Kouri Darden Richins, a woman from Kamas, Utah, has been charged with first-degree aggravated murder after allegedly poisoning her husband, Eric Richins, with fentanyl at their home on March 4, 2022. A medical examiner found that Mr. Richins died from a fentanyl overdose, with approximately five times the lethal amount of “illicit” fentanyl orally ingested before his death. Ms. Richins reportedly closed on a new home for her business the night before her husband’s death and celebrated with him. She claimed to have made her husband a mixed vodka drink before finding him unresponsive hours later. Lifesaving measures were attempted, but he was declared dead.
According to an affidavit obtained by The Salt Lake Tribune, Ms. Richins threw a party at her Kamas home the day after her husband’s death. She invited her friends over to celebrate, drink, and socialize. One year after her husband’s death, she published a children’s book titled “Are You With Me?” that deals with grief.
Court documents showed that Ms. Richins had texted someone in February 2022, asking for prescription pain medication for an investor. She obtained hydrocodone pills and requested something stronger, receiving fentanyl after three days. The couple had a Valentine’s Day dinner, after which Mr Richins fell sick. Two weeks later, Ms. Richins obtained more fentanyl. On March 4, she called the police late at night to report that her husband was unresponsive.
Ms. Richins faces a first-degree aggravated murder charge and three second-degree felony charges of possessing a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, according to officials. She is a mother of three children.
