Here’s the latest on Kouri Richins, the Utah mom who wrote a children’s grief book and was charged with murder.
Summary of developments: In May 2023, Kouri Richins was arrested in Summit County, Utah, on aggravated murder and related drug distribution charges in connection with the death of her husband, Eric Richins. Prosecutors alleged she poisoned him with fentanyl and used life insurance for financial gain; she has denied the charges and pleaded not guilty. The case drew widespread attention because she had published a children’s book about coping with grief before her arrest, which prosecutors argued was part of a broader scheme.[1][2]
Recent trial status: As of March 2026, reports indicate prosecutors argued Richins killed for money, presenting closing arguments in a murder trial; she reportedly waived testimony, and the defense rested without calling witnesses. The jury was weighing the case, but the article notes the trial’s pace and the defense’s disputes over evidence. If you need, I can pull the exact courtroom status and juror guidance from the latest AP coverage.[3]
What the book was about: Richins self-published Are You With Me? to help children process grief after a parent’s death, emphasizing connection, continuity, and care. Investigators and prosecutors cited the book in context of the timeline around her husband’s death and her broader financial motives.[2][1]
Key questions in ongoing coverage: Did Richins’ actions around Valentine’s Day, the life-insurance changes, and fentanyl purchases reflect premeditation or a distressed conduct narrative? The court records and filings to date show a focus on alleged pre-death planning and post-death financial benefits, but the jury’s verdict (if delivered) remains the definitive resolution of these claims.[1][3]
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A year after her husband died, Kouri Richins published a children's book, 'Are You With Me?' about navigating grief after the loss of a loved one. But investigators now allege she killed her husband with a lethal dose of illicit fentanyl.
www.cnn.comPARK CITY, Utah (AP) — Prosecutors aimed to drive home their argument that a Utah woman who published a children’s book about grief after the death of her husband killed him for his money as closi...
www.dailyherald.comThe dedication section of her book reads: "Dedicated to my amazing husband and a wonderful father."
www.cbsnews.comA Utah jury convicted Kouri Richins of fatally spiking her husband's drink with fentanyl in 2022. Prosecutors said she was hoping to collect millions of dollars from multiple life insurance policies.
www.kpbs.orgA Utah jury convicted Kouri Richins of fatally spiking her husband's drink with fentanyl in 2022. Prosecutors said she was hoping to collect millions of dollars from multiple life insurance policies.
www.wutc.orgUtah mom Kouri Richins is set to go on trial after being arrested and charged with her husband's death. She self-published a children's book on grief called 'Are You With Me?' after her husband...
www.sfgate.comA Utah jury convicted Kouri Richins of fatally spiking her husband's drink with fentanyl in 2022. Prosecutors said she was hoping to collect millions of dollars from multiple life insurance policies.
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