Utah Woman Sentenced to Life Without Parole for Husband’s Fentanyl Murder

Kouri Richins, a Utah mother convicted of murdering her husband by lacing his cocktail with a lethal dose of fentanyl, was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The sentence was handed down by Utah District Court Judge Richard Mrazik on what would have been the 44th birthday of Eric Richins, the victim.

Richins, 36, was found guilty in March of aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, insurance fraud, and forgery related to the March 2022 death of her husband at their home near Park City. Prosecutors presented evidence that she served Eric Richins a Moscow Mule cocktail containing nearly five times the lethal amount of illicit fentanyl. The medical examiner confirmed the drug was orally ingested and not medical-grade.

During the sentencing hearing, Richins addressed her three sons, who had earlier expressed fear and discomfort at the prospect of her release. “I know today you don’t want to speak to me and you hate me. That’s OK. When you are ready, I will be here for you,” she said. She also accused Eric Richins’ family of cutting off her contact with the children and vowed to appeal her conviction, stating, “I will not be blamed for something I did not do.”

The children’s statements, read by licensed therapists, described feelings of fear and trauma. One son said, “I’m afraid if she gets out, she will come after me and my brothers… I miss my dad, but I do not miss how my life used to be, I don’t miss Kouri.” Another recalled the night of the murder, noting unusual behavior such as being put to bed early and being barred from entering the parents’ bedroom. The youngest son said he felt scared and ashamed, adding, “She took away my dad. If she got out I would be so scared.”

Eric Richins’ family also delivered impact statements. His father described the loss as “a permanent hole in our family that will never be filled,” while his sister called the death “devastating” and recounted how Eric had resisted divorcing Kouri to protect their children. During her sister-in-law’s statement, Richins was observed making facial expressions including smirking and eye-rolling.

The trial, which lasted about three weeks, included testimony from friends and associates who described marital strife, infidelity, and prior incidents suggesting attempts to harm Eric Richins. Notably, a friend testified about Eric falling ill after eating a sandwich prepared by Kouri Richins, which prosecutors linked to an attempted poisoning charge. Another key witness, the couple’s housekeeper, testified that Richins had asked her to purchase illicit pills multiple times in early 2022.

Richins did not testify during the trial, and her defense team called no witnesses. They have announced plans to appeal and seek a new trial.

Judge Mrazik acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, weighing the potential future feelings of the children against the severity of the crime. He said, “It is simply not possible for anyone, not even those young men, to know how their view of this case may evolve over the next several decades. My hope is that every person affected by Eric Richins’ death will, over time, find their way to a state of peace.”

Richins had previously gained attention for authoring a children’s book about grief titled “Are You With Me?” which she promoted on local television shortly before her arrest in May 2023. The book was dedicated to her late husband and was later removed from Amazon.

This sentencing concludes the criminal trial related to Eric Richins’ death, though Kouri Richins faces additional charges in a separate financial case that has yet to go to trial.