Grief author Kouri Richins found guilty of poisoning her husband for his $4M estate

A Utah jury has found children’s grief author Kouri Richins guilty of murdering her husband in a shocking case that prosecutors described as a calculated plan driven by debt, greed, and a secret affair.

The verdict was delivered Monday in Park City after jurors spent roughly three hours deliberating at the end of a three-week trial. Richins was convicted of aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, insurance fraud, and forgery in connection with the death of her husband, Eric Richins.

Prosecutors argued that the 35-year-old mother of three had fatally poisoned Eric by secretly adding fentanyl to his Moscow Mule cocktail on March 4, 2022. They said the killing was part of a twisted plan to gain control of his estate, valued at around $4 million, while freeing herself to start a new life with her handyman lover, according to The New York Times.

Richins appeared visibly shaken in court as the guilty verdicts were read. According to observers in the courtroom, she lowered her head and looked defeated while the jury’s decision was announced.

During the trial, prosecutors painted Richins as someone obsessed with projecting wealth and status while privately struggling with massive financial problems.

Her home-flipping business, once promoted as a path to success, was reportedly drowning in debt. Prosecutors said the company had accumulated around $4.5 million in liabilities before the alleged murder plot began to unfold.

Lead prosecutor Brad Bloodworth told jurors that the mounting financial pressure pushed Richins toward a desperate solution. “Eric had to die,” Bloodworth said during closing arguments.

News of Kouri’s second book comes on the heels of a 6-page letter that prosecutors filed into evidence on September 15, and which they allege in court documents she was “engaging in witness tampering,” directing her brother, Ronney, “to testify or inform falsely.” 

According to prosecutors, Richins believed her husband’s death would solve multiple problems at once. Not only would she inherit his money, they argued, but she would also be free to pursue a relationship with Robert Josh Grossman, a handyman she had secretly been seeing.

The prosecution described Richins as someone who “carefully curated the facade of a privileged, affluent, successful business owner,” while her finances were collapsing behind the scenes, according to AP.

Bloodworth called her an “incompetent” business owner who had built a lifestyle she could no longer afford. “She wanted to leave Eric Richins but did not want to leave his money,” Bloodworth told jurors. “Their prenup meant if she left him, she would also leave most of his money.” Prosecutors said that the fatal poisoning was not the first attempt on Eric Richins’ life.

According to the case presented in court, Richins had allegedly tried to poison her husband weeks earlier on Valentine’s Day. Prosecutors claimed she gave him a fentanyl-laced sandwich that caused him to break out in hives and briefly lose consciousness.

Eric survived that earlier incident, but investigators believe the attempt was a rehearsal for the fatal poisoning that occurred less than a month later. On the night of March 4, 2022, prosecutors said Richins prepared a Moscow Mule cocktail for her husband and secretly mixed fentanyl into the drink. Eric later died after consuming the beverage.

The case took on an even more disturbing dimension after Eric’s death. Roughly a year later, Richins wrote and promoted a children’s book titled “Are You With Me?” about helping her sons cope with the loss of their father.

The book focused on grief and reassurance for children dealing with a parent’s death. At the time of its release, Richins appeared in interviews discussing the emotional impact of the tragedy on her family.

However, prosecutors argued that the book became part of the strange and troubling narrative surrounding the case. Investigators began digging deeper into Eric Richins’ death after toxicology results revealed fentanyl in his system. The discovery triggered a broader investigation that ultimately led to criminal charges against his wife.

During the trial, testimony also revealed details about Richins’ relationship with Grossman, the handyman prosecutors described as her secret lover. Grossman, a 43-year-old Iraq War veteran, testified in court about conversations he had with Richins following Eric’s death.

At one point, according to his testimony, Richins asked him a chilling question shortly after the fatal poisoning. Richins asked Grossman if he had ever killed anyone. The question came in March 2022 as the two discussed Eric’s sudden death for the first time, Grossman told the court.

Prosecutors used the testimony to argue that Richins had been thinking about killing her husband long before the poisoning occurred. Throughout the trial, courtroom observers noted that Richins appeared animated during parts of the prosecution’s arguments.

At times, she reportedly smirked, furrowed her eyebrows, or whispered to her legal team while the prosecution presented its case. Her defence attorney, Kathy Nester, strongly pushed back against the prosecution’s narrative.

During closing arguments, Nester attempted to challenge what she described as the prosecution’s missteps. She even filed a motion requesting a mistrial, arguing that prosecutor Brad Bloodworth had crossed legal boundaries during his final remarks.

However, Judge Richard Mrazik rejected the request and allowed the proceedings to continue. The jury ultimately sided with prosecutors, delivering guilty verdicts on all major charges. The conviction means Richins now faces significant prison time.

She could be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison under Utah law. Her sentencing has been scheduled for May 13. The case has drawn national attention not only because of the shocking allegations but also because of the unusual circumstances surrounding Richins’ public image.

Before her arrest, she had gained attention as a children’s author speaking openly about grief and healing after the loss of her husband. The story behind the book, combined with the accusations that she was responsible for Eric’s death, quickly captured widespread media coverage.

Prosecutors argued that the contrast between her public persona and the alleged crime was striking. They told jurors that while Richins was presenting herself as a grieving widow and supportive mother, she had actually orchestrated the very tragedy she claimed to be helping her children understand.

The trial revealed extensive details about the couple’s financial struggles and personal life. Investigators found evidence that Richins had been involved in multiple financial dealings that were under strain, including real estate ventures that were failing to generate profits. Prosecutors argued that these pressures contributed directly to the motive behind the crime.

The defence, however, maintained that the prosecution’s case relied heavily on speculation and circumstantial evidence. Despite those arguments, the jury concluded that the evidence presented during the three-week trial was sufficient to establish guilt.

For the Richins family, the verdict closes a dramatic chapter in a case that has deeply affected the community. Eric Richins was described during the trial as a devoted father and husband whose sudden death shocked those who knew him.

Friends and relatives testified about his close relationship with his children and his efforts to support his family. The case has also sparked broader discussions about financial pressure, relationships, and the darker side of seemingly successful public lives.

As the sentencing date approaches, the focus now shifts to the punishment Richins will face for the crimes. On May 13, the court will determine how many years she will spend behind bars following the conviction that ended one of Utah’s most widely followed murder trials in recent years.

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