Kouri Richins, a 35-year-old Utah mother of three, was found guilty on March 16, 2026, of murdering her husband Eric Richins with a lethal dose of fentanyl hidden in a Moscow mule cocktail at their home near Park City, Utah.

A jury deliberated for approximately three hours before reaching unanimous verdicts on all charges. Richins was convicted of aggravated murder—classified as homicide for pecuniary gain by lethal substance—along with attempted aggravated murder, forgery, and two counts of insurance fraud. She faces sentencing on May 13, 2026.

According to prosecutors, Richins administered a dose of fentanyl five times the lethal threshold to her husband in March 2022. Toxicology reports confirmed fentanyl as the sole cause of death, with levels at approximately 15 nanograms per milliliter—compared to a possible lethal threshold of 3 nanograms per milliliter. Eric Richins had no prior history of drug abuse or prescription drug use, and an examination by Pamela Sue Ulmer, former forensic pathologist at the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner, found no signs of fatal heart disease, stroke, or other natural causes.

The case drew particular attention because Richins had attempted to poison her husband months earlier. On Valentine's Day 2022, prosecutors alleged she attempted to poison Eric with a fentanyl-laced sandwich from a local restaurant—the charge for which she was also convicted.

Critical testimony came from Carmen Lauber, the family's former housekeeper, who stated that Richins asked her on four separate occasions to acquire drugs, including fentanyl, which Lauber testified Richins referred to as "Michael Jackson stuff." This testimony provided prosecutors with evidence of premeditation and Richins' deliberate pursuit of the lethal substance.

Richins, who is a self-published author, released a children's book titled "Are You With Me?" approximately one year after her husband's death. The book deals with themes of grief, a detail that added an additional layer of scrutiny to her actions during and after the fatal incident.

The prosecution's case centered on the deliberate and calculated nature of the poisoning. Richins had sought to obtain fentanyl through multiple avenues and allegedly administered it in a way designed to appear accidental. The insurance fraud convictions suggest she stood to gain financially from Eric's death.

The defense team questioned whether there was definitive proof of how Eric ingested the fentanyl, though the toxicology evidence and witness testimony proved persuasive to the jury.

The case represents one of the most serious criminal convictions in recent Utah history, combining elements of premeditation, financial motive, and the use of a controlled substance as a murder weapon. Richins' conviction on all counts underscores the severity with which prosecutors and jurors viewed her actions.

She will remain in custody pending sentencing in May 2026.

**Sources:** https://komonews.com/news/nation-world/jury-reaches-verdict-in-kouri-richins-murder-trial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hoG59eVSAc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qs_iBt0yvIg https://www.biography.com/crime/a70499053/who-is-kouri-richins-case-and-murder-trial