Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of murder and substance abuse. Reader discretion is advised.
CBS 48 Hours looks into the case against Utah children’s book author Kouri Richins, who is now facing charges for the murder of her husband, Eric Richins. The upcoming episode titled “The People v. Kouri Richins” will air on the network this Saturday, February 24, 2024, at 10 p.m. ET.
A synopsis says, “When her husband is found dead of an apparent overdose, Kouri Richins writes a children’s book about grief. Soon after she’s charged with his murder. 48 Hours contributor Natalie Morales reports.”
Kouri, a Utah real estate agent, wrote a children’s book to cope with the grief of losing after Eric Richins’ death in 2022. She is now facing first-degree aggravated murder and other charges related to Eric’s death. People Magazine stated that she remains accused of killing Eric by lacing his cocktail with lethal amounts of fentanyl.
The outlet reported that after Eric’s March 2022 death, Kouri told investigators that she made him a bedtime cocktail. A medical examiner confirmed that the victim had five times the lethal amount of “illicit” fentanyl in his system when he died. The accused is also facing witness tampering allegations while she remains in custody, reported CNN.
What happened to Kouri Richins’ husband, Eric Richins?
According to NBC News, on March 4, 2022, Eric Richins died after he was found unresponsive in the bedroom of their Kamas home. The incident occurred after the 39-year-old had a drink to celebrate his wife’s business deal. The medical examiner later claimed that he had five times the lethal dosage of fentanyl in his system. The examiner said that the fentanyl was “illicit” and not medical grade and believed that the victim ingested the drugs orally.
Kouri Richins told authorities that she and Eric were celebrating after she closed on a home for her business. Kouri claimed she made her husband a Moscow mule in the kitchen and brought it to their bedroom. The latter drank it while sitting in bed, and she then fell asleep in one of her children’s rooms. The mother claimed that she woke up, went to the room, and found Eric cold to the touch.
The Guardian reported that before his death, Eric Richins had told friends and family he believed Kouri was trying to poison him. Weeks before his strange demise, Eric became violently ill after having dinner with Kouri on Valentine’s Day. He reportedly broke out in hives and had trouble breathing until he used his son’s EpiPen and took Benadryl. Court records state that Kouri Richins allegedly bought $900 worth of fentanyl pills before this dinner. She later bought $900 more in pills before Eric’s death.
Prosecutors have alleged that Eric Richins’ murder was possibly financially motivated, per The New York Post. The couple was allegedly having financial disagreements over Kouri Richins’ wishes to buy a $2 million under-construction mansion back then. They alleged that she wanted to flip the mansion and sell it for a profit. However, the victim thought it was too expensive. Moreover, Kouri had purchased four different life insurance policies for her husband, totaling more than $1.9 million between 2015 and 2017.
Investigators learned that in January 2022, Kouri tried to change Eric’s life insurance policy with his business partner, Cody Wright. She unsuccessfully tried to list herself as the beneficiary by removing Wright. Eric then replaced his sister with Kouri from his will. CBS News stated that family members suggested the victim was seeking to divorce Kouri.
CBS further reported that an unnamed informant claimed she dealt Kouri Richins hydrocodone and fentanyl. This occurred in the weeks and months before her husband’s death. Kouri reportedly told the dealer that the drugs were for an investor’s back pain. The dealer alleged that Richins purchased the hydrocodone before Valentine’s Day when she tried to poison Eric, but he survived. Following the failed attempt, Kouri requested stronger drugs.
On March 5, 2023, a year after Eric’s death, Kouri published a book titled Are You With Me?, reported The Guardian. According to the book’s description, she wrote it “to create peace and comfort for children who have lost a loved one.” As reported by NBC News, authorities eventually arrested Kouri on charges of aggravated murder and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. She is currently awaiting trial.
CBS 48 Hours‘ episode on Kouri Richins’ case will premiere on February 24, 2024.
