In a dramatic conclusion to a high-profile case in Utah, Kouri Richins was found guilty of murdering her husband by spiking his Moscow Mule with a deadly dose of fentanyl in 2022. The jury, after a swift deliberation lasting less than three hours, convicted the former realtor and children’s author at the end of a 15-day trial.
The verdict didn’t stop at murder; Richins was also convicted of attempted murder, insurance fraud, and forgery. This marks a significant downfall for a woman who once penned a children’s book about dealing with the loss of a parent.
The story of Kouri Richins and her husband Eric began to unravel back in 2020. According to court documents, Eric had discovered that his wife was allegedly abusing and mismanaging their finances. In response to this betrayal, Eric took decisive action by removing Kouri as the beneficiary from his life insurance policy. He also transferred his company’s trust and his residence to his sister, effectively cutting Kouri out.
The chilling details of the crime emerged during the trial. Kouri was accused of concocting a lethal Moscow Mule, laced with fentanyl in amounts five times greater than the lethal dose, in March 2022. The subsequent death of Eric Richins shocked the community, especially with Kouri’s later attempt to address grief through her children’s book.
Eric Richins subsequently removed Kouri Richins as the beneficiary from his life insurance policy, and transferred the trust to his company interest and residence to his sister.
Kouri Richins was accused of lacing a Moscow Mule she made for her husband with five times the lethal amount of fentanyl in March 2022. Afterward, she wrote a children’s book about children coping with the sudden loss of a parent.
Prosecutors said she was having an affair at the time of the murder, and her boyfriend testified during the trial.
She is also facing multiple financial charges for lines of credit she allegedly took out on property and and her husband owned without his knowledge. A separate trial will be held on those charges.
Richins’ sentencing was scheduled for May 13.
