“A property Sister-Children’s Book Author, Turned Murderer
(The Story of Kouri and victim Eric Richins)
I was naturally curious regarding this true story as related to the public on a recent Dateline episode. How could this be that a woman from Utah who was in real estate who wrote an apparently moving children’s book about grieving be involved in a murder?
It seemed so incongruent… like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle that don’t fit.
Eric died on March 4, 2022 under mysterious circumstances related to five times the legal dosage of illicit grade fentanyl poisoning.
Kouri Richins of the Park City, Utah area, is the mother of three children, Carter, Ashton and Weston ranging in age from 5 to 9 years old. She and her husband, Eric had been married for 9 years.
He worked as a successful stone mason. Kouri Richin had a real estate business and was trying to flip a nearly 9 acre Midway Mansion she purchased the day after her husband died. She dreamed of flipping it and selling it for millions.
There were environmental problems as well as financial issues with the property and Eric was not enthusiastic about the purchase, saying they couldn’t afford it.
However, secretly, Kouri was determined, no matter what it took to achieve her goal! In 2022, she was in debt $3.2 million on the property and still owed $3.8 million.
In order for Kouri to realize her dream, she needed settlement money from her late husband’s estate. (Reportedly worth 4 million). This was her main motivation. As we know, as in every human story, there are many twists and turns getting from A to Z.
Among them were the following twists and detours-
There were a few attempts to poison her husband including a drink his wife gave him on a trip to Greece, and a ‘Valentine’s Day
sandwich in which he broke out in hives, saved by an Epipen. The fatal dose the night before his death was with a ‘celebratory shot of a ‘Moscow Mule.’ [A Moscow Mule is a refreshing, classic cocktail made with vodka, spicy ginger beer, and fresh lime juice, typically served over ice in a signature copper mug.] Note - it does not contain fentanyl!
Kouri had a boyfriend who ‘fell under her spell’as she fantasized living
La dolce vida in their Midway Mansion forever;
Kouri purchased several insurance policies. Supposedly, Richins purchased at least four life insurance policies on her husband totaling nearly $2 million between 2015 and 2017. Eric was unaware of these policies, according to the filing, which stated that she had debt of more than $1 million at the time of his death.
A housekeeper/drug dealer named Carmen Lauber procured the fentanyl for Kouri under the guise of ‘pain pills for an investor’ and receipt of payment of over $1,000 in which a check was labelled as ’construction clean.’ In regard to their frequent communications, hundreds of texts and calls were deleted between them from January to March 2022.
BUT…. Eric was wise to his wife’s evil deeds and let it be known to friends and relatives that he was aware she was trying to poison him.
Therefore, he removed her beneficiary in 2020 from his $500,000 life insurance policy and created a living trust and changed his will such that his sister was in control of his estate.
Much to his determent… Eric apparently stayed in the marriage for the sake of his children- A fatal error!
What About the Children’s Book?
“Are You With Me” Book, advertised on Ebay
A year after Eric’s death, Kouri wrote and published a children's book entitled, “Are You With Me?”’and also appeared on a local talk show, explaining the book used as a vehicle for her three children to better understand the concept of grief. ***View this reading below.
Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKcYSchXaPE
It actually is a touching book that asks the question, Are you with me? in multiple contexts when the children miss their father the most.
The second part of the book is an affirmation - Yes I am here with you…. in all of the important contexts. The ending is encouraging and loving.
The illustrations are impressive as well.
So, where does the evil heart fit in?
Why did she appear on TV? Did she want to be seen as a good mother… in spite of her selfish evil needs?
Was this just a clever ruse to use in covering up her crime?
We will never know….
However, as a children’s author, I am insulted that she even published it under the circumstances.
The book was removed from Amazon (the publisher), by Eric’sfamily.
However, severe price gouging on Ebay is supposedly happening according to both Dateline and Ebay.
***The going rate is $5,566.69 (or best offer). OMG!
How low can you get??
More chapters to the story-
Four years after Eric Richens died, Kouri was convicted in March 2026, of aggravated murder, (Aggravated murder is the intentional or knowing killing of another person accompanied by specific, heinous circumstances, making it a capital felony in Utah), attempted aggravated murder, as well as two counts of falsifying insurance claims and forgery.
In addition, she is also accused of witness tampering by requesting via a letter she wrote that certain relatives testify in a certain manner.
Kouri will be sentenced on May 13, and she faces 25 years to life in prison.
Reportedly, the three children are living with Eric’s family and have very limited contact with their mother.
Please share your comments!!
I invite you to read, comment and share other blogs such as:
https://donnagore.com/blog/kod70vly00ppvqftzrnsn0izj56tv3;
https://donnagore.com/blog/in-the-aftermath-of-brian-thompson-two-books-helpful-for-everyone
Thank you!
Donna