Ahead of Kouri Richins’ sentencing on what would have been her late husband’s 44th birthday, her children reportedly hope the court imposes life without parole.
In March 2025, a Salt Lake City jury found Richins guilty of aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, forgery, and two counts of insurance fraud, in connection with the death of Eric Richiins.
A sentencing date has been scheduled for May 13, at the Summit County Courthouse in Park City.
According to ABC 7, the state of Utah enforces an “indeterminate sentencing system,” meaning Richins could be sentenced to 25 years to life for murder. If she is eligible for parole, her release date would later be determined by the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole.
With the death penalty off the table, prosecutors are seeking life in prison without the possibility without parole.
Court documents obtained by The Docket indicated that that Richins murdered Eric Richins in March 2022, by spiking his Moscow Mule drink with fentanyl. A medical examiner indicated that he had five times the lethal dose in his system.
The incident happened inside the family’s Kamas home, with their three minor children present.
The motive, according to the prosecution, was financial gain she hoped to obtain through insurance money.
“The Defendant murdered her husband in the presence of their young children, using a poison, for money, and after trying and failing to murder him seventeen days earlier,” court documents stated.
The couple’s son, C.R. now 13, was nine when his father died. He stated that he’s now afraid that his mother will harm him, should she get parole.
“I’m afraid if she gets out, she will come after me and my brothers, my whole family. I think she would come and take us and not do good things to us, like hurt us. … I miss my dad, but I do not miss how my life used to be,” he said.
“I don’t miss Kouri, I will tell you that.”
The state’s Department of Family and Children’s Services said C.R. had been emotionally and physically abused by the defendant, which necessitated “intense therapy,” court documents stated.
Another son, A.R., who was nearing his eighth birthday when the murder happened, said that the defendant put him to bed early on March 3, 2022, and locked her bedroom door. When he tried to pry the door open, Kouri Richins screamed at him to “go away.”
Richins later condemned A.R. to be a “be a material witness.”
“I don’t want [the defendant] out of jail because I will not feel safe if [she is] out … With [her] in jail, I will be able to continue to feel safe and live a happy and successful life without fear of [her] hurting me
or anyone I love,” he said.
The pair’s third son, W.R., who was in preschool when Eric Richins died, has limited memories of him, but recalled being “scared the night of his father’s murder and wetting his pants while held in
the bedroom.”
“Once she [the defendant] is gone I will feel happy and I will feel safer and relaxed and trust people more,” W.R. stated.
The prosecution stated that should Richins get parole, there is a possibility that she could infiltrate into her sons lives, and possibly the lives of their future families.
“If the Defendant serves 25 years in prison, she could potentially be paroled at age 57. Her sons will be 36, 35, and 30 and likely will have their own families,” prosecutors stated.
“The boys deserve finality and should not have to revisit their father’s murder at future hearings or worry about the Defendant’s potential parole.”
The children are now under the care of relatives, in a “loving environment,” according to court documents.
Meanwhile, numerous family members are expected to provide an impact at hearing. It’s unclear if the three children will be involved.
Check back for updates.
[Featured image: Kouri and Eric Richins/Facebook]
