Utah Woman Convicted of Murdering Husband with Fentanyl

Kouri Richins found guilty on all counts, including aggravated murder and insurance fraud

Mar. 18, 2026 at 10:49pm

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Kouri Richins, a 35-year-old mother of three from Summit County, Utah, has been convicted of murdering her husband, Eric Richins, with a lethal dose of fentanyl in March 2022. The jury deliberated for just 3 hours before finding Richins guilty on all five counts, including aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, and insurance fraud. Richins did not testify, and the defense called no witnesses. Prosecutors alleged she was having an affair, deep in debt, and desperate to inherit her husband's estate and life insurance.

Why it matters

This case has shocked the local community and raised concerns about the impact on Richins' three young sons, who have now lost both parents. It also highlights the growing issue of fentanyl-related deaths and the potential for abuse of life insurance policies.

The details

According to the jury foreperson, the jurors were 'fully loaded' with evidence and were able to 'zoom in on the little bits of evidence' to reach their verdict. They were particularly disturbed to learn that Richins had self-published a children's book on grieving just a month before her arrest, which they felt was 'so odd and so strange.' Richins now faces 25 years to life in prison at her sentencing on May 13.

  • Kouri Richins' husband, Eric, died in March 2022.
  • Richins was arrested in May 2023, a month after promoting her children's book on grieving.
  • The 3-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 from Summit County, Utah, who was convicted of murdering her husband, Eric Richins, 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 and the jurors' shock at learning about Richins' children's book on grieving.

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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 highlights the devastating impact of fentanyl abuse and the potential for abuse of life insurance policies. It also raises questions about the role of mental health and the support available for families torn apart by such crimes.