Utah Mom Wrote a Book on Grief After Her Husband’s Death. Police Just Charged Her With His Murder.
Eric Richins, a loving family man, avid outdoorsman, and former missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints living in Kamas, Utah, died unexpectedly in March 2022. His wife, Kouri, wrote a children’s book to help their three sons cope with the loss. This week, police arrested Kouri for his murder.
The Murder of Eric Richins
According to the charging documents, Kouri gave Eric a lethal dose of fentanyl in a Moscow Mule cocktail that she prepared to celebrate him selling a home for their relator business. A medical examiner reported it was five times the lethal dose.
Kouri called 911 after supposedly finding Eric “cold to the touch” at the foot of their bed. She claimed to have been sleeping in one of the children’s rooms to help them with night terrors. Emergency services arrived and tried to resuscitate Eric, but were unable to.
Prior Poisoning Attempts
A police investigation revealed Kouri had purchased drugs multiple times from an acquaintance, including hydrocodone pills and 15-30 fentanyl pills, which Kouri had requested as “some of the Michael Jackson stuff.”
The report also stated Eric had told multiple people he believed his wife was trying to kill him. On two prior occasions, once on Valentine’s Day 2022 and on a trip to Greece a few years ago, Eric had consumed a drink that made him violently ill.
Kouri also changed her husband’s life insurance policy to make her the sole beneficiary. Eric changed the policy, however, to his masonry business co-owner, and was in the process of seeking a divorce. Reports say Eric told his sister he feared Kouri would “kill him for the money.” He placed his sister in charge of his estate, and Kouri assaulted the sister at a party she held the day after her husband’s death. She then began the process of suing her sister-in-law for control of the estate.
“Are You With Me?”
After Eric’s death, Kouri wrote a children’s book entitled, “Are You With Me?” and sold it on Amazon. She wrote the book after stating she couldn’t find anything to help her children cope with the loss of their father. The book’s blurb reads:
A heartwarming and reassuring book that gently guides children through the difficult experience of losing a loved one. Written by a loving mother who personally faced this challenge, this book is designed to offer comfort and solace to young minds in a way that is both accessible and engaging.
Kouri went on a local news station segment where she discussed the book and the loss of her husband. The book has since been removed.
Kouri Richins is currently being held without bond and her attorneys have declined to comment on the now-breaking national news story.
