A Utah mother who penned a children’s book on grief to honor her late husband has been found guilty of poisoning him with fentanyl for financial gain, exposing a chilling web of deceit that shatters family values.
Story Highlights
- Kouri Richins convicted of aggravated murder after spiking husband’s Moscow mule with lethal fentanyl dose.
- Secret $2 million life insurance policies and $4.5 million debts fueled prosecution’s money motive.
- Prior Valentine’s Day poisoning attempt via fentanyl-laced sandwich failed, causing hives and blackout.
- Self-published grief book *Are You With Me?* masked alleged cover-up while promoting on TV amid investigation.
- Trial evidence included affair texts, housekeeper fentanyl sales, and composed post-death demeanor.
Case Origins in Park City Suburb
Kouri Richins accumulated $4.5 million in debt through real estate ventures in affluent Summit County, Utah, near Park City. She opened nearly $2 million in life insurance policies on husband Eric without his knowledge. Creditor lawsuits piled up alongside a negative bank balance.
Prosecutors highlighted these financial pressures as the core motive for murder. Eric, involved in real estate, suffered from Lyme disease and used painkillers, which defense cited for overdose claims. The family maintained an anti-drug stance, with Eric’s mother as a drug counselor.
Timeline of Poisoning Attempts and Death
On Valentine’s Day 2022, Richins allegedly poisoned Eric with a fentanyl-laced sandwich, triggering hives and blackout. Eric recovered briefly. In March 2022, he died after drinking a Moscow mule spiked with five times a lethal fentanyl dose at their home.
Richins called 911, appearing distraught in body cam footage. Eric’s sister-in-law described her as well-put-together post-death. Prosecutors charged her in May 2023 with aggravated murder, attempted murder, forgery, mortgage fraud, and insurance fraud.
Deceptive Grief Book and Public Persona
After Eric’s death, Richins self-published *Are You With Me?* in 2023 to help her three sons cope, portraying a tragic loss. She promoted it on TV and radio as a grief tool. Media initially praised her resilience, creating stark irony upon charges.
The book contrasted sharply with allegations of financial deceit, an affair with Robert Josh Grossman involving divorce fantasies, and fentanyl buys from housekeeper Carmen Lauber. This facade undermined genuine family mourning narratives.
A Utah woman who wrote a children's book about coping with grief after her husband's death was convicted of aggravated murder in his death by poisoning him with fentanyl.
Jurors also found Kouri Richins guilty of fraudulently claiming insurance benefits after the death of Eric… pic.twitter.com/iAwSMbU8HM
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) March 17, 2026
Texts revealed Richins dreaming of millions from divorce and marriage to Grossman. Her Google searches included “luxury prisons,” bolstering prosecution claims of calculation.
A Utah woman who wrote a book on grief after husband's death found guilty of murdering him https://t.co/wjvzdrrWsz
— The Christian Index (@christianindex) March 17, 2026
Trial Proceedings and Key Testimony
The trial unfolded in Park City with crowds camping overnight for seats. Prosecutor Brad Bloodworth argued Richins murdered Eric for money and a fresh start to maintain her privilege facade.
Defense attorney Kathryn Nester portrayed her as a genuine widow, playing 911 audio of distress and noting marriage counseling success plus Eric’s drug use. Eric’s sister Katie Richins-Benson testified on the family’s anti-drug upbringing and Kouri’s composed post-death appearance. Upcoming witnesses included Lauber and Grossman.
Impacts on Family and Fentanyl Warnings
Conviction disrupts Richins’ life as mother of three, facing over 25 years. Her sons lost their father and now face mother’s incarceration, alongside estate battles and custody fights. The Richins family endures stigma despite anti-drug roots.
Park City community remains gripped. The case spotlights fentanyl dangers even in wealthy areas, questions life insurance fraud in marriages, and erodes trust in self-published grief books tied to true crime. It sets precedent for prosecuting such poisonings amid the opioid crisis.
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Trial begins for Utah mom accused of killing husband after writing book about his death
