A Utah woman charged with murder for allegedly poisoning her spouse and then writing a children’s book about grief will not face the death penalty if convicted, KUTV reports.
Kouri Richins, 33, is accused of killing husband Eric Richins, 39, by covertly adding fentanyl into a Moscow mule cocktail she made for him more than a year ago.
An autopsy found that Eric had five times the lethal amount of the opioid pain killer in his system.
On Friday, prosecutors gave notice that they will not seek the death penalty should Kouri be found guilty, a decision they reached after consulting with Eric’s father and sisters.
“The State of Utah hereby provides notice of its intent not to seek the death penalty in this matter,” Friday’s court filling reads, according to ABC4. “This decision was made in careful consultation with Eric Richins’ father and his two sisters, who are Eric Richins’ Personal Representative and Victim Representative, respectively.”
After Eric died, Kouri wrote and self-published a book entitled “Are You with Me?” about a deceased father who wears angel wings and watches over his kids. The mother of three promoted the book on radio and television, stating that she wanted to help children be able to grieve.
Court records show that two weeks before Eric died, on Valentine’s Day 2022, Kouri made him a sandwich and he grew violently ill after eating just a small portion of it.
“After one bite, Eric broke into hives and couldn’t breathe,” an affidavit reads. He used his son’s EpiPen and took Benadryl “before passing out for several hours.”
Investigators believe Kouri had spent considerable time plotting Eric’s death, including making financial arrangements and efforts involved to buy the drugs found in his system after he was found dead in March 2022 at his family’s home in Kamas, Utah, about 40 miles east of Salt Lake City.
Defense lawyers have argued that police found no drugs at the family’s home and suggested that a housekeeper who says they sold Kouri the fentanyl is lying to cut a deal with prosecutors because she is facing criminal charges of her own related to drugs.
Prosecutors say Kouri made substantial amendments to family estate plans and purchased nearly $2 million in life insurance policies on her husband.
Kouri is charged with one count of aggravated murder and three counts of possession with intent to distribute, according to ABC4. In light of the decision by the state not to seek the death penalty, Kouri faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted.
In a statement to KUTV on Friday, Kouri’s defense attorney, Skye Lazaro, said: “We are focusing on proving Kouri’s innocence at trial, and have no comment on the State’s procedural filing today.”
Meanwhile, Eric’s sister Katie is suing Kouri for more than $13 million in damages for allegedly stealing money from him and fraudulently obtaining a loan prior to his death.
In June, Eric’s other sister, Amy, described Kouri as “desperate, greedy and extremely manipulative” at a detention hearing, according to the Associated Press. A judge subsequently ordered Kouri to remain behind bars pending trial.
Featured Image: FILE – Kouri Richins, a Utah mother of three who authorities say fatally poisoned her husband, Eric Richins, then wrote a children’s book about grieving, looks on during a bail hearing, June 12, 2023, in Park City, Utah. After conferring with the victim’s father and two sisters, prosecutors confirmed Friday, Aug. 18, 2023 that they will not seek the death penalty against Kouri Richins. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, Pool, File)
