Utah Mom Convicted of Murdering Husband with Fentanyl

Jury describes emotional deliberations in Kouri Richins murder trial

Mar. 18, 2026 at 7:49pm

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Kouri Richins, a 35-year-old mother of three in Utah, was found guilty of murdering her husband Eric with a lethal dose of fentanyl in March 2022. The jury deliberated for 3 hours before convicting Richins on all five counts, including aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder. Richins had self-published a children's book on grieving after her husband's death, which shocked the jurors during the trial.

Why it matters

This case highlights the devastating impact of domestic violence and the complex emotional toll it takes on families. The conviction of Richins raises questions about the role of mental health, financial motives, and the justice system in addressing such tragic crimes.

The details

Prosecutors alleged that Richins was having an affair, deep in debt, and desperate to inherit her husband's estate and life insurance. The jury found her guilty of aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, insurance fraud, and forgery. Richins did not testify, and the defense called no witnesses. The jury was shocked to learn about Richins' children's book on grieving, which she had published a month before her arrest.

  • Kouri Richins' husband Eric died in March 2022.
  • Richins was arrested in May 2023.
  • The three-week trial concluded with the jury's guilty verdict on March 18, 2026.
  • Richins' sentencing is scheduled for May 13, 2026.

The players

Kouri Richins

A 35-year-old mother of three in Utah who was convicted of murdering her husband Eric with a lethal dose of fentanyl.

Eric Richins

Kouri Richins' husband who died in March 2022 from a fentanyl overdose.

Laura

The foreperson of the jury that convicted Kouri Richins, who described the emotional deliberations.

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What they’re saying

“Even though it was just three hours, I felt like we came into that deliberation fully loaded. To evaluate the case and to look at the evidence we had to zoom in on these little bits of evidence and kind of ignore all the fluff and ignore the drama.”

— Laura, Jury Foreperson

“Everyone just felt like they're hit with a truck. We're like, what? What the hell is this? It was so odd and so strange.”

— Laura, Jury Foreperson

“People were really sad, because they did not want to find her guilty. They were really hoping that she was innocent. And we couldn't come to that conclusion, and it was really heartbreaking.”

— Laura, Jury Foreperson

What’s next

Kouri Richins is scheduled to be sentenced on May 13, 2026, where she could receive 25 years to life in prison.

The takeaway

This tragic case underscores the devastating impact of domestic violence and the complex emotional toll it takes on families. The conviction of Kouri Richins raises important questions about the role of mental health, financial motives, and the justice system in addressing such devastating crimes.