, the Utah mother of three who later wrote and sold a children’s book about grief, “Are You With Me?”, is charged with aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, and multiple financial crimes in the 2022 death of her husband, Eric Richins, 39.
Prosecutors allege Richins poisoned her husband with a cocktail laced with illicit fentanyl while the couple was celebrating at their home in March 2022. A medical examiner determined Eric Richins had more than five times the lethal amount of fentanyl in his system. Charging documents also say his gastric fluid contained 16,000 ng/ml of quetiapine, an antipsychotic medication often used as a sleep aid.
Authorities say the Utah mother previously attempted to poison her husband on Valentine’s Day 2022, slipping fentanyl into his favorite sandwich. Court records say Eric Richins broke out in hives and struggled to breathe after eating the sandwich, using his son’s EpiPen and taking Benadryl before falling asleep for hours. He survived the incident.
Kouri Richins, who wrote a children’s book about coping with grief after her husband’s death and was later accused of fatally poisoning him, during a hearing on May 15, 2024, in Park City, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, Pool)
A witness identified as C.L. told police Richins requested fentanyl earlier that year and that the drugs were delivered to her just days before the Valentine’s Day incident, according to court records previously obtained by Fox News Digital.
Prosecutors allege Richins killed her husband as part of a plan to collect millions of dollars in life insurance proceeds. Court documents say she purchased multiple life insurance policies totaling nearly $2 million, later changing the beneficiary to herself without her husband’s authorization. Eric Richins reportedly discovered the change and switched the beneficiary back to his business partner.
Authorities also allege Richins wanted to use the insurance money to finish and flip a $2 million Wasatch County mansion, an investment Eric Richins’ family said he did not approve of.
Richins has denied the allegations and maintains she did not kill her husband.
Jury selection is scheduled to begin Feb. 10, with trial set to start Feb. 23 before Judge Richard Mrazik. The judge has not yet ruled on the defense motion.
Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.
