Utah Mom Accused of Murdering Husband Found Guilty

Kouri Richins convicted of poisoning her husband with fentanyl-laced cocktail

Mar. 17, 2026 at 12:18am

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A Utah jury has found Kouri Richins guilty of murdering her husband Eric Richins in March 2022. Prosecutors alleged that Richins mixed a lethal dose of fentanyl into a Moscow Mule cocktail that she served to her husband, who died shortly after drinking it. Richins was also accused of mortgage fraud and forgery related to a real estate deal the day after her husband's death.

Why it matters

This case has drawn national attention for the shocking allegations that a mother and author of a children's grief book was actually responsible for her husband's death. It raises questions about domestic violence, financial motives, and the trust placed in public figures who present an image of grief and loss.

The details

Richins, 35, was convicted of multiple felony charges, including aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder, which carry potential life sentences. Prosecutors said the cocktail she served her husband contained nearly five times a lethal dose of fentanyl. The jury deliberated for about three hours before reaching the verdict. Richins had pleaded not guilty, and her defense team did not call any witnesses during the three-week trial.

  • In March 2022, Kouri Richins allegedly poisoned her husband Eric Richins with a fentanyl-laced cocktail.
  • The day after Eric Richins' death, Kouri Richins allegedly signed papers to finalize the purchase of a $2 million mansion.
  • In 2023, Kouri Richins was arrested and charged with her husband's murder.

The players

Kouri Richins

A 35-year-old Utah mother accused of murdering her husband Eric Richins and later publishing a children's book about grief.

Eric Richins

Kouri Richins' late husband, whom she was accused of poisoning with a fentanyl-laced cocktail.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

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 disturbing allegations that a mother accused of murdering her husband later sought to profit from his death by publishing a children's book about grief, raising questions about the trust placed in public figures and the complex dynamics of domestic violence and financial motives.