Utah Mom Accused of Killing Husband for His Millions Due to Business Failures

Prosecutors say Kouri Richins was an 'incompetent' businesswoman who murdered her husband Eric to collect his $4 million estate.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 4:19pm

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Kouri Richins, a 35-year-old Utah mother, is on trial for allegedly poisoning her husband Eric Richins with fentanyl in 2022. Prosecutors claim Richins killed her husband because her home-flipping business was $4.5 million in debt and she wanted to collect his $4 million estate to pay off her debts and run away with her handyman lover. They allege Richins was an 'incompetent' and 'intensely ambitious' businesswoman who felt 'aggrieved' due to her troubled upbringing and insecure about her social standing, leading her to carefully curate a 'facade of a privileged, affluent, successful business owner' that was crumbling behind the scenes.

Why it matters

This case highlights the potential dangers of financial pressures and ambition gone wrong, as well as the complex issues around domestic violence, inheritance, and the challenges facing small business owners. It also raises questions about how social status and perceptions can drive criminal behavior.

The details

Prosecutors allege that Kouri Richins slipped fentanyl into her husband Eric's Moscow Mule cocktail on March 4, 2022, killing him. She then wrote a children's book a year later, 'Are You With Me?', to help their three young sons process the loss, which she promoted on TV and radio. Prosecutors say Richins felt 'aggrieved' due to her troubled upbringing and insecure about her social standing, leading her to carefully curate a false image of success that was crumbling as her home-flipping business accumulated $4.5 million in debt. They claim she wanted to collect Eric's $4 million estate and run away with her handyman lover.

  • On March 4, 2022, Kouri Richins allegedly poisoned her husband Eric with fentanyl.
  • In 2023, Kouri Richins published a children's book 'Are You With Me?' to help her sons process the loss of their father.

The players

Kouri Richins

A 35-year-old Utah mother accused of killing her husband Eric Richins by poisoning him with fentanyl. Prosecutors claim she was an 'incompetent' and 'intensely ambitious' businesswoman who was $4.5 million in debt and wanted to collect her husband's $4 million estate.

Eric Richins

Kouri Richins' husband, whom she is accused of poisoning with fentanyl in order to collect his $4 million estate.

Brad Bloodworth

The chief prosecutor in the case against Kouri Richins.

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What they’re saying

“She wanted to leave Eric Richins but did not want to leave his money. Their prenup meant if she left him she would also leave most of his money.”

— Brad Bloodworth, Chief Prosecutor

“Behind the facade, Kouri Richins was incompetent. She took tremendous risks. She borrowed money by any means necessary at exorbitant rates. She gambled other people's money and lost. Her business was imploding.”

— Brad Bloodworth, Chief Prosecutor

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Kouri Richins out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the potential dangers of financial pressures and ambition gone wrong, as well as the complex issues around domestic violence, inheritance, and the challenges facing small business owners. It raises questions about how social status and perceptions can drive criminal behavior.