Did Utah mom Kouri Richins poison her husband, then write a children's book on coping with grief?
Friends and family expressed shock and disbelief when Kouri Richins was arrested in connection with her husband's death. This article examines the details leading up to their tragic ending and the subsequent events that unfolded.
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Friends and family expressed shock and disbelief when Kouri Richins was arrested in connection with the death of her husband, Eric, at their home in Kamas, Utah, in 2022. Her mother, Lisa Darden, and brother, Ronney Darden, both believed that Kouri and Eric had a great relationship and were on their way to healing after Eric's death.
A year after Eric's death, Kouri wrote a children's book to help her sons cope with the loss of their father. However, just two months later, Kouri was charged in his death. The real story of Eric and Kouri's marriage begins at their wedding in June 2013.
June 15, 2013: A wedding and a pre-nup
On June 15, 2013, Kouri Darden, 23, and Eric Richins, 31, got married in Utah. They had already had one son and their family was set to grow. The couple signed a prenuptial agreement that day, protecting their individual assets in the event of divorce.
The agreement stated that Eric's stone masonry business would transfer to Kouri if he were to die while they were married. This provision would prove significant in the events that followed.
April 2019: Kouri Richins starts her real estate business
In 2019, Kouri Richins established her real estate business, K Richins Realty LLC. She was successful in buying, renovating, and selling homes for a profit. However, according to court documents, by 2022, Kouri's business was deeply in debt.
Her family insists that Kouri did not steal from Eric and that he was aware of their finances. However, prosecutors allege that in 2019, Kouri began misappropriating money from Eric's accounts and used a fraudulent Power of Attorney to secure a credit deed of trust and withdraw $250,000 from their home equity line of credit.
November 2020: The Eric Richins Living Trust
Late in 2020, Eric discovered Kouri's financial misconduct and sought to protect his assets. He created the Eric Richins Living Trust, designating his sister, Katie Richins-Benson, as the trustee. This move would ensure that Kouri would have no control over his estate after his death.
Kouri was not informed about the trust until after Eric died. Prosecutors claim this revelation increased her motive to harm him further.
