Kouri Richins wrote a children’s book to help her sons cope with losing their dad, and a jury just decided in three hours that she killed him

A Salt Lake City jury convicted Utah mom Kouri Richins on all charges related to the poisoning death of her husband, Eric Richins, after deliberating for just under three hours. The 35-year-old had famously written a children’s book about grief following her husband’s death.

According to The Independent, Richins was found guilty of aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, two counts of insurance fraud, and forgery. She had previously pleaded not guilty to all charges. Prosecutors argued that Richins secretly put a lethal dose of fentanyl into a Moscow Mule cocktail she made for her husband at their home near Park City, Utah. The amount of fentanyl was reportedly five times what would be considered lethal.

Prosecutors spent three weeks presenting testimony from over 40 witnesses. Summit County prosecutor Brad Bloodworth argued in closing statements that Richins intentionally killed Eric for his money, describing her as an “incompetent” business owner who had built up thousands in debt. He told the jury she “wanted to leave Eric but did not want to leave his money,” adding, “She was a risk taker. There was a way forward. Eric had to die.”

The prosecution built a strong case around money, an affair, and disturbing internet searches

The court heard about Richins’ affair with contractor Robert Josh Grossman, with whom she planned a future after leaving her husband. Prosecutors also revealed she had opened several life insurance policies on Eric without his knowledge, totaling around $2 million. Text messages between Richins and Grossman showing these plans were presented to the jury. Cases where a mother’s actions put her family at risk have continued to make headlines across the country.

Digital forensic analysts testified about internet searches from Richins’ phone, including queries like “what is a lethal.dose.of.fetanayl,” “luxury prisons for the rich America,” and “if someone is poisned what does it go down on the death certificate as.” A friend, Becky Lloyd, testified that Richins felt “trapped” in her marriage and said “in many ways, it would be better if he were dead.”

The children’s book, titled Are You with Me?, which Richins self-published a year after Eric’s death to help their sons cope with loss, became a significant part of the prosecution’s case. They argued it was an attempt to control the story around Eric’s death. After her arrest, investigators received an anonymous package containing the book and a note defending her, which was later traced back to Richins’ mother.

Richins’ defense team chose not to present a case, and she waived her right to testify. Defense attorney Wendy Lewis argued the state had not proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt, saying, “They haven’t done their job, and now they want you to make inferences based on paper-thin evidence.” 

Lewis pointed out that no fentanyl was found in the house, apart from what was in Eric’s stomach, and suggested Eric had his own access to drugs. Shocking incidents where a chaotic situation led to someone’s death have shown how quickly events can turn fatal. However, Richins had told police on the night of her husband’s death that he had no history of illicit drug use, which contradicted the defense’s later claims.

Jurors also saw excerpts from a letter found in Richins’ jail cell, which prosecutors said appeared to instruct her brother to lie about Eric’s alleged fentanyl use. The defense maintained the letter was part of a fictional story Richins was writing. The aggravated murder charge carries a sentence of 25 years to life in prison, and Richins will be sentenced on May 13.