A mum-of-three who wrote a book on helping children to deal with grief after losing her husband has now been charged with his murder.
Kouri Richins, from Summit County, Utah, was arrested on Monday (8 May), more than a year after the death of her husband, Eric Richins.
Eric was confirmed to have died on 4 March, 2022, after Kouri called the police in the middle of the night to report that her husband was 'cold to the touch'.
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She told police she'd made Eric a mixed vodka drink and took it to him in the bedroom, before going to tend to one of their children in their own room.
Kouri said she found her husband unresponsive when she returned, and when deputies arrived at the home, they found Eric at the foot of his bed.
An autopsy later revealed Eric had died as a result of a fentanyl overdose, with the medical examiner reporting that he had approximately five times the lethal dosage of the drug in his system.
During an investigation into the death, an acquaintance of Kouri told police that the wife had asked them to get her some 'prescription pain medication'. They delivered hydrocodone pills, after which Kouri allegedly asked the acquaintance to get something stronger.
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They are then said to have provided Kouri with 15-30 fentanyl pills, and three days later, Eric became 'very ill' after having dinner with Kouri at their home.
Court documents say Eric 'told a friend that he thought his wife was trying to poison him'.
Approximately two weeks after this incident, Kouri allegedly asked the acquaintance for another batch of fentanyl pills. Six days after the pills were delivered, Eric was found dead.
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In March of this year, Kouri released her picture book 'Are you with me?', which 'follows the story of a child who has lost their father, but who is reminded that his presence still exists all around them, just like an angel watching over them'.
She appeared on local television to promote the book, and during the segment she described her husband's death as unexpected.
“It’s — you know — explaining to my kid just because he’s not present here with us physically, doesn’t mean his presence isn’t here with us,” she said.
Kouri, 33, has now been charged with aggravated murder as well as three charges of possession with intent to distribute.
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An obituary for the father said that he and Kouri had been married for nine years at the time of his death.
"Eric did absolutely everything in his power to provide his family with every possible opportunity to learn, grow, and have fun," the obituary said.
Emily Brown