Who Is Kouri Richins?
Kouri Richins is a Utah mother of three who gained national attention after being charged with murdering her husband, Eric Richins, by poisoning him with a lethal dose of fentanyl in February 2022. What made her case particularly striking was that after Eric’s death, she wrote and published a children’s book about grief, titled Are You There? A Story of Hope, while secretly being under investigation for his murder.
Richins and Eric had been married for several years and had three young children together. Prosecutors painted a picture of a troubled marriage marked by infidelity, mounting debt, and a bitter dispute over life insurance policies worth millions of dollars.
What Did Kouri Richins Do?
According to prosecutors, Kouri Richins obtained fentanyl-laced pills and secretly mixed them into a Moscow Mule cocktail she served to her husband at their home near Park City, Utah. The drink contained nearly five times the amount of fentanyl considered lethal. Eric Richins, 39, died in the early hours of February 18, 2022.
Prosecutors also argued that weeks earlier, on Valentine’s Day 2022, Richins had made a prior attempt on her husband’s life using fentanyl, which Eric survived. This became the basis for an additional charge of attempted aggravated murder.
Over the course of a 13-day trial, prosecutors called more than 40 witnesses who testified about the troubled state of the Richins marriage. Evidence included an affair Kouri was allegedly having with another man, debts of approximately $2 million she had accumulated, and multiple fraudulent changes she allegedly made to life insurance policies naming herself as beneficiary.
The Trial and Verdict
Kouri Richins stood trial in Summit County, Utah in March 2026. On March 16, 2026, after approximately three hours of deliberation, the eight-person jury found her guilty on all counts, including aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, forgery, and two counts of insurance fraud.
The aggravated murder conviction carries a maximum penalty of life in prison without the possibility of parole. The verdict came after an emotionally charged trial that drew widespread national media coverage, partly because of the irony of Richins having written a grief book for children while allegedly being responsible for creating that grief in the first place.
When Will Kouri Richins Be Sentenced?
As of March 2026, Kouri Richins has been convicted but not yet formally sentenced. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 13, 2026. At sentencing, the judge will determine the exact terms of her imprisonment based on the convictions and any additional factors presented by prosecutors and defense attorneys.
Given the gravity of the aggravated murder conviction, legal analysts widely expect Richins to face a sentence of life in prison without parole, the maximum allowed under Utah law for first-degree murder under aggravated circumstances.
What Happened to the Grief Book?
Richins published her children’s grief book, Are You There? A Story of Hope, in November 2022 — just months after Eric’s death and while she was already under investigation by authorities. The book was later pulled from sale after her arrest in May 2023 on murder charges. It had attracted widespread criticism once the charges became public knowledge, with many noting the disturbing irony of a woman allegedly responsible for her husband’s death writing publicly about coping with loss.
Key Facts in the Kouri Richins Case
Eric Richins died on February 18, 2022, in their home near Park City, Utah. The cause of death was a lethal dose of fentanyl. Kouri Richins was arrested in May 2023, approximately 15 months after Eric’s death. She faced charges of aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, forgery, and insurance fraud. On March 16, 2026, she was found guilty on all counts. Sentencing is set for May 13, 2026, with life without parole the likely outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kouri Richins in prison now?
As of March 2026, Kouri Richins has been convicted but is awaiting sentencing, which is scheduled for May 13, 2026. She is currently in custody pending that hearing.
What was Kouri Richins convicted of?
Richins was convicted of aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, two counts of insurance fraud, and one count of forgery following a trial in Summit County, Utah in March 2026.
How did Kouri Richins kill her husband?
Prosecutors proved that she mixed a lethal dose of fentanyl — nearly five times the amount considered deadly — into a Moscow Mule cocktail she served to her husband Eric Richins at their home near Park City, Utah.