The Utah grief author, Kouri Richins, has been charged with spiking her husband’s drink with a fatal dose of fentanyl, leading to his death. She now faces an additional charge of attempted murder after authorities revealed that she allegedly drugged him with a Valentine’s Day sandwich in an attempt to kill him. These charges were filed after her husband, Eric Richins, was found unresponsive in their home in Kamas, Utah, and a medical examiner determined that he had five times the lethal dose of fentanyl in his system. The fentanyl was found to be illicit and not of medical grade. Kouri Richins was arrested last year on charges of aggravated murder in connection with her husband’s death.
Charging documents filed on Monday revealed that this was not the first time Kouri Richins had drugged her husband. On Valentine’s Day 2022, Eric Richins nearly died after consuming a sandwich that his wife had brought to him. He texted her saying he was not feeling well and would go to the hospital if he did not improve soon. Kouri Richins advised him to take a nap. Later, Eric reached out to friends and informed them that his wife had left him his favorite sandwich, which made him break out in hives. He had to use an EpiPen and take Benadryl to counter the allergic reaction. Prosecutors allege that Kouri Richins purchased illicit fentanyl before both the Valentine’s Day incident and her husband’s subsequent death, indicating premeditation.
In addition to the charges related to her husband’s death, Kouri Richins is also facing two counts of mortgage fraud, two counts of insurance fraud, and three counts of forgery. Prosecutors claim that she was in financial distress at the time of her husband’s death and engaged in fraudulent activities to alleviate her financial situation. However, her attorney has stated that they have reviewed the charging documents and maintain that Kouri Richins is innocent of all charges. She is currently in custody awaiting trial and will continue to defend herself vigorously against the charges brought by the state. The documents allege that opioids, including fentanyl, can lead to allergic and pseudoallergic reactions, such as hives, but Eric Richins did not have any food allergies, further supporting the prosecution’s case against Kouri Richins.
With the new charge of attempted murder based on the Valentine’s Day incident, the case against Kouri Richins has become more complex. The documents suggest that she intentionally drugged her husband earlier in the year using the same illicit fentanyl, indicating a pattern of behavior. This new information adds to the prosecution’s case against her and strengthens the charges brought against her. The medical examiner’s determination of the cause of Eric Richins’ death, as well as the events leading up to it, provide crucial evidence in supporting the charges of attempted murder and aggravated murder against Kouri Richins.
As the case progresses, it will be important to establish a motive for Kouri Richins’ alleged actions. The financial distress she was facing at the time of her husband’s death, as evidenced by the mortgage fraud and insurance fraud charges, could provide a possible motive for her actions. However, her attorney maintains that she is innocent and will vigorously defend her against all charges. The complexity of the case, with multiple charges relating to both attempted murder and financial fraud, will require a thorough investigation and presentation of evidence by both the prosecution and the defense. The trial will likely be closely watched as more details about the case emerge and the legal proceedings unfold. Ultimately, the court will need to determine Kouri Richins’ guilt or innocence based on the evidence presented in the case.
