Criminal defense attorney Lexie Rigden has analyzed the text and Google evidence that could potentially incriminate Utah mother Kouri Richins, who is accused of fatally dosing her husband with fentanyl. Richins’ family has spoken out in her defense, asserting that her husband must have died from an accidental overdose. The 33-year-old mother of three is facing charges of aggravated murder and drug possession in connection with the poisoning death of her 39-year-old husband, Eric Richins.
In an interview with ABC’s Good Morning America, Richins’ mother, Lisa Darden, and two brothers maintained her innocence ahead of her scheduled court appearance. Darden expressed her belief that Kouri would never harm anyone, including her husband. Richins’ brother, Ronnie, added that the couple was very much in love and happy, and that Kouri loves her boys too much to take their father away from them.
However, prosecutors have presented a different narrative, alleging infidelity from both parties and suggesting that Richins attempted to steal her husband’s life insurance benefits. Eric had removed Richins from his will and named his sister, Amy Richins, as the beneficiary of his life insurance policy shortly before his death. Amy Richins accused Kouri of trying to profit off her brother’s death.
Richins had purchased multiple insurance policies in her husband’s life, totaling over $1.9 million. Court documents reveal that she changed the beneficiary for Eric’s $2 million life insurance policy to herself without authorization.
The family adamantly maintains that Eric’s death was accidental, citing his love for partying and the possibility of unknowingly taking fentanyl-laced pain pills. However, Greg Skordas, the spokesperson representing Eric’s family, asserts that Eric did not use drugs and did not accidentally overdose. According to Skordas, Eric was poisoned.
Prosecutors have also presented a letter found in Richins’ jail cell, in which she allegedly instructed her family to establish a connection between her husband and pain pills, including false testimony. Richins’ attorneys have filed a motion to dismiss the case, arguing that the letter should be deemed inadmissible as evidence due to attorney-client privilege and the resulting unfair trial publicity.
The case of Kouri Richins, the Utah mother accused of poisoning her husband, has garnered significant attention. The ongoing legal proceedings will determine whether she will face the charges of aggravated murder and drug possession.
