Kouri Richins, a mother and author from Utah was sentenced to life without parole for aggravated murder for fatally poisoning her husband, Eric Richins in March 2022. The sentencing took place on May 13, 2026 in Park City, Utah.
Eric Richins, 39, was found dead in the couple’s home in Kamas, Utah, in the early morning hours of March 4, 2026. Earlier that night, Kouri and Eric were having a drink to celebrate a successful transaction with her real estate business, according to a statement Kouri gave law enforcement. Kouri told police that one of their children was having nightmares, so Kouri went to sleep in the child’s bedroom around 9:30pm. When she returned to the master bedroom about six hours later, she said, she found her husband dead in their bed.
Early 2022, prosecutors allege Kouri Richins asked her housekeeper to procure fentanyl for her. Court documents showed that the housekeeper provided Richins the fentanyl. According to CNN The autopsy revealed Eric Richins died of fentanyl overdose, with roughly five times a lethal dose in his bloodstream. There were arguments made by prosecutors claiming that Kouri Richins slipped drugs into his drink the night of his death, although there was no evidence supporting this theory at the trial. More than 40 witnesses were called, including Eric Richins’ grieving family members, people who exchanged the illicit drugs that are said to have killed him, Kouri Richins’ paramour and a private investigator hired by the victim’s family.
Kouri made several bold statements in court but the one that was reported the most bold was when she stated that she told the court the guilty verdict against her was an “absolute lie.” She also made another statement that was addressed to her sons directly.
“As much as you’ve been influenced into thinking that dad was murdered, that I took your dad from you, that is completely wrong. An absolute lie,” Richins said as she sniffled and wiped her nose with tissues. “And the thought of that is still as absurd today as it was four years ago.”
Kouri Richin’s three sons have made several statements saying that they are very scared of her and wish she never gets out. “You took away everything from me and my brothers. I don’t want you out of jail because I will not feel safe if you are out,” the couple’s middle child, identified as ‘A.R.,’ wrote. “You have never said sorry for anything that you have done to me or my brothers. I don’t want you to hurt anyone again.”
Overall, the case became one of the most talked about trials in Utah because of the shocking details and emotional statements made in court. Now that Kouri Richins has been sentenced to life without parole, the trial is over, but Eric Richins’ family and children will continue dealing with the loss and impact of the case for years to come.
