ERIC RICHINS: Utah vs. Kouri Richins - Murder via fentanyl poisoning *TRIAL IN PROGRESS* (12 Viewers)

Utah mom accused of killing husband with fentanyl in drink tried to poison him multiple times before, family says

Despite the suspicions, Eric Richins stayed in the marriage with Kouri Richins because of his children, his family's spokesperson said.

www.nbcnews.com

May 10, 2023, 6:16 PM EDT / Updated May 11, 2023, 9:18 AM EDT
By Minyvonne Burke, Antonio Planas and Andrew Blankstein

A Utah man who died after his wife allegedly spiked his drink with fentanyl — and then wrote a children's book about grief — had suspected she tried to poison him multiple times and said “she was to blame” if anything happened to him, according to court records.

Despite the suspicions, a family spokesperson told NBC News on Wednesday that Eric Richins stayed in the marriage with Kouri Richins because of his children.


Eric Richins, 39, died March 4, 2022, at his home in Kamas, about 40 miles southeast of Salt Lake City, after he was found unresponsive in his bedroom. Kouri Richins, 33, was arrested Monday on charges of aggravated murder and three counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

An attorney for Kouri Richins, Skye Lazaro, declined to comment Wednesday.

According to affidavits for search warrants obtained Wednesday from the Summit County Sheriff's Office, relatives of Eric Richins told investigators to look into his wife's involvement.

"They advised he warned them that if anything happened to him she was to blame," the records said. Eric Richins, according to the records, suspected his wife had tried to poison him on multiple occasions.

"According to a sister, Eric and his wife went to Greece a few years ago and after his wife gave him a drink he became violently ill and called his sister saying he believed his wife had tried to kill him," the records said.

"On Valentine’s Day of 2022, his wife brought him a sandwich, which after one bite Eric broke into hives and couldn’t breathe. He used his son’s epi-pen as well as Benadryl before passing out for several hours," according to the records.

He was looking into a divorce and had changed his power of attorney, his will and the beneficiary of his life insurance policy from his wife to his sister, the records said.

Two family members said Eric Richins told them he was worried “Kouri would kill him for money and he wanted to make sure the kids were taken care of financially,” the records said.

<snip>

The medical examiner said that he had five times the lethal dosage of fentanyl in his system and that it was "illicit" fentanyl, not medical-grade. It is also believed he ingested the drugs orally, according to the statement.

It appears she never performed CPR on him as she claimed, the search warrant records said, because of the large amount of blood that came from his mouth.

His family said that Eric Richins never told his wife he had “cut her out of the will” and that the couple were also arguing over buying a $2 million home that she wanted to flip, according to the records.

The family said he was planning to tell her he wasn’t going to sign the papers, but the day after his death, she signed the closing papers on the home, the records said.

After she closed on the home, she invited her friends over for a large party at her home where she was drinking and celebrating, an affidavit for a search warrant said.

 

[GrandmaBear]

THC gummies, etc. evidence allowed in

Assault on Eric's sister when she found out she was not in control of Eric's estate but his sister was, judge ruled for D saying the prejudicial impact outweights probative value.

Finances, debts, deals, her credit behavior, etc. Kouri wanted excluded seller financing her friend on a home in exchange for $45K cash for a downpayment to pay her unrelated debts it was used. Because of that she was unable to secure a 30 yr. loan as promised. Wanted in to show her financial condition b4 Eric's death. Mostly allowed in to show motive but State cannot argue uncharged fraud or criminal conduct.

About 2 minutes left.

Gigi can pack it into a short vid, that's one reason I like watching her.

Lots of pretrial motions just days ahead of the trial...

 

[GrandmaBear]

Community service letters written by Kouri for Carmen Lauber (person who allegedly got the fentanyl for her). She stated in such Carmen had completed her community service and the letter and letterhead were fabricated. CArmen will testify she did not complete community service...

Partially allowed, partially excluded. Letterhead and company name being fabricated to be excluded.

Recorded call with a friend two weeks after Eric's death. K w/D argues call depicts her as rambling and intoxicated and is not probative. P says it is with regard to her thoughts about Eric's death, her fnances and the state of her marriage before Eric's death. It is allowed.

Motion for her med records not to be allowed in. Including a consultation with a med consult about bariatric surgery with a dr. in MX. State argues may be relevant in opposing any claim Kouri may may about being griefstricken and focused on her children after E's death, as it shows otherwise. For rebuttal. Judge rules depending on, could be relevant, with foundation, for rebuttal. Proper foundation need at trial for it.

It has taken me far longer to listen to a short 11 minutes and try to share it here than I could have just listened to it. Don't think I'll do such again lol.

Gigi has a talent for packing it into a short video.

It now seems she will attend the 2nd week of trial from what she says. She will be covering all though.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Starts Monday. Tons are anticipating it. Nate and Gigi (separately of course) are thinking of attending the second week possibly. Both will be covering it live streaming all other days, etc.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Rotating seats even between family members of victim and perp.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Nate has one with Rachel Smith about this case and how the P may go about it. Pretty good. Everyone knows Nate and can find it easily. Many planning on following. Starts Monday.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Gigi now has her feed up for the livestream tomorrow. STS has had theirs up for awhile.

Here's a refresher of the Walk the Dog letter. She is such a corrupt idiot. I had forgotten she wanted the sister's kids faces plastered all over TV. Such an evil killer.

Talks of how his family is jealous of her and the business she built. She didn't build anything, she didn't know sh*t about it and had to kill to try to get out of hock as all she did was spend and lose money.

Nate also had a good show recently with Rachel Smith, the special prosecutor associated with Daybell but about this Richins case.

Praying she gets convicted, no member of her family, nor her own kids, would be safe if she isn't. No one would be imo. Everyone is expendable to her.

 

[GrandmaBear]

A reminder that this trial starts today. Many are covering it and many are interested in seeing it and so it may start to quiet Guthrie down some which seems to be happening anyhow. That's both good and bad imo.

Not sure how much I will see. Some probably. I have a procedure today so won't be around to see it all.

 

[Regina]

A reminder that this trial starts today. Many are covering it and many are interested in seeing it and so it may start to quiet Guthrie down some which seems to be happening anyhow. That's both good and bad imo.

Not sure how much I will see. Some probably. I have a procedure today so won't be around to see it all.

I'm not interested in the case and so I won't be watching the trial, in fact, out of all of the cases I'm aware of that are expected to go to trial this year, the Sarah Patrick case is the only one I'd like to watch. Og course, I'm interested in the outcomes of several upcoming trials I can think of but that's it, I mean, I don't think there's anything more I want to know about any other cases, you know?

 

[GrandmaBear]

I'm not interested in the case and so I won't be watching the trial, in fact, out of all of the cases I'm aware of that are expected to go to trial this year, the Sarah Patrick case is the only one I'd like to watch. Og course, I'm interested in the outcomes of several upcoming trials I can think of but that's it, I mean, I don't think there's anything more I want to know about any other cases, you know?

I followed since beginning so will probably try to catch some, if not most. Not sure how much I expect to hear that we don't know but some are saying there IS a lot we don't know that will come out. I think the other reason for me is she's pulled such stunts, curious to see if she tries more here.

Then again, it may bore me, I guess I'll see lol.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Patrick was delayed til August or something like that wasn't it?

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Kouri Richins' murder trial begins nearly three years after arrest

Kouri Richins, the Utah children's book author accused of murdering her husband, will face a jury nearly three years after her arrest.Richins was arrested in Ma

wjla.com

Kouri Richins' murder trial begins nearly three years after arrest
Kouri Richins, the Utah children's book author accused of murdering her husband, will face a jury nearly three years after her arrest.

The trial will begin Monday at 8:30 a.m. with jury instruction and opening arguments.

Watch live: Trial begins for Kamas woman charged with fatally poisoning husband - KSLNewsRadio

The Park City courtroom is expected to be full on Monday as family members, the public and the media line up to watch the beginning of the murder trial for Kouri Richins.

kslnewsradio.com

Watch live: Trial begins for Kamas woman charged with fatally poisoning husband​

The Park City courtroom is expected to be full on Monday as family members, the public and the media line up to watch the beginning of the murder trial for Kouri Richins.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Watched almost all today. I prefer non regular news YT coverage because there are friendly and moderated chats unlike many places and not just news. And most true followers of cases like to chat about them so nice to be where people actually do and do so nicely.

Not going to take time doing commentary on the details. Not worth it. There are plenty that recap out there, not that that's the same, however, I've had times that's all I could watch in some cases.

I'll reserve my comments for where I watch and in their chats as well. For the most part.

Will just say Eric's family held their own and did very well imo. The defense are trying the things one would expect. Trying to plant facts that aren't facts in questions, for instance but they were very aware of such and ready for it imo. Yet never got defensive. Did very well.

That's all I'm going to bother with. Wasn't bored for one instant in this one yet.

 

[Regina]

Watched almost all today. I prefer non regular news YT coverage because there are friendly and moderated chats unlike many places and not just news. And most true followers of cases like to chat about them so nice to be where people actually do and do so nicely.

Not going to take time doing commentary on the details. Not worth it. There are plenty that recap out there, not that that's the same, however, I've had times that's all I could watch in some cases.

I'll reserve my comments for where I watch and in their chats as well. For the most part.

Will just say Eric's family held their own and did very well imo. The defense are trying the things one would expect. Trying to plant facts that aren't facts in questions, for instance but they were very aware of such and ready for it imo. Yet never got defensive. Did very well.

That's all I'm going to bother with. Wasn't bored for one instant in this one yet.

I ended up hearing the state's opening but got bored listening to the defense (lol) and I also listened to the sister's testimony, absolutely heart-wrenching.
And the defendant- she reminded me of Banfield in that if she wasn't writing, she was just sitting there without showing any emotion. What a cold-blooded, diabolical bitch!
I wonder how his sister and other family got along with her before. Do you know?

 

[GrandmaBear]

I ended up hearing the state's opening but got bored listening to the defense (lol) and I also listened to the sister's testimony, absolutely heart-wrenching.
And the defendant- she reminded me of Banfield in that if she wasn't writing, she was just sitting there without showing any emotion. What a cold-blooded, diabolical bitch!
I wonder how his sister and other family got along with her before. Do you know?

About the same for me lol. I did listen to both and all but was extremely bored with the defense when she just never quit, and never quit trying to put things in that really shouldn't be put in imo and getting redundant beating on the same kinds of things. I started chatting more than actively listening to her too hard lol. I just saw the first bit of the sister's when I had to leave for an appt but watched all the rest when I got home, then caught up with what I missed last night.

I thought the family was very well prepared and good witnesses. They also never made the mistake of getting defensive with the defense. So dad went, his was short and they didn't cross him, then sister went, the BIL went, then I believe a detective. The family was really good too at picking up on when they were trick questions or false info in them even imo.

I have wondered that too. When the BIL testified, it sounded like there were holidays together and their kids and families did a lot together as the kids were all about the same age. I don't know what they actually thought of her though through the years they were together... They seem like a solid family and would have supported Eric always I'd think and so maybe his wife but then if she came across wrong, maybe not...

I too think she has no emotion but some people in the chats and comments think she looks terrified. I don't buy that for a moment and there were a couple of times I think her smirk was threatening to come out but she managed to hide it fairly well. I wonder if she'll be able to make it through without it... I think she knew better to than to like glare at the sister but once or twice I thought she was doing that while keeping it from being an outright glare. The eyes seemed to just narrow a bit and get even colder. Personally I think she's trying to put on a scared puppy dog act for sympathy.

I don't like the D attorney as she's trying almost every trick in the book and then some that some never try so I guess that means she's good as far as knowing them all. She borderline insults the judge too imo. She wanted to cross the family outside of the scope when they were up for the prosecution and she fought that argument with the judge. Hard. I've never heard of such a thing... I do think many years ago they didn't have to stay in a scope but in a lot of recent years, they have to, not sure when that changed, but a long time ago now.

She told the judge she was going to call them too, a couple particularly and that it would save time in the trial if she could just do it when the P had them up, do her direct of them basically... Back and forth and back and forth. He told her they were local and he was pretty sure they'd be at the trial every day anyhow so she wouldn't have trouble geting them in there. She told them what if they got sick or died, then the whole trial would go down the tubes.

He then pointed out to her it would be the same # of questions anyhow, save no time, etc., etc. Then she started citing laws on who could be in the courtroom and who had to be sequestered and how many came be there under the victim direct family rule or some such. Acted as if he doesn't know the law. He did and he corrected her.

On and on and there was a bit more to it but that's the gist of it. I think her reasoning is she likely wanted the jury to see them ask questions she couldn't ask otherwise during the P case and wanted them with that info in their mind during the P side of the case AND maybe would then try to move for dismissal or something. It got old let me tell ya, not really dull, but just got sick of her.

THEN she tried to go outside of scope anyhow after it was denied! Was ruled against quite a few times and had to skip a bunch of questions she had ready.

That's what I mean about her trying every trick, one example, and some tricks I don't know, like that one, that I've ever seen before. Judge was ready for it though with those things I stated and more. Prosecution was against it and gave a short argument in contrast that was a GOOD one though.

I don't plan to do a play by play in this one on anything or even a summary as seems little interest even though I personally think it helps threads be complete if someone wants to ever look at in the future, etc. or joins but if you (or anyone) want to know anything and I've watched, let me know and I'll respond as I did here with some info on what I think or saw. I know not everyone gets time and I've had times I've had to rely on others or just recaps out there and I appreciate there is such here and if not, out there.

Little interest it seems there is though in this one here. It's widely covered out "there" though. Tons are covering it, and a lot of viewers and lively chats. I can say this too, it isn't a case where anyone thinks her innocent as in some cases. Maybe if you watch at a news site they might have some as most don't moderate their chats (IF they have them) and they attract tons of trolls.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I do have to add one comment I saw somewhere yesterday that I thought was great! Someone said Kouri looks like Olive Oyl, especially from the side lol. I laughed out loud reading that one.

 

[Regina]

About the same for me lol. I did listen to both and all but was extremely bored with the defense when she just never quit, and never quit trying to put things in that really shouldn't be put in imo and getting redundant beating on the same kinds of things. I started chatting more than actively listening to her too hard lol. I just saw the first bit of the sister's when I had to leave for an appt but watched all the rest when I got home, then caught up with what I missed last night.

I thought the family was very well prepared and good witnesses. They also never made the mistake of getting defensive with the defense. So dad went, his was short and they didn't cross him, then sister went, the BIL went, then I believe a detective. The family was really good too at picking up on when they were trick questions or false info in them even imo.

I have wondered that too. When the BIL testified, it sounded like there were holidays together and their kids and families did a lot together as the kids were all about the same age. I don't know what they actually thought of her though through the years they were together... They seem like a solid family and would have supported Eric always I'd think and so maybe his wife but then if she came across wrong, maybe not...

I too think she has no emotion but some people in the chats and comments think she looks terrified. I don't buy that for a moment and there were a couple of times I think her smirk was threatening to come out but she managed to hide it fairly well. I wonder if she'll be able to make it through without it... I think she knew better to than to like glare at the sister but once or twice I thought she was doing that while keeping it from being an outright glare. The eyes seemed to just narrow a bit and get even colder. Personally I think she's trying to put on a scared puppy dog act for sympathy.

I don't like the D attorney as she's trying almost every trick in the book and then some that some never try so I guess that means she's good as far as knowing them all. She borderline insults the judge too imo. She wanted to cross the family outside of the scope when they were up for the prosecution and she fought that argument with the judge. Hard. I've never heard of such a thing... I do think many years ago they didn't have to stay in a scope but in a lot of recent years, they have to, not sure when that changed, but a long time ago now.

She told the judge she was going to call them too, a couple particularly and that it would save time in the trial if she could just do it when the P had them up, do her direct of them basically... Back and forth and back and forth. He told her they were local and he was pretty sure they'd be at the trial every day anyhow so she wouldn't have trouble geting them in there. She told them what if they got sick or died, then the whole trial would go down the tubes.

He then pointed out to her it would be the same # of questions anyhow, save no time, etc., etc. Then she started citing laws on who could be in the courtroom and who had to be sequestered and how many came be there under the victim direct family rule or some such. Acted as if he doesn't know the law. He did and he corrected hero in their mind during the P side of the case AND maybe would then try to move for dismissal or something. It got old let me tell ya, not really dull, but just got sick of her.

THEN she tried to go outside of scope anyhow after it was denied! Was ruled against quite a few times and had to skip a bunch of questions she had ready.

That's what I mean about her trying every trick, one example, and some tricks I don't know, like that one, that I've ever seen before. Judge was ready for it though with those things I stated and more. Prosecution was against it and gave a short argument in contrast that was a GOOD one though.

I don't plan to do a play by play in this one on anything or even a summary as seems little interest even though I personally think it helps threads be complete if someone wants to ever look at in the future, etc. or joins but if you (or anyone) want to know anything and I've watched, let me know and I'll respond as I did here with some info on what I think or saw. I know not everyone gets time and I've had times I've had to rely on others or just recaps out there and I appreciate there is such here and if not, out there.

Little interest it seems there is though in this one here. It's widely covered out "there" though. Tons are covering it, and a lot of viewers and lively chats. I can say this too, it isn't a case where anyone thinks her innocent as in some cases. Maybe if you watch at a news site they might have some as most don't moderate their chats (IF they have them) and they attract tons of trolls.

I think if she's scared of anything, it's what the prosecution witnesses have to say, lol!
Seriously, I think what we saw shows that anyone capable of what she did isn't capable of empathy and if we see her shed a tear, it's for herself and no one else.

Yeah, I noticed the number of sidebars and that the jury's had to leave the courtroom at least twice and that's just the first few hours of trial. Lord, help!
To me, it shows that either an attorney that doesn't have a clear understanding of the law or they're just being a pain in the ass simply because they can.
The judge seems solid. Btw, did you see when he cracked a little bit of a smile over some silly something from the defense? lol
Besides that, (you know, I have some sort of a thing re voices, lol) he has an especially deep voice and I think if he wasn't a judge, he'd be good doing radio or something in audio broadcasting, lol.
Re the defense, to me, using tricks is unethical- no, that is not a "good" attorney in my book- and I think any attorney who uses tricks must have a guilty client, lol!

Re how his family felt toward her before, you know- now that I think about it- it seems it's very often only in retrospect do people realize another's true character.

 

[Regina]

I do have to add one comment I saw somewhere yesterday that I thought was great! Someone said Kouri looks like Olive Oyl, especially from the side lol. I laughed out loud reading that one.

Thank you so much for that, that was too funny!
Seriously, I'm already sick of seeing her face!

 

[GrandmaBear]

I think if she's scared of anything, it's what the prosecution witnesses have to say, lol!
Seriously, I think what we saw shows that anyone capable of what she did isn't capable of empathy and if we see her shed a tear, it's for herself and no one else.

Yeah, I noticed the number of sidebars and that the jury's had to leave the courtroom at least twice and that's just the first few hours of trial. Lord, help!
To me, it shows that either an attorney that doesn't have a clear understanding of the law or they're just being a pain in the ass simply because they can.
The judge seems solid. Btw, did you see when he cracked a little bit of a smile over some silly something from the defense? lol
Besides that, (you know, I have some sort of a thing re voices, lol) he has an especially deep voice and I think if he wasn't a judge, he'd be good doing radio or something in audio broadcasting, lol.
Re the defense, to me, using tricks is unethical- no, that is not a "good" attorney in my book- and I think any attorney who uses tricks must have a guilty client, lol!

Re how his family felt toward her before, you know- now that I think about it- it seems it's very often only in retrospect do people realize another's true character.

EVERYONE in chats are going on about his deep bass voice. So you aren't alone. Yes, I like the judge a lot, he's on top of the statutes and while respectful, doesn't just fall for what the D claim they say and so on. D is very unimpressive today imo but they take SOOO long in cross. yeah he has fairly good humor when he can show it.

"tricks" seem to be all D attys have imo most of the time. I will say Kouri had them cornered into this defense being the only one available and that's to attack Eric's character. Sickening. If you listen to some attys I gather all the tricks aren't unethical which is a sad thing I guess about our laws/ethics where D attys are concerned.

Well I don't know if you caught it but a year? Or so before, Eric was extremely upset finding a loan she had taken I think against their home and he went to his sister and BIL and was both angry and sad and very upset. They helped him find a divorce atty and I won't go into it all but I mean at that point for sure they couldn't think too much of her I wouldn't think. They never did proceed to a divorce though so I guess he forgave her which is so sad. But when you have kids, it's hard for all of us I think. Takes a lot for those that believe in marriage and being there for kids to leave. She also though he suspected tried to poison him before. I'd never knock him, he seems loyal, steadfast, hard working, etc. but I see him maybe a bit like Charles Vallow. They get angered, desperate for help with the wife, but they also have hope it will work out I think, and that's their downfall with evil women they unfortunately ended up with. Imo.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Thank you so much for that, that was too funny!
Seriously, I'm already sick of seeing her face!

Ditto. So fake, intentional palor, not just jailhouse palor, just enhances it imo.

Yes, it was FUNNY. And so TRUE.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I do wish I'd thought of it though LOL.