During the investigation into Eric Richins’ poisoning, his family members told law enforcement that they suspected his wife was involved, with the man’s sister recalling that he had believed Kouri Richins tried to kill him during a trip to Greece several years prior, according to court filings. In another incident, the documents said Eric Richins broke out in hives and experienced difficulty breathing after eating a sandwich that his wife had made for him on Valentine’s Day 2022, shortly before his death.
At Richins’ trial, one of her neighbors testified that Richins had told her around Christmas 2021 that it would be better if her husband were dead, after the couple had had a fight.
Court filings also showed that Eric Richins was considering divorcing his wife when he was killed, and had argued with her over whether to purchase a $2 million mansion that she could “flip” for her real estate business. Kouri Richins was a beneficiary of multiple life insurance policies on her husband, of which prosecutors said she had bought four, without his knowledge, between 2015 and 2017. He had tried to remove her from his life insurance policies and his will not long before he died. The day after his death, she allegedly signed papers to finalize the purchase of that mansion property.
Within the year, Richins was garnering attention for a children’s picture book she authored called “Are You with Me?” that centered on ways to cope with the loss of a loved one. She appeared on a local Utah television station while promoting it, and described the challenges that she and her three sons confronted while navigating their own personal grief. In that appearance, Richins said their father’s passing was unexpected.
Why This Matters to You
If you’re in a marriage with joint assets or life insurance, this case is a stark reminder to keep those documents current and make sure both spouses know what policies exist. Financial secrets and disputes over money can become serious red flags. If someone close to you dies suddenly and there are unusual circumstances, your observations and concerns matter. Family members speaking up in this case helped investigators piece together what happened.
