Utah mom accused of killing husband, writing book about his death

Kouri Richins faces murder charges after her husband's death, despite promoting a children's book about coping with loss.

Feb. 21, 2026 at 5:03am

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A year after her husband Eric Richins died, Kouri Richins self-published a children's book called "Are You With Me?" that she said helped her sons cope with the sudden loss. However, weeks after the book's publication in 2023, Richins was arrested and charged with her husband's murder. Prosecutors allege she killed him by slipping fentanyl into a cocktail, motivated by financial troubles and an affair. Richins has pleaded not guilty, and her defense team says the public has been misled about the facts of the case.

Why it matters

This chilling case has captivated true-crime enthusiasts, as a once-respected local author is now accused of profiting off her own violent crime. The book, originally lauded as a touching read, has become a key piece of evidence for prosecutors arguing that Richins carried out a calculated killing.

The details

Prosecutors say Richins killed her husband at their home in March 2022 by slipping fentanyl into a cocktail he drank. They allege she was deep in debt and killed him for financial gain while planning a future with another man she was seeing on the side. Richins also faces charges of attempted murder, forgery, mortgage fraud and insurance fraud. Her defense team says the public has been misled and they are confident the jury will rule in Richins' favor.

  • In March 2022, Eric Richins was found dead at the couple's home.
  • A month earlier, in February 2023, Eric Richins told friends he became ill after eating a sandwich Kouri Richins had left for him, believing she had tried to poison him.
  • In 2023, Kouri Richins was arrested and charged with her husband's murder.

The players

Kouri Richins

A 35-year-old mother of three in Utah who self-published a children's book about coping with the sudden loss of a parent. She has been charged with nearly three dozen counts, including aggravated murder, attempted murder, forgery, mortgage fraud and insurance fraud, in connection with her husband's death.

Eric Richins

Kouri Richins' husband, who died in March 2022. Prosecutors allege Kouri Richins killed him by slipping fentanyl into a cocktail.

Carmen Lauber

The family's housekeeper, who allegedly sold fentanyl pills to Kouri Richins that she used to poison her husband.

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What they’re saying

“Kouri has waited nearly three years for this moment: the opportunity to have the facts of this case heard by a jury, free from the prosecution's narrative that has dominated headlines since her arrest.”

— Kouri Richins' legal team (WRAL)

“I think my wife tried to poison me.”

— Eric Richins (WRAL)

What’s next

The 12-person jury is set to decide Kouri Richins' fate in a monthlong trial that starts on Monday.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complex and often disturbing intersection of true crime, family tragedy, and the publishing industry. It raises questions about how we process grief, the potential for abuse within relationships, and the line between art and exploitation.