Utah Woman Convicted of Murdering Husband After Writing Book on Grief

Kouri Richins poisoned her husband with fentanyl and self-published a children's book about coping with loss.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 2:18am

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A Utah woman was convicted of aggravated murder after poisoning her husband with a lethal dose of fentanyl and self-publishing a children's book about coping with grief. Prosecutors say Kouri Richins slipped five times the lethal dose of the synthetic opioid into a cocktail that her husband Eric Richins drank in March 2022, and that she was deep in debt and planning a future with another man.

Why it matters

This case highlights the disturbing trend of individuals using their personal tragedies as a cover for more sinister acts. Richins' publication of a children's book on grief was seen by prosecutors as an attempt to conceal her role in her husband's death and gain sympathy. It also raises broader questions about the challenges of detecting and preventing domestic violence, especially when perpetrators try to manipulate the legal system.

The details

Prosecutors say Richins was $4.5 million in debt and falsely believed that when her husband died, she would inherit his estate worth more than $4 million. They also allege she was planning a future with another man she was seeing on the side. Richins was also convicted of other felony charges, including an attempted murder charge in what authorities alleged was another effort to poison her husband weeks earlier on Valentine's Day with a fentanyl-laced sandwich.

  • In March 2022, Richins allegedly slipped a lethal dose of fentanyl into a cocktail that her husband Eric Richins drank.
  • In February 2022, Richins allegedly tried to poison her husband with a fentanyl-laced sandwich on Valentine's Day.
  • Richins' sentencing is scheduled for May 13, which would have been her husband's 44th birthday.

The players

Kouri Richins

A Utah woman convicted of aggravated murder for poisoning her husband with fentanyl. Prosecutors say she was deep in debt and planning a future with another man.

Eric Richins

Kouri Richins' husband, who died after she allegedly slipped a lethal dose of fentanyl into his drink.

Brad Bloodworth

The chief prosecutor for Summit County who argued that Richins was motivated by debt and a desire to be with another man.

Carmen Lauber

The family's housekeeper who claimed to have sold fentanyl to Richins on multiple occasions, though the defense tried to discredit her testimony.

Wendy Lewis

Richins' defense attorney who argued the prosecution did not have enough evidence to convict her of murder.

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What they’re saying

“Honestly I feel like we're all in shock. It's been a long time coming. So just very happy that we got justice for my brother.”

— Amy Richin, Eric Richins' sister

“She wanted to leave Eric Richins but did not want to leave his money.”

— Brad Bloodworth, Summit County prosecutor

“They haven't done their job, and now they want you to make inferences based on paper-thin evidence.”

— Wendy Lewis, Richins' defense attorney

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Richins' sentencing on May 13, which would have been her husband's 44th birthday.

The takeaway

This tragic case highlights the lengths some individuals will go to in order to conceal their crimes, even using personal tragedies as a cover. It underscores the need for thorough investigations and strong evidence to ensure justice is served, especially in complex domestic violence cases.