The death of Eric Richins
In March 2022, Eric Richins, a father of 3 young sons died following an overdose of fentanyl at his Utah home. According to his wife Kouri, who was a real estate agent at the time, she and Eric were celebrating the closing of a sale on a house she had sold.
Kouri made Eric a Moscow Mule cocktail and took it into their bedroom where he proceeded to drink it. When questioned by investigators later, she said she went to bed and woke up around 3AM to one of her sons having a nightmare. Upon returning to their bedroom, she found Eric cold to the touch.
First responders arrived to find Eric on the floor at the foot of the bed. They commenced lifesaving measures but all attempts were ultimately unsuccessful and Eric Richins was pronounced dead in the early morning hours of March 4 2022.
Digital evidence
While speaking with investigators, Kouri stated she’d left her phone plugged in when she got up to check on her son. A search of her mobile phone lead investigators to discover her phone had been locked and unlocked multiple times between the time she was supposedly in her son’s bedroom and the 911 call. Furthermore, court documents allege she sent and received messages during that time as well, but the messages were later deleted.
A deep dive revealed Kouri’s communications with a person identified as ‘CL.’ Kouri contacted CL with a request for help obtaining prescription pain medication. CL appeared to have helped and Kouri returned with another request for something stronger - or in her words, “some of the Michael Jackson stuff.” CL sold her between 15-30 fentanyl pills for which Kouri paid $900 on February 11 2022.
Eric became ill after a Valentine’s Day meal at their home on February 14. Only 2 weeks later, Kouri again contacted CL with a request for additional pills. Again, CL provided them for $900. Eric died from a fentanyl overdose 6 days later. He was 39.
Children’s book author
After Eric’s death, Kouri hired a company to ghost write Are You With Me? a children’s book she says was an attempt to help their young boys process their father’s death and reassure them. She appeared on local news stations to promote her book and her story, only to be charged with Eric’s murder 2 months after the book was published.
The trial
Kouri Richins is currently incarcerated and awaiting trial which has been delayed indefinitely. Initially represented by private defense attorney Skye Lazaro, a lack of funds and yet to be determined conflicts behind the scenes have left Kouri in the hands of new counsel as of May 24 2024. She will be represented by public defenders Kathy Nester and Wendy Lewis who were appointed by court order.
A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for August 26 - 28. Kouri maintains her innocence.
