Update: 3/16/26 at 9:38 pm: A Utah jury found a children’s book author and mother of three Kouri Richins guilty of poisoning her husband with a fentanyl-laced cocktail, returned their decision after deliberating for only three hours on Monday, March 16.
Richins was convicted of aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, forgery and insurance fraud in the drug overdose death of her husband, Eric Richins39, on March 4, 2022, at the couple’s home in Kamas, Utah.
Richins, 35, bowed his head as the first guilty verdict was read, showing no emotion.
At trial, prosecutors argued that Richins poisoned her husband for financial gain.
First story:
Lawyers for children’s author Kouri Richins – accused of murdering her husband – say federal investigators harassed and intimidated potential witnesses.
Richins’ attorneys filed a motion on Sunday, January 25, asking for the disclosure of all documents and communications between the prosecution team and any witnesses in the case, according to KUTV.
“Last week, the defense team received a notice from one of the State’s witnesses … that he was being harassed by an investigator working with the prosecution and asked if there was anything we could do to protect him from them,” the document said, according to the paper.
Attorneys said the witness shared the text messages he sent to the lead investigator Jeff O’Driscollwhere the officer threatened to issue a warrant for his arrest.
“Make your life easier and answer our calls so we can prepare you for what you’re going to be asked. Besides, the next time I knock on your door, I’ll have a warrant for a dog and an arresting pole,” O’Driscoll said in the transcripts, according to the documents.
Defense attorneys argued that the interview was “public witness intimidation.” Additionally, prosecutors reportedly said they didn’t think O’Driscoll acted improperly in making the switch.
The second witness also testified that they were tortured by the investigator Travis Hopper.
According to the text messages he allegedly sent with Hopper, the detective asked the witness to cooperate with him. After the witness took him back to his original statement, the witness told Hopper that he could send more questions in writing.
“Investigator Hopper then threatened that he would revoke his previous immunity that he had given to this witness and take him to court if he did not agree to personally discuss his testimony with the prosecution team,” said the prosecutor.
Defense attorneys continued that Utah Code prohibits threatening witnesses with harm, including “physical, emotional or economic harm.” They added that threatening to arrest a person for not testifying before a trial “will be sufficient as ‘injury.'”
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In addition, the lawyers said that the prosecutors violated the Rights of Victims and Witnesses in the way they asked questions.
“The defendants are hereby asking the Court to compel the prosecution to disclose any text messages, voice mails, recorded phone calls, or any other digital messages with the witnesses,” their petition said.
The prosecutors have never come forward and answered publicly and told KUTV that they will deal with this matter privately with the court. “We will respond publicly to the Court, as this should be close to the selection of judges,” the Attorney Margaret Olson said, according to the store.
Richins, 35, is accused of poisoning her husband, Eric Richins, by spiking his drink with fentanyl in March 2022. Additionally, she faces multiple counts of forgery, mortgage fraud and insurance fraud for allegedly committing crimes before and after her husband’s death.
He became a local celebrity when he published a children’s book called Are you there with me?which detailed her grief after the death of her husband.
Richins’ trial is scheduled to begin in February. He has denied all charges, according to ABC News.
