Kouri Richins Wikipedia, Biography, Age, Husband, Children, Arrest, Charges, Case, Trail, Parents, Family
Kouri Richins is a 35-year-old Utah woman and mother of three who recently became the subject of intense national attention following her conviction for the murder of her husband, Eric Richins. Before her arrest, she was most known for self-publishing a children’s book titled Are You With Me?, which was designed to help children cope with the loss of a parent. She frequently appeared on local television to promote the book, portraying herself as a grieving widow trying to help her young sons navigate their father’s “unexpected” death.
However, on March 16, 2026, a jury in Summit County found her guilty on all counts, including first-degree aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder. Prosecutors successfully argued that Kouri had fatally poisoned Eric in March 2022 by spiking his Moscow Mule cocktail with a dose of fentanyl that was five times the lethal amount. This was not her only attempt; she was also convicted of trying to poison him a month earlier on Valentine’s Day with a laced sandwich that left him severely ill.
The motive presented during the three-week trial centered on financial gain and a desire for a “fresh start.” Prosecutors revealed that Kouri was millions of dollars in debt from a struggling real-estate business and erroneously believed she would inherit her husband’s $4 million estate upon his death. Evidence also showed she had taken out several life insurance policies on Eric without his knowledge and was actively planning a future with another man she was seeing on the side.
Throughout the trial, Kouri maintained her innocence, with her defense team suggesting Eric had a secret drug dependency and had died of an accidental overdose. However, the jury reached a unanimous guilty verdict after only three hours of deliberation. She is currently awaiting her sentencing, which is scheduled for May 13, 2026—the day that would have been Eric’s 44th birthday. She faces a sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
Quick Profile: Kouri Richins at a Glance
Early Life and Background
Born Kouri Darden on April 20, 1990, in Oklahoma, Kouri’s childhood was marked by instability. During her 2026 trial, a self-authored journal revealed that she moved 17 times across various states due to her parents’ work and personal struggles. Her father, whom she described as a successful engineer, was incarcerated when she was six years old following a drunk-driving incident involving an officer.
Education and Career: The “K Richins Realty” Empire
Kouri attended college in Utah, where she initially met Eric Richins in 2009. While pursuing her degree, Kouri worked as a cashier at a local Home Depot—the very place where she and Eric first crossed paths. She was described as highly ambitious, later completing her graduate school studies while raising her young children.
In 2019, Kouri launched K Richins Realty, a house-flipping business that focused on buying distressed properties in the Park City area, renovating them, and selling them for high profits. On the surface, the business was a success, but forensic accountants would later testify that the “empire” was built on a house of cards. By 2022, Kouri was millions of dollars in debt, frequently overdrawing her accounts and taking out high-interest private loans to fund increasingly expensive “flips,” including a $2 million mansion that Eric reportedly did not want to purchase.
Marriage to Eric Richins and Family Life
Kouri and Eric Richins married in 2013, establishing what many believed was a “power couple” dynamic in Summit County. Eric was a well-liked businessman who ran a successful stone masonry company. Together, they had three sons: Carter, Ashton, and Weston.
Friends and family described Eric as a devoted father who idolized his boys. However, the marriage was strained behind closed doors. By 2020, Kouri was involved in an extramarital affair with a man named Robert Josh Grossman.
The Crime: A Lethal Moscow Mule
On the night of March 3, 2022, Kouri claimed she and Eric were celebrating a successful property closing. She told investigators she prepared a Moscow Mule cocktail for Eric and served it to him in bed. Hours later, she called 911, claiming she found him “cold to the touch.”
The Valentine’s Day Attempt
The investigation revealed that the March poisoning wasn’t the first attempt. On Valentine’s Day 2022, Kouri allegedly served Eric a sandwich that caused him to break out in hives and lose consciousness. Eric survived that incident and reportedly told a friend, “If anything happens to me, Kouri did it.”
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The Book: “Are You With Me?”
Perhaps the most disturbing chapter of the Kouri Richins Biography is her short-lived career as a children’s author. Exactly one year after Eric’s death, Kouri published Are You With Me?. The book featured a child looking for his deceased father in everyday moments—portraying the father as an angel watching over them.
Arrest, Trial, and Conviction (2023–2026)
Kouri Richins was arrested on May 8, 2023. Her trial, which began in early 2024 and concluded in March 2026, was a masterclass in forensic evidence.
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Financial Motive: Prosecutors showed she was $4.5 million in debt and had taken out $2 million in life insurance policies on Eric without his knowledge.
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The “Michael Jackson” Stuff: A housekeeper testified that Kouri asked for “some of that Michael Jackson stuff” (fentanyl) weeks before Eric died.
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Digital Evidence: Kouri’s search history included queries about “lethal doses of fentanyl” and “Utah prisons.”
On March 16, 2026, after only three hours of deliberation, the jury found Kouri Richins guilty on all counts, including first-degree aggravated murder.
Sentence
Kouri Richins is scheduled to be sentenced on May 13, 2026—the day that would have been Eric’s 44th birthday. She faces a sentence of 25 years to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Conclusion
The story of Kouri Richins is a haunting reminder that appearances can be profoundly deceiving. From a successful entrepreneur and “grieving” author to a convicted murderer, her life is a tragic study in greed and desperation. While she may have written a book about finding an “angel” in the room, the jury ultimately decided that she was the one who brought death into her own home.
FAQs
Who is Kouri Richins?
Kouri Richins is a Utah woman convicted of murdering her husband, Eric Richins, by fentanyl poisoning in March 2022.
What is Kouri Richins’ age?
As of March 2026, Kouri Richins is 35 years old.
What book did Kouri Richins write?
She wrote a children’s book titled Are You With Me?, which was published a year after her husband’s death to help children deal with grief.
How did Eric Richins die?
Eric died from an oral overdose of fentanyl, which prosecutors proved was administered by Kouri in a Moscow Mule cocktail.
What was the motive for the murder?
Prosecutors cited a $4.5 million debt, a “trapping” prenuptial agreement, and nearly $2 million in life insurance payouts as the primary motives.
Did Kouri Richins have an affair?
Yes, evidence presented at trial confirmed she was in a long-term extramarital relationship with Robert Josh Grossman.
Where are Kouri Richins’ children now?
Custody of her three sons was awarded to Eric Richins’ family following her arrest and subsequent conviction.
Was Kouri Richins found guilty?
Yes. On March 16, 2026, she was found guilty of aggravated murder, attempted murder, insurance fraud, and forgery.
What is Kouri Richins’ sentence?
She faces 25 years to life in prison. Her formal sentencing hearing is set for May 13, 2026.
