A jury on Monday found Kouri Richins guilty of aggravated murder and related charges in the fatal poisoning of her husband, Eric Richins.
Court verdict and charges
– Jurors unanimously convicted Richins of aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, two counts of insurance fraud and one count of forgery. The verdict was read in court and the jury was polled to confirm unanimity.
– On the aggravated murder count, prosecutors said Richins put five times a lethal dose of fentanyl into a Moscow mule Eric drank in March 2022. The attempted aggravated murder conviction stemmed from an alleged Valentine’s Day 2022 attempt to poison him with fentanyl placed on a bagel sandwich.
– The insurance and forgery convictions relate to policies Richins secretly purchased on Eric’s life — prosecutors said she opened nearly $2 million in coverage and made changes to beneficiaries. The defense argued others with login credentials could have made changes.
Evidence and testimony
– Prosecutors described motive and opportunity: they argued Richins was heavily in debt, had an extramarital relationship with a handyman who helped with her house-flipping business, and stood to gain financially from life-insurance policies.
– Key prosecution witnesses included the housekeeper, who testified she supplied fentanyl the prosecution said was used to poison Eric, and the handyman, whose text messages with Richins showed plans for a life together after Eric was gone. The handyman testified he was not aware of a murder plan.
– The defense disputed witness credibility and argued the evidence did not prove Richins administered the substance. The defense did not call witnesses and Richins did not testify.
Trial timeline and aftermath
– The trial included about 13 days of testimony. Jurors deliberated for roughly three hours before returning the guilty verdicts.
– Richins has been in custody during the proceedings; jurors were not told she remained jailed.
– Sentencing has not been scheduled; aggravated murder carries a sentence of 25 years to life in prison. It is expected prosecutors will seek a substantial prison term; the defense is likely to pursue an appeal.
Personal context
– Richins, a mother of three, previously wrote a children’s book about grief following Eric’s death. Prosecutors said she portrayed herself publicly as a grieving widow in the period after his death.
– Eric Richins’ family was present in court for the verdict. The case has left the couple’s children without their father and separated from their mother while legal processes continue.