Utah-based author, Kouri Richins, has been labelled a 'black widow' after the court found her guilty of the murder of her husband, Eric, after which she wrote a children's aid on dealing with grief.
One of the most shocking cases broadcast on Court TV has neared its conclusion. On Monday, March 16, 2026, the Summit County Justice Centre found Utah-based mother and children's book author Kouri Richins guilty of killing her husband, Eric Richins, in March 2022. The Grief Author Murder Trial, which has been broadcast live on Court TV since the beginning, has taken an unprecedented turn, leaving viewers stunned. But how did a grieving widow, whose book on grief became an emotional aid for children, become a convicted killer? Here's how the legal officials solved the case.
On March 4, 2022, 39-year-old Eric Richins was found dead at his and Kouri's home near Park City, Utah. His sudden death raised suspicion, and officials later discovered fentanyl in his system upon examination. With his tragic passing, his widow and the mother of three young boys, Kouri Richins, drew nationwide sympathy, especially after she published a children's book, Are You With Me?, aimed at helping kids cope with losing a parent.
Kouri's book, which featured a little boy dealing with the grief of his father's death, racked up impressive reactions the moment it was released on Amazon, with thousands of readers and parents relating to the grieving then-32-year-old soccer mom. However, just months after the book's publication, she was arrested and charged with plotting Eric's death. At that time, Kouri's friends emphasised that she was innocent. Ghostwriter Shane Walter, who was working on a book that Kouri was planning to publish on her husband's death anniversary, told PEOPLE in September 2023 that she was "all alone" and "doing everything a mother can do."
According to her initial statements to investigators, Kouri claimed that the night had been routine. She said she had prepared a cocktail for her husband before he went to bed, then briefly stayed with one of their children. When she returned to check on him later, she found him unresponsive. She maintained that she had no idea anything was wrong, describing the situation as a sudden and tragic loss. Over the years, the case brought forth new forensic evidence that pointed more fingers towards her. Ironically, she was studying for the LSAT and wanted to become a defense lawyer to help those who are unjustly accused.
On March 16, 2026, a jury found Richins guilty of aggravated murder, attempted murder, fraud, and forgery, concluding that Eric’s death was not at all accidental, but a well-planned plot. According to the court proceedings, which continued for almost three hours, Richins allegedly poisoned her husband by lacing his drink with fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, into his cocktail before he went to bed. Hours later, she called the officials for help. During the 911 call broadcast on Court TV, her tone and account became a key point of scrutiny for prosecutors, who later argued it did not reflect genuine panic.
An autopsy later confirmed that Eric died from a fentanyl overdose, with prosecutors alleging the dose was far beyond what his body could handle. Richins allegedly laced Eric's drink with five times the lethal dose of fentanyl. What's even more alarming is the fact that authorities believe this wasn't the first time that she attempted it. Evidence suggested a prior incident where Eric became violently ill after consuming food that was allegedly prepared by his wife. Prosecutor Brad Bloodworth cited Richin's 911 clip and stated:
"That's not 'the sound of a wife becoming a widow,' it's the sound of a wife becoming a black widow.”
Prosecutors have painted a rather grim picture of how the plot allegedly played out in Richins' head. The author was reportedly neck-deep in debt worth USD 4.5 million, and getting her wealthy husband out of the picture would have helped her significantly through life insurance and inheritance. The couple got married in 2013, and shortly before the big day, Eric's mother had reportedly presented Kouri with a prenuptial agreement claiming 50% stake in his stone masonry business. She was entitled to her husband's wealth only in the event of his death, upon which she would inherit his estate worth more than USD 4 million.
In the numerous text messages and witness accounts examined by a jury and nearly 40 witnesses, it was revealed that Kouri felt trapped in her marriage and saw Eric's death as the only way out without losing financial security. She even allegedly forged fake bank statements using the financial information from Eric's company. “She wanted to leave Eric Richins but did not want to leave his money," said prosecutor Bloodworth in the trial. Family members of Eric Richins reacted emotionally in court, with his sister later stating that the verdict brought a sense of justice after years of suspicion.
With the author found guilty of all charges, Kouri Richins, now 35, faces a potential sentence of 25 years to life in prison, with sentencing scheduled for May 13, 2026. Meanwhile, additional financial-related charges are still pending. The couple's three children, all minors, are currently being raised by Eric's family under court-approved guardianship.
The Grief Author Murder Trial can be streamed live on the next hearing day on Court TV. What are your thoughts on this chilling case?
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