The Utah mother accused of killing her husband with a fentanyl-laced Moscow Mule — then writing a kids’s guide on find out how to grieve — headed to trial with the beginning of jury choice Tuesday.
Kouri Richins, a 35-year-old home-flipper, killed hubby Eric Richins, 39, with poisoned booze that contained 5 occasions the deadly quantity of the artificial opioid — after beforehand attempting to homicide him with fentanyl stuffed in a sandwich weeks earlier, authorities stated.
Prosecutors allege Kouri’s real-estate enterprise was underneath water and that the mom of three younger boys was motivated to kill her husband to money in on his life-insurance coverage and $3.6 million property.
In addition they declare the Kamas lady was having an affair together with her handyman.
After allegedly killing Eric of their dwelling March 3, 2022, the mother went on to self-publish an illustrated guide for youths titled, “Are You With Me?” a yr later and market it on an area tv station.
She was arrested in Could 2023, with prosecutors final yr hitting her with 26 extra fees in a separate case alleging monetary crimes tied to the homicide.
Kouri allegedly concocted the lethal drink for Eric — her husband of 9 years — underneath the guise they have been celebrating the sale of a house.
The spouse claimed to authorities that after bringing her husband the drink, she fell asleep in her son’s mattress as a result of he was having a nightmare. She stated that when she returned to the couple’s bed room, she discovered Eric chilly.
Kouri went on an area TV phase “Good Issues Utah” after writing a guide — and a month earlier than her arrest — saying Eric’s demise “fully took us all by shock.
“We have now three little boys, 10, 9 and 6, and my children and I type of wrote this guide on the totally different feelings and grieving processes that we’ve skilled within the final yr,” she stated on the time.
The storybook stated it was, “Devoted to my superb husband and an exquisite father.”
The guide, which was on sale for $14.99, was taken off of Amazon after her arrest. It was described as “a must-read for any youngster who has skilled the ache of loss, and for folks who need to present their kids with the emotional assist they should heal and develop.”
Prosecutors have alleged Richins was having an affair together with her handyman Robert Grossman — texting him the day after she first tried to kill Eric, saying: “If [Eric] might simply go away … life could be good.”
Kouri then texted her paramour the week of Eric’s homicide saying, “Life goes to be totally different, I promise. Grasp in there till Friday,” prosecutors declare.
She additionally allegedly took out a number of life-insurance insurance policies in Eric’s title with out his information that totaled $2 million.
As well as, she allegedly tried to make herself the beneficiary of his life-insurance coverage, which his sister was designated to gather on. However when the husband obtained sensible to her scheme, he lower her out of his will and adjusted the insurance policies, authorities stated.
Kouri has pleaded not responsible to fees of aggravated homicide, tried aggravated homicide and drug possession crime. She’s been behind bars since her arrest.
Jury choice is predicted to take as much as two weeks with opening statements presently set for Feb. 23. The trial might last as long as 5 weeks.
