A Utah woman who wrote a children's book about grief after allegedly poisoning her husband has been sentenced to life in prison. Kouri Richins, 36, showed no emotion as family members read victim impact statements, including those from her own children, who expressed fear of her release.
The sentence was handed down Wednesday in a Utah courtroom for the March 4, 2022, murder of Eric Richins. Prosecutors argued she killed him with a fentanyl-spiked cocktail for insurance money. Kouri initially claimed they were celebrating a business deal when she found him unresponsive. An autopsy revealed Eric had five times the lethal dose of fentanyl in his system.
Book's Bitter Irony
Richins gained notoriety after self-publishing a children's book titled Are You With Me?, about coping with a parent's death. She was arrested while promoting the book on local television. The book, dedicated to "my amazing husband and a wonderful father," was later removed by Amazon.
During the hearing, her children shared their fears. One son, now 13, said, "I'm afraid if she gets out, she will come after me and my brothers, my whole family. I miss my dad, but I do not miss how my life used to be." Another child recalled being put to bed early without a bath on the night of the murder and being yelled at by his mother. He stated, "I will not feel safe if she is released." A third son added, "She took away my dad. Once she is gone I will feel happy and safer."
Prosecution and Testimony
Prosecutors requested life without parole. Eric's father and sister also submitted statements. Richins glared at her former sister-in-law during testimony about financial motives. Friends described a marriage fraught with financial troubles and infidelity. Richins had told friends she felt "trapped" by a prenuptial agreement that would leave her with nothing. Friend Becky Lloyd testified that Richins said, "In many ways it would be better if he were dead."
The court also heard about a Valentine's Day 2021 incident where Eric became deathly ill after eating a sandwich his wife prepared. Richins' former boyfriend, Robert Josh Grossman, testified about their affair, expressing guilt and sorrow. He said the relationship ended months after Eric's death.
After Eric's death, housekeeper Carmen Lauber testified she asked Richins about pills, to which Richins replied they were not for him and that Eric died of a brain aneurysm. Richins did not testify or call witnesses but gave a 30-minute monologue, telling her children, "I know today you don't want to speak to me and you hate me. That's OK. When you are ready, I will be here for you."
