A Utah woman who authored a children’s book about loss after the death of her husband in 2022 has been arrested for his murder, according to multiple reports.
Authorities brought Kouri Richins, 33, into custody Monday after she allegedly poisoned her husband, Eric, with a lethal dose of fentanyl in 2022 while at their home in Kamas near Park City, according to the Associated Press (AP).
Police responded to the Richins’ home March 2, 2022, after Kouri found her husband cold to the touch and not breathing at around 3 a.m., local outlet KPCW reported. Kouri allegedly told authorities at the time she had attempted to perform CPR, but first responders found her claim unlikely as there was blood coming from her husband’s mouth, according to the outlet.
Despite no indication from family and friends that Eric abused drugs, a medical examination of his body found five times the lethal amount of fentanyl in his system, according to AP. Kouri had purchased $1,800 worth of fentanyl pills prior to Eric’s death, KPCW reported, citing court filings.
After her husband died last year, she wrote a children’s book on grief. Now she’s charged in his death. Kouri Richins is accused in charging documents of poisoning her husband with a lethal dose of fentanyl. Her lawyer declined comment. https://t.co/ENix7hiNnl
— The Associated Press (@AP) May 9, 2023
Family members reportedly told investigators shortly after Eric’s death that he had previously warned them if anything happened to him, Kouri was to blame. One of Eric’s sisters said that a few years prior to his death, Kouri had allegedly handed her husband a drink that made him “violently ill” while vacationing in Greece. His sister claimed Eric believed it was an attempt to kill him, the outlet reported. (RELATED: ‘A Heinous, Complex And Calculated Murder’: Dentist Jailed For Allegedly Poisoning Wife)
Kouri had allegedly been cut out of her husband’s will, something she was not aware of until the day after his death, KPCW reported, citing police warrants. She sued Eric’s sister, allegedly his new beneficiary, on March 28 for control over his estate, pointing to her prenuptial agreement, according to the outlet. Eric had planned to file divorce proceedings against Kouri but never got the opportunity, KPCW reported.
Kouri published a children’s book entitled “Are You With Me?” in March 2023, which she said was inspired by her children’s struggles in coping with their father’s death. Promoting her book on a local news segment, “Good Things Utah,” Kouri said she compiled the questions her children had into the picture book in hopes it might help other kids deal with similar grief. Anchors described her as an “incredible mother.”
Kouri Richins is facing a first-degree felony count of aggravated murder, as well as three second-degree felony counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, according to KPCW.