Kouri Richins: Was the Accused Murderer Involved in a Love Triangle?

Disclaimer: The article contains mentions of murder. Reader discretion is advised.

In March 2022, authorities discovered the dead body of Eric Richins inside their house in Park City, Utah. Reports indicate that his wife, Kouri Richins, initially found the body and dialed 911. After authorities sent Richins’ body for an autopsy, the results revealed that Eric Richins died due to a fentanyl overdose. As the investigations moved forward, police arrested Richins’ wife for the killing and charged her with the slaying. Although the trial of Kouri Richins hasn’t begun, court documents reveal that she was having an extramarital affair with a man.

Citing the autopsy report, ABC 4 News reported that Eric Richins had ingested fentanyl orally. Additionally, the amount of fentanyl found in his system was five times the lethal dose. A year later, police apprehended Kouri Richins and charged her with aggravated murder. The outlet stated that the authorities additionally charged with criminal homicide and three counts of possession of drugs with intent to distribute. Kouri Richins denied all the charges against her and maintained her innocence. However, the court documents revealed that Kouri sent messages to a man and texted her alleged boyfriend on the night of her husband’s death.

Meanwhile, according to CBS News, after Kouri Richins found her husband dead and called 911, she reportedly recounted the events to the dispatcher. In the initial rounds of questioning, Kouri told investigators that she made a glass of cocktail for Richins before helping their son to sleep since he was having nightmares. However, when she returned to their bedroom, she found the lifeless body of her husband and contacted the authorities.

Kouri Richins: Was she involved in a love triangle & what is she accused of?

Inside Edition reported that Kouri Richins allegedly had an affair and continuously texted him. Citing the court documents, the publication stated that Kouri kept on sending text messages to her alleged lover in the weeks leading up to her husband’s death. One of the messages stated, “I just want to lay on the couch and cuddle you. Watch a murder documentary and snuggle.” She also messaged “Love you” to the same person on the night of her husband’s death.

During the bail hearing, prosecutors presented evidence against Kouri Richins to put her on trial. CBS News reported that several experts testified during the hearing and noted how Kouri might have been responsible for her husband’s death. One of the experts pointed out the Google searches Kouri made after Eric’s death, which included things such as “can FBI find deleted messages” and “what is a lethal dose of fentanyl?” However, the defense claimed that she searched the queries above after Richins’ death and called them “innocent questions.” After hearing several testimonies, the judge denied her bail and sent her to jail.

In August 2024, the court finally revealed that Kouri Richins, who published a children’s book about grief after her husband’s death, will stand trial. Per CBS News, the judge noted that the prosecutors have enough evidence against the accused. Hence, Kouri will be going on trial for the murder of Eric Richins. However, there has been no change in Kouri’s stance since she maintains that she is innocent. She pleaded not guilty to all the charges against her.

As of now, the date for Kori Richins’ trial has not been set, but her attorneys believe that the murder trial might start in 2025.

Aayush Sharma

Entertainment Journalist by profession and a complete cinephile, Aayush Sharma has been writing about Hollywood movies, US TV shows, True Crime and more from the last 7 years. Previously, he has worked for reputed media outlets such as ANI, International Business Times, and MEA Worldwide.