Utah Children’s Book Author Who Poisoned Husband Will Spend Life in Prison
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- Kouri Richins, a Utah mother of three who authored a children's book about grief, was sentenced to life in prison without parole for murdering her husband.
- In addition to the murder conviction, Richins received consecutive sentences for attempted murder, two counts of falsifying insurance claims, and one count of forgery.
- Prosecutors argued that Richins poisoned her husband, Eric Richins, in 2022 to inherit over $4 million and collect approximately $2 million from life insurance policies she had secretly opened.
- The sentencing occurred on what would have been Eric Richins' 44th birthday, and Kouri Richins, who maintains her innocence, plans to appeal the verdict.
- The case gained national attention after prosecutors revealed that Richins spiked her husband's cocktail with a lethal dose of fentanyl purchased from a housekeeper during a celebration of a real estate deal closing.