FILE · UT-2022-KAMAS
CONVICTED · NEW-TRIAL MOTION PENDING
State of Utah v. Kouri Darden Richins
What is the Kouri Richins case pack?
The Kouri Richins case pack is a printable 16-page PDF guide from Cited Cases™, sold for US$9, that explains State of Utah v. Kouri Darden Richins in plain English. It covers the March 4, 2022 fentanyl death of Eric Richins in Summit County, Utah, the charges, the 2026 trial in which a jury found her guilty, her life-without-parole sentence, her pending motion for a new trial and notice of appeal, and the civil cases over his estate, including the $55.1 million wrongful-death judgment. It includes a timeline, key people, five court documents explained, a legal glossary, discussion questions and 50 numbered sources from public court records, official notices and published reporting.
A plain-English guide to the Summit County, Utah case over the March 4, 2022 fentanyl death of Eric Richins: the charges, the 2026 trial and verdict, the sentence, the challenges still pending, and the civil cases over his estate.
Convicted; post-trial motions pending. Kouri Richins was found guilty on March 16, 2026 and sentenced to life without parole. Her motion for a new trial is pending and she has filed a notice of appeal; claims in those filings are arguments, not findings. She is presumed innocent in a separate financial-crimes case.
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- Case number
- 231500139 · Third District Court, Summit County, Utah
- Date of death
- March 4, 2022 · Summit County, Utah
- Verdict
- Guilty on all five counts, March 16, 2026 · Sentenced May 13, 2026 to life without parole
- Status
- Convicted; new-trial motion pending before Judge Richard Mrazik; notice of appeal filed — verified Oct 17, 2026 [source: KPCW, Wasatch County sheriff wants new judge on obstruction case (Oct. 21, 2026)]
- Civil cases
- $55,120,516 wrongful-death judgment for his estate, Oct 5, 2026 · her suit against his trust dismissed Aug 4, 2026 · other civil claims pending
The case in brief
At 3:21 a.m. on March 4, 2022, Kouri Richins called Summit County dispatch to report that her husband, Eric Richins, 39, was unresponsive at their home; he was declared dead at 4:58 a.m. The medical examiner found a fentanyl level about five times a lethal dose. In March 2023 she published a children's book about grief.
She was arrested on May 8, 2023. Prosecutors alleged she poisoned her husband on Valentine's Day 2022 and killed him with fentanyl two weeks later for financial gain, and that the signature on a life-insurance application in his name was forged. After a trial in Summit County, a jury found her guilty on March 16, 2026 of aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, two counts of insurance fraud and forgery.
On May 13, 2026, Judge Richard Mrazik sentenced her to life in prison without parole plus consecutive terms. She has filed a notice of appeal and a motion for a new trial alleging judicial bias, which is still pending. She also faces a separate 26-count financial-crimes case, in which she is presumed innocent.
In civil court, Eric's estate won a $55,120,516 wrongful-death judgment against her on Oct 5, 2026, and a judge dismissed her own lawsuit against his trust on Aug 4, 2026. The estate's other civil claims, including over her realty company and her children's book, are on hold, and the probate of his estate is still open.
In memory of Eric Richins.
What's inside the pack
- Plain-English summary with an at-a-glance fact box
- Remembering Eric Richins, and a schematic of key places
- Three-part timeline (death & charges; pretrial fights; trial & after)
- Key people: courts, prosecution, defense, officials (private people and the couple's children not named)
- Five court documents explained, with links to public copies
- The civil cases: her suits against his trust and estate, the estate's suit against her, and the probate case
- Glossary of legal terms
- Discussion questions
- Full numbered source list (50 sources) and a case-notes worksheet
Contains no photos and no graphic description of his death. The couple's children, private witnesses and other private people are not named, and online theories are not repeated.
Preview pages
Free short timeline
A condensed version of the pack's three-part timeline. Source numbers match the pack's source list. Current as of October 22, 2026.
Eric Richins dies at home; the medical examiner later finds a lethal level of fentanyl. [3]
Kouri Richins is arrested and charged with aggravated murder. [1]
The Utah Supreme Court affirms rulings on jury selection in State v. Richins, 2025 UT 10. [4]
A jury finds her guilty on all five counts. [17]
Sentenced to life in prison without parole plus consecutive terms. [20]
Motion for a new trial alleging judicial bias; a request to disqualify the judge is denied July 29. [24][25]
A civil judge dismisses her lawsuit against her husband's trust, filed in 2022. [31]
Her lawyers cite obstruction charges against two sheriffs, who have pleaded not guilty; the new-trial motion is still pending. [30][34]
In the estate's civil suit, the judge awards $55,120,516 on its wrongful-death claim; other claims remain on hold. A separate order awards the estate $79,005 in attorney fees. [6][31]
An Oct 16 defense filing asks Judge Mrazik to put off his new-trial ruling, release the full, unredacted sheriff indictments and step aside. A Nov 4 unsealing hearing had been set, but after Sheriff Rigby moved on Oct 19 to disqualify Mrazik from his own obstruction case, Mrazik said nothing further will happen until another judge decides that request. In her separate fraud case, her appointed lawyer asked to withdraw and the judge will allow it once a replacement is appointed. As of reports through Oct 21, no ruling on the new-trial motion had been reported. [35][35][36]
Sources for this timeline
- Summit County Attorney's Office, press release (May 9, 2023) — summitcountyutah.gov
- Second Amended Information (Mar. 25, 2024); copy via The Park Record — www.parkrecord.com
- Utah Supreme Court, State v. Richins, 2025 UT 10 — legacy.utcourts.gov
- Order Granting Summary Judgment, Richins-Benson v. Richins, No. 230500262 (Oct. 5, 2026); copy via The Park Record — www.parkrecord.com
- The Park Record, Richins found guilty (Mar. 16, 2026) — www.parkrecord.com
- The Salt Lake Tribune, Richins gets life in prison (May 13, 2026) — www.sltrib.com
- The Park Record, Richins requests new trial (July 2, 2026) — www.parkrecord.com
- KPCW, judge not found to be biased (July 30, 2026) — www.kpcw.org
- KPCW, Richins cites sheriff obstruction case (Oct. 2, 2026) — www.kpcw.org
- KSL, ordered to pay $55.2M to husband's estate (Oct. 6, 2026) — www.ksl.com
- KPCW, grand jury indicts two sheriffs (Oct. 7, 2026) — www.kpcw.org
- KPCW, Wasatch County sheriff wants new judge on obstruction case (Oct. 21, 2026; checked Oct. 22, 2026) — www.kpcw.org
- KPCW, Judge will appoint new public defender for Kouri Richins (Oct. 20, 2026; checked Oct. 22, 2026) — www.kpcw.org
Follow the official record: Utah State Courts, Xchange case search (case 231500139).
Before you buy: common questions
Who is the Kouri Richins case pack for?
It is for readers who want to understand what happened in court in this case: book clubs, students, teachers and anyone following the case, in any country.
How much does it cost and how is it delivered?
The pack costs US$9. It is a 16-page digital PDF download; nothing is shipped. It prints on US Letter or A4 paper, and your card provider may convert the price to your local currency.
What does the pack not include?
Contains no photos and no graphic description of his death. The couple's children, private witnesses and other private people are not named, and online theories are not repeated. It is an independent educational resource, not legal advice, and it reflects the public record as of October 22, 2026. Check the official court record for later developments.
What should I do next?
Look at the free sample pages, read how packs are sourced, see the FAQ, or buy this pack through secure Stripe checkout.
Page last updated October 22, 2026.
Get the full case file
16 printable pages, 5 court documents explained, 50 numbered sources.
Buy the PDF · $9Independent educational resource. Not legal advice. Not affiliated with or endorsed by any court, agency, party, organization or family.