A Utah woman who authored a book about coping with grief following her husband's death allegedly sent chilling messages to her lover expressing a desire for her husband to 'just go away', prosecutors have claimed. Kouri Darden Richins, 34, is accused of fatally poisoning her husband Eric Richins with a fentanyl-laced Moscow Mule at their home in Francis in March 2022.
Court documents reveal that prosecutors believe Richins used a hidden second iPhone to conduct internet searches about lethal fentanyl doses, FBI investigations, and life insurance payouts. The search history reportedly included queries such as 'what is a lethal dose of fentanyl' and 'how long does life insurance companies take to pay'.
Prosecutors allege Richins was in severe financial distress at the time of the murder, having accumulated $3.1 million in debt and owing her husband $250,000 from a home equity loan. They claim she was planning a new life with her lover and had attempted to poison Eric on Valentine's Day 2022, weeks before the successful attempt.
Richins had portrayed herself as a grieving widow in local television interviews, stating she was helping her three sons cope with their father's death. She was arrested in May 2023 and charged with murder. The case continues to unfold as court proceedings progress.
