Grief Book Author POISONED Husband for MILLIONS

A Utah mother who published a children’s grief book after her husband’s mysterious death now faces trial for allegedly poisoning him with a lethal dose of fentanyl concealed in a Moscow Mule cocktail—prosecutors say she killed for money while drowning in millions of dollars in secret debt.

Story Snapshot

Kouri Richins, 35, stands trial for allegedly poisoning her husband Eric with five times the lethal dose of fentanyl in March 2022
Prosecutors claim she was $4.5 million in debt and secretly opened nearly $2 million in life insurance policies on her husband without his knowledge
Defense attorneys argue no fentanyl was found in the home and that Eric was opioid-dependent, requesting drugs from his wife
Richins published a children’s book about grief months after her husband’s death, which prosecutors call an elaborate cover-up attempt

Financial Desperation and Secret Insurance Policies

Kouri Richins was drowning in $4.5 million of debt when her husband Eric died on March 4, 2022, according to Summit County prosecutors. Court documents reveal she had a negative bank account balance, owed lenders more than $1.8 million, and faced lawsuits from creditors. Years before Eric’s death, she secretly opened multiple life insurance policies on her husband totaling nearly $2 million in benefits—all without his knowledge. Prosecutors argue she falsely believed she would inherit Eric’s estate worth over $4 million upon his death, providing a clear financial motive for murder that reflects calculated premeditation rather than tragic accident.

Prosecution Alleges Premeditated Poisoning Plot

Summit County Prosecutor Brad Bloodworth told jurors that evidence will prove Kouri Richins murdered Eric for his money and to start a new life with her alleged affair partner, Robert Josh Grossman. Prosecutors allege Richins attempted to poison her husband twice—first on Valentine’s Day 2022 with a fentanyl-laced sandwich that caused Eric to break out in hives and black out. The fatal attempt occurred weeks later when she allegedly laced a Moscow Mule cocktail with approximately five times the lethal dose of fentanyl. Bloodworth stated she wanted Eric’s money to perpetuate her facade of privilege, affluence, and success—a disturbing portrait of greed overwhelming basic human decency and marriage vows.

Defense Challenges Key Witness Credibility

Defense attorneys are attacking the credibility of Carmen Lauber, the family housekeeper who claims she sold fentanyl to Richins on multiple occasions. The defense points out that Lauber’s drug dealer was incarcerated and detoxing when he allegedly provided the fentanyl, and he later recanted his story, stating he only sold OxyContin. Crucially, no fentanyl was found anywhere in the Richins home despite prosecutors alleging multiple poisoning attempts. Defense lawyers argue Eric was dependent on painkillers and actively requested opioids from his wife, suggesting accidental overdose rather than intentional poisoning. This absence of physical evidence represents a significant gap in the prosecution’s case that raises reasonable doubt.

Grief Book Published After Suspicious Death

Months after Eric’s death, Kouri Richins self-published a children’s book titled “Are You with Me?” about grief and loss, promoting it on local television and radio stations throughout Utah. Prosecutors characterize this publication as part of an elaborate cover-up designed to create a sympathetic public image while deflecting suspicion from her role in her husband’s death. The couple had argued about finalizing a $2 million mansion purchase the night Eric died, though Kouri claimed they were celebrating the real estate deal. She was arrested in May 2023, and her trial began with opening statements on February 24, 2026. Her mother, Lisa Darden, insists she is “a hundred percent” certain of her daughter’s innocence, stating anyone who knows Kouri would know she could not have committed this crime.

The trial is expected to conclude by March 26, 2026, with dozens of people camping outside the Summit County courthouse to witness proceedings. This case highlights serious vulnerabilities in life insurance underwriting processes that allow policies to be obtained without a spouse’s knowledge or consent. The outcome will determine whether Richins faces life imprisonment for allegedly exploiting her husband’s death for financial gain, or whether the absence of physical evidence and questionable witness testimony creates sufficient reasonable doubt. For conservatives who value accountability, traditional family values, and the sanctity of marriage, this case represents a fundamental betrayal of trust and the dangerous consequences of unchecked financial desperation overwhelming basic moral principles.