Kouri Darden Richins, a 33-year-old author from Kamas, Utah, who wrote a children’s book to help kids deal with grief after the death of a loved one, has been arrested and charged with felony first-degree aggravated murder. The charges relate to the death of her husband Eric Richins, who died in early 2022, allegedly after Kouri poisoned him with a lethal dose of fentanyl. Kouri was arrested on Monday in Park City, Utah, and faces additional charges, including possession of GHB. The investigation began on March 4, 2022, when Summitt County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to her home for a report of an unresponsive man.
According to court documents, Kouri Richins said that she and her husband were celebrating closing on a home purchase for her business the night before Eric’s death. She claims to have made him a Moscow Mule in the kitchen and brought it to their bedroom where he consumed it while sitting in bed. The couple’s children were in the house at the time. Kouri slept in her child’s bedroom, and when she returned to her bedroom, she found Eric unresponsive. An autopsy revealed that Eric died from a fentanyl overdose, with the level in his system nearly five times the lethal dosage.
The charges against Kouri Richins came just two months after she appeared on local television to promote her children’s book, “Are You With Me?” The book’s listing on Amazon has since been taken down. Kouri is due in court for a detention hearing next week.
This tragic story highlights the importance of seeking help and support when dealing with grief and other mental health issues. It also serves as a reminder that even those who seem to have a good life and appear to be coping well can struggle with inner demons. The case is ongoing, and we must wait for the legal process to play out before making any conclusions.
