On March 16, 2026, a jury in Park City, Utah, found Kouri Richins guilty of murdering her husband after about three hours of deliberation, concluding a three-week trial marked by several high-profile details.
Prosecutors determined that Richins, 35, poisoned her husband, Eric Richins, on March 4, 2022, by mixing fentanyl into a Moscow Mule cocktail. The jury returned guilty verdicts on serious charges including aggravated murder, attempted murder, insurance fraud, and forgery, reminiscent of other shocking murders of couples.
Previously, the prosecution stated that the woman had attempted to poison her husband on Valentine's Day that same year using fentanyl-laced food, which caused the victim to suffer a severe reaction.
According to case records, Richins faced approximately $4.5 million in debt from her real estate business. Prosecutors argued the plan to kill her husband was aimed at seizing a $4 million estate and starting a new life with a secret lover.
Notably, after her husband's death, Richins released a children's book focused on helping kids overcome the pain of losing a father, a fact that drew significant public interest to the case.
Throughout the trial, the prosecution portrayed the defendant as maintaining a successful image while in reality facing financial struggles and seeking ways to conceal her crimes. Defense attorneys denied the allegations, but their motion for a mistrial was rejected by the judge.
With these convictions, Richins faces decades in prison, with a maximum sentence of up to 25 years. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 13, 2026.
