Utah Children’s Book Author Faces New Allegations in Husband’s Murder Case
In a startling turn of events, a Utah mother of three and a children’s book author, Kouri Richins, has found herself at the center of fresh allegations while awaiting trial for the alleged murder of her husband. Prosecutors now claim that Richins attempted to manipulate her case from behind bars by influencing her brother’s testimony through a handwritten letter.
This unexpected twist unfolded when the Summit County Sheriff’s Office conducted a routine search of Kouri Richins’ jail cell and stumbled upon a six-page letter addressed to her mother, Lisa Darden. In the letter, Richins reportedly discussed her attorney’s interest in linking her husband’s death to drugs from Mexico.
Kouri Richins, aged 33, stands accused of fatally poisoning her husband, Eric Richins, with a fentanyl-laced substance back in March 2022, while their three young children were asleep. Prosecutors argue that financial motives were the driving force behind this alleged murder.
Within the letter, Kouri urged her brother, Ronald “Ronney” Darden, to testify about Eric’s alleged trips to Mexico for purchasing “pain pills and fentanyl.” It emphasized the importance of establishing a connection between Mexico and the drugs in question.
However, prosecutors maintain that there is no concrete evidence linking Eric Richins, Mexico, and the fentanyl that led to his demise. They assert that the letter serves as potential evidence of witness tampering, although it remains unclear whether it reached Lisa and Ronald Darden.
Before his untimely death, Eric had taken steps to remove Kouri from his will and designate his sister as the beneficiary. Eric’s family asserted that he had expressed concerns for his life following Kouri’s prior alleged poisoning attempts, including one incident in Greece and another on Valentine’s Day 2022.
The couple’s financial disagreements escalated when Kouri sought to invest in a $2 million mansion under construction in Wasatch County, intending to profit from its sale. Eric disagreed, considering the project too costly.
In a different portion of the letter, Kouri implored her mother to assist in spreading the narrative that Eric’s sisters harbored jealousy towards her accomplishments, asserting that “anything they could do, Kouri could do better.”
It is worth noting that Kouri Richins allegedly finalized the purchase of the Wasatch County mansion just a day after discovering her husband’s lifeless body in their bed. She later authored a children’s book titled “Are You With Me?” which is available on Amazon for $14.99. The book is described as a valuable resource for children dealing with loss and for parents seeking ways to support their children through the grieving process.
As the case against Kouri Richins unfolds, prosecutors continue to build their case against her, bringing forth these new developments.
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