Author's Murder Trial: Fentanyl Cocktail Case Unfolds

A monthlong trial begins Monday for Kouri Richins, 35, who faces nearly three dozen charges, including aggravated murder, in connection with her husband Eric Richins' death in March 2022. Prosecutors allege Richins poisoned her husband by slipping fentanyl into a cocktail, driven by substantial debt and a desire for financial gain. She has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Richins, a once-lauded local author, was arrested in 2023, years after her husband's death. Her defense attorneys stated they are confident a jury will rule in her favor, asserting that the facts presented in court will differ from the prosecution's narrative. The defense team claims Kouri has waited nearly three years for this opportunity to present her side of the story.

Prosecutors claim this was not Richins' first attempt on her husband's life. On Valentine's Day in 2022, Eric Richins reported symptoms of poisoning after consuming a sandwich prepared by his wife, who had allegedly purchased fentanyl pills that week. He reportedly told a friend, "I think my wife tried to poison me."

Further complicating the case, charging documents indicate Eric Richins had met with a divorce attorney and an estate planner in October 2020. At that time, Richins had significant debt, owing over $1.8 million. Prosecutors allege she mistakenly believed she would inherit his estate and had opened nearly $2 million in life insurance policies on him without his knowledge.