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A Utah judge sentenced Kouri Richins to life in prison Wednesday, in connection with the 2022 death of her husband, Eric Richins.

Utah district court Judge Richard Mrazik chose life without parole after evidence revealed that the 36-year-old’s three minor sons would not feel safe if she had the chance at parole.

Mrazik stated that given the seriousness of the crimes and her children’s fear, Richins is “too dangerous to ever be free,” CBS News reports.

According to the prosecution, Richins killed her husband for financial gain. She thought she would inherit his estate, with $2 million in life insurance.

“Kouri Richins was convicted unanimously and beyond a reasonable doubt of attempting to murder Eric Richins — her husband and the father of her three children,” Mrazik said.

“And then, having failed in her first effort, of spending the next 17 days, not changing course, but doubling down, preparing to try again, and ultimately completing the act through the administration of poison. And for what? Money.”

People magazine reports that Richins had already collected $1.39 million in life insurance, and now, prosecutors are pushing for her to pay restitution to the companies.

Last year, a Salt Lake City jury found Richins guilty of aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, forgery, and two counts of insurance fraud.

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 children present.

Although the children did not provide impact statements at the hearing, they previously told a therapist that they missed their father and that they were at home when the murder occurred.

The oldest 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 children are now under the care of relatives, in a “loving environment,” according to court documents.

During impact statements, numerous family members, including Eric’s sister, Katie Richins-Benson, who said her brother had been afraid to divorce the defendant.

“He believed Kouri was the most evil person he had ever met,” Richins-Benson said.

“He knew her sons did not like her and preferred to be far away from her. He said he could never allow his children to spend half of their time alone with her.”

In addition to life without parole, the judge sentenced Richins to: