Utah Mom Accused of Fatally Poisoning Husband with Fentanyl to Face Murder Trial

Kouri Richins charged with aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder in death of husband Eric Richins

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The murder trial of Kouri Richins, a Utah realtor accused of fatally poisoning her husband Eric Richins with fentanyl, is set to begin with opening statements on Monday. Prosecutors allege Richins spiked her husband's cocktail with a lethal dose of fentanyl and also attempted to kill him with a fentanyl-laced sandwich two weeks earlier. Richins has pleaded not guilty and her attorneys say the public has been misled about the facts of the case.

Why it matters

This high-profile case has drawn national attention and raises questions about domestic violence, financial motives, and the growing opioid crisis. The outcome could have significant implications for Richins and her three young sons.

The details

Prosecutors allege Richins was in financial distress due to debts in her realty business and believed she would benefit financially from her husband's death. They also claim she was having an affair and told a witness she felt 'stuck' and 'trapped' in her marriage. Eric Richins, 39, was found dead in the couple's bedroom in March 2022 from a lethal dose of fentanyl. Richins is also accused of fraudulently securing a life insurance policy for her husband and claiming the benefits after his death.

  • On Valentine's Day 2022, Richins allegedly gave her husband a sandwich laced with fentanyl in a failed attempt to kill him.
  • Eric Richins was found dead in the couple's bedroom on March 4, 2022.

The players

Kouri Richins

A 35-year-old Utah realtor charged with aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder in the death of her husband Eric Richins.

Eric Richins

Kouri Richins' 39-year-old husband who died from a lethal dose of fentanyl in March 2022.

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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.”

— Wendy Lewis, Kathy Nester and Alex Ramos, Kouri Richins' attorneys (wbal.com)

“What the public has been told bears little resemblance to the truth. We welcome the courtroom, where evidence is bound by rules, not sensational coverage. Kouri is a mother who wants to go home to her children. We are confident this jury will make that possible.”

— Wendy Lewis, Kathy Nester and Alex Ramos, Kouri Richins' attorneys (wbal.com)

“The world has yet to hear who I really am, what I've really done or didn't do. What I really didn't do is murder my husband.”

— Kouri Richins (ABC News)

What’s next

The judge will decide on Monday whether to allow Kouri Richins out on bail during the trial, which is expected to last up to five weeks.

The takeaway

This tragic case highlights the complex issues of domestic violence, financial motives, and the opioid crisis that can intersect in high-profile murder trials. The outcome will have significant implications for Kouri Richins, her family, and the broader community.