Utah Mom Convicted of Murdering Husband with Fentanyl

Jury deliberations described as emotional as Kouri Richins found guilty on all counts

Mar. 18, 2026 at 8:49pm

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Kouri Richins, a 35-year-old mother of three in Utah, was convicted this week of murdering her husband Eric with a fatal dose of fentanyl in March 2022. The jury deliberated for just 3 hours before finding Richins guilty 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 jurors during the trial.

Why it matters

This case highlights the devastating impact of opioid abuse and domestic violence, as well as the complexities of prosecuting murder cases involving poisoning. The conviction also raises questions about Richins' motives and whether her actions were driven by financial troubles, an affair, or other factors.

The details

Prosecutors alleged that Richins was having an affair, was deep in debt, and was desperate to inherit her husband's estate and life insurance. The jury found her guilty of aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, two counts of insurance fraud, and one count of forgery. Richins did not testify, and the defense called no witnesses during the 3-week trial.

  • In March 2022, Eric Richins died from a fatal dose of fentanyl.
  • In May 2023, Kouri Richins was arrested and charged with her husband's murder.
  • In March 2026, a jury in Summit County, Utah convicted Kouri Richins on all five counts.
  • Sentencing is scheduled for May 13, 2026, where Richins could receive 25 years to life in prison.

The players

Kouri Richins

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

Eric Richins

Kouri Richins' husband who died in March 2022 from a fatal dose of fentanyl.

Laura

The foreperson of the jury that convicted Kouri Richins and 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

Sentencing for Kouri Richins is scheduled for May 13, 2026, where she could receive 25 years to life in prison.

The takeaway

This tragic case highlights the devastating impact of opioid abuse and domestic violence, as well as the complexities of prosecuting murder cases involving poisoning. The conviction raises questions about Richins' motives and whether her actions were driven by financial troubles, an affair, or other factors, and the emotional toll the case has taken on the community.