Utah bereavement author charged with husband's murder

Eric Eugene Richins was born on May 13, 1982, in Bountiful, Utah. His parents, Gene and Linda (Carter) Richins, were delighted to welcome him into their lives. Ever since he was young, Eric had a strong passion for taking care of horses and cows. He would eagerly assist his father in various ranch tasks, including hauling hay, feeding the animals, and fixing fences. Eric's dedication to his family was unwavering, and he cherished his role as a loving son, brother, and uncle.

In 2009, Eric ended his marriage with his first wife, Julie Jorgenson, whom he had married in 2005. Unfortunately, tragedy struck when Julie, at the young age of 26, was involved in a devastating car accident in January 2011. According to a report in the Salt Lake Tribune, Julie was waiting at a red light when a pickup truck collided with her vehicle at a high speed of 70 mph, causing it to catch fire.

The driver of the pickup truck, who was later sentenced to prison, was impaired by marijuana and had limited visibility due to a frost-covered windshield. The accident had a profound impact on Eric and his loved ones, as they had to cope with the loss of Julie in such a horrific manner.

Eric placed great importance on being a dedicated family man and worked tirelessly to fulfill his role as a loving husband and father. His three sons, Carter (9), Ashton (7), and Weston (5), held a special place in his heart, and he showed them abundant love and care. Throughout his nine-year marriage to Kouri (Darden) Richins, he continuously showered her with affection and devotion. Eric made it a priority to provide his family with all the necessary resources to support their growth, education, and happiness.

Given his past experience of going through a divorce with his first wife, Julie Jorgenson, in 2009, Eric made the decision to create a prenuptial agreement. This decision was driven by the lessons he learned from his previous marriage and aimed to protect the interests of both parties in his current relationship.

Eric and Kouri had agreed upon a prenuptial agreement, which stated that neither of them would have any claim to each other's current or future income, assets, or businesses, including the partnership-owned C&E Stone Masonry LLC. However, an exception was made in the unfortunate event of Eric's passing while they were still married.

The prenuptial agreement, along with the wedding certificate, was signed on June 15, 2013. It ensured that in the event of Eric's untimely death, the transfer of his assets to Kouri would proceed smoothly, without any complications or difficulties.

Eric made a decision without informing Kouri: he transferred their family home, personal belongings, and his share in the masonry business, which he co-owned with his friend and partner Cody Wright, into a trust. This trust was then entrusted to his sister, Katie Richins-Benson, who was 38 years old at the time.

According to legal documents filed by Kouri, the prenuptial agreement estimated the value of Eric's share in the business to be around $2.5 million in 2013. However, it is stated that the actual value of Eric's share at the time of his death had greatly exceeded that initial estimation.

The relationship between Kouri and the Richins family became tense shortly after Eric's passing. Within 48 hours of his death, conflicts arose between them.

According to Kouri, on the night of March 5, a group of people, including Eric's sister, stayed overnight at their family home. The next morning, on March 6, 2022, Kouri asked Eric's sister to leave so that she could have some personal space and time to grieve her husband's loss.

According to Kouri's claim, she asserted that despite her requests, Eric's sister refused to vacate the family home and engaged in threatening behavior and verbal harassment towards her. When Kouri insisted on her departure, Eric's sister allegedly disputed Kouri's ownership of the family home and even threatened to evict her from the property.

The couple and their three children

Shortly after Eric's sister, Richins-Benson, initiated the probate action to execute her brother's will, Kouri filed her claim against Eric's estate and his sister on March 28, 2022.

Following the death of her husband, Kouri Richins wrote a picture book called "Are You With Me?" specifically designed to assist children in coping with the loss of someone they love.

Kouri Richins recently made an appearance on a television channel in Utah to promote her book. During the interview, she discussed the collaborative process of creating the book with her three young sons. Together, they shared their individual experiences and emotions while navigating the grieving process over the past year. The book aims to provide support and understanding to children who are dealing with the loss of a loved one.

Kouri is Charged With Murder

According to the charging documents, police have claimed that Kouri is accused of buying street-grade fentanyl from a friend over a period spanning from February 11 to February 26, 2022. The total amount spent on these alleged purchases was $1,800. Within just three days of her first purported purchase, Eric fell seriously ill after a Valentine's Day dinner with his wife. He confided in a friend, expressing suspicions that his wife may have poisoned him.

In a previous incident during their vacation in Greece in 2020, Eric had shared with his younger sister, Amy, who was 35 years old then, that he had gotten sick after drinking something made by Kouri. He had expressed worry that Kouri might have intentionally poisoned him.

Kouri Richins is currently held in custody, and her preliminary court hearing is set to take place on Friday, May 19.


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