Jury selection began Tuesday in the trial of Kouri Richins, a 35-year-old home-flipper from Kamas, Utah, who is accused of killing her husband, Eric Richins, with fentanyl. Eric Richins, 39, was found dead in the couple’s home on March 3, 2022, authorities have said. Richins has pleaded not guilty and has been jailed since her arrest in May 2023.

Prosecutors allege Richins served her husband a Moscow Mule cocktail laced with fentanyl, later self-published a children’s book about grief, and now faces a case expected to take weeks as attorneys prepare for opening statements set for Feb. 23.

According to prosecutors, Eric Richins died after drinking a cocktail that contained five times the lethal amount of the synthetic opioid fentanyl. The state also alleges Richins tried weeks earlier to kill him by placing fentanyl into a sandwich. Richins also faces a drug possession charge in the case, the NY Post reported.

From A Night In March To A Courtroom

Prosecutors say the couple had been married for nine years and shared three young sons. Investigators have alleged the fatal drink was presented as part of a celebration connected to the sale of a home. Authorities say Richins later told them she brought the drink to her husband and then fell asleep in a child’s bed after a nightmare.

Richins told authorities she returned to the bedroom and found her husband cold, according to allegations outlined by prosecutors. The state contends the fentanyl was delivered through the cocktail. The case is expected to last up to five weeks, with jury selection projected to take as long as two weeks.

Richins has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, and drug possession. Prosecutors last year filed 26 additional charges in a separate case alleging financial crimes tied to the killing. Those allegations are separate from the core homicide case now moving toward trial.

Debate Grows Over Money, Trust And Motives

The case has sparked debate beyond the courtroom because prosecutors are not only describing a poisoning, but also laying out a narrative centered on money, marital conflict, and alleged deception. Critics argue the allegations, if proven, would show how financial pressure and secrecy can turn intimate relationships into high-stakes risk. Supporters of the defense, meanwhile, point to Richins’ not-guilty plea and the requirement that the state prove its claims in court.

Prosecutors allege Richins’ real estate business was financially underwater and that she was motivated by financial gain. They contend she stood to benefit from Eric Richins’ $3.6 million estate and from life insurance payouts. The state also alleges she obtained multiple life insurance policies in his name without his knowledge, totaling $2 million.

Prosecutors say Richins tried to change a life insurance beneficiary designation from Eric Richins’ sister to herself. They allege Eric Richins discovered the effort, cut her out of his will, and changed the policies. Those details, prosecutors argue, provide context for why the state is pressing an aggravated murder charge.

Alleged Affair And Messages Under Scrutiny

Prosecutors also claim Richins was having an affair with her handyman, Robert Grossman. They allege that a day after the first attempted poisoning, she sent Grossman a text saying, “If [Eric] could just go away … life would be perfect.” The state is expected to rely on digital communications as part of its timeline.

Prosecutors further allege that during the week of Eric Richins’ death, Richins messaged Grossman, “Life is going to be different, I promise. Hang in there until Friday.” The state has alleged the fatal cocktail was made under the pretense of celebrating a home sale. Richins has not admitted wrongdoing and continues to contest the charges.

While the legal fight centers on what happened in March 2022, the public’s focus expanded in 2023 after Richins’ book promotion. About a year after Eric Richins’ death, she self-published an illustrated children’s book titled “Are You With Me?” The book was dedicated “to my amazing husband and a wonderful father,” according to published materials.

Children’s Book Promotion Added Public Attention

Richins promoted the book on the local TV segment “Good Things Utah” about a month before her arrest, according to the case timeline. On the program, she said, “We have three little boys, 10, 9, and 6, and my kids and I kind of wrote this book on the different emotions and grieving processes that we’ve experienced in the last year.” She also said Eric Richins’ death “[It] completely took us all by shock.”

The book was described in promotional language as a resource for children dealing with loss and for parents seeking ways to support them. It was sold for $14.99 and was removed from Amazon after her arrest, according to the facts outlined in the case history. For many observers, the timing of the marketing became inseparable from the criminal allegations that followed.

Richins was arrested in May 2023 and has remained in custody since then. With jury selection underway, attorneys are expected to question potential jurors about whether they have heard about the book, the television appearance, or other pretrial publicity. Opening statements are set for Feb. 23.

Why This Story Matters

This case matters to the community because it tests how the justice system handles allegations of poisoning inside a home, where evidence can be complex, and timelines are often disputed. It also underscores how financial documents, insurance records, and digital messages can become central to modern criminal prosecutions. With three children involved and a high-profile book promotion preceding the arrest, the proceedings are likely to remain a point of local and national attention.

Lessons to Learn

1. Treat unexpected changes in insurance or estate planning as a serious red flag and seek independent advice; financial transparency can reduce misunderstandings, even though it cannot prevent every crime.
2. Keep clear records of major financial decisions, including who is listed as a beneficiary, because documentation can protect families when disputes arise.
3. If you ever feel unsafe at home or suspect tampering with food or drinks, prioritize your safety by seeking help from trusted contacts and authorities.

Remember that crime can happen to anyone, and responsibility always lies with the offender. No precaution guarantees safety, and no victim should ever be blamed for another person’s actions.

In the case against Richins, prosecutors allege Eric Richins was killed on March 3, 2022, after drinking a Moscow Mule containing a lethal fentanyl dose, following an earlier alleged attempt involving a sandwich. They also allege financial strain, disputed insurance activity, and texts with Robert Grossman, while Richins maintains her innocence and has pleaded not guilty. After Eric Richins’ death, she promoted a self-published children’s grief book on local TV before being arrested in May 2023, and the trial is now moving forward with jury selection expected to take up to two weeks and opening statements scheduled for Feb. 23.