**Verdict Pending in Trial of Utah Mother Accused of Murdering Husband and Publishing Children’s Book on Grief**

A verdict has been reached in the trial of Kouri Richins, a Utah mother accused of murdering her husband, Eric Richins, and later publishing a children’s book about grief. The jury deliberated for about three hours on Monday before returning the verdict, which is set to be announced shortly.

Kouri Richins, 35, faces multiple felony charges for allegedly poisoning her husband in March 2022. Prosecutors allege she spiked a Moscow Mule cocktail with a lethal dose of fentanyl and served it to Eric at their home just outside of Park City. Court filings revealed the drink contained nearly five times the amount considered deadly for the opioid.

The most serious charges against Richins include aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder, each carrying a maximum sentence of life in prison. She also faces additional charges of mortgage fraud and forgery after allegedly signing documents to close a multimillion-dollar real estate deal the day after her husband’s death. Richins has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The trial began in February at the Summit County Courthouse in Park City and lasted approximately three weeks. During the 13 days of testimony, Richins’ defense team did not call any witnesses, and she declined to testify. Prosecutors portrayed her as a calculated killer motivated by financial gain.

Family members of Eric Richins had suspected Kouri’s involvement early in the investigation. According to court filings, Eric’s sister recalled he believed Kouri had previously attempted to kill him during a trip to Greece several years earlier. Additionally, documents state that Eric broke out in hives and had difficulty breathing after eating a sandwich Kouri prepared for him on Valentine’s Day 2022, just weeks before his death.

At trial, a neighbor testified that around Christmas 2021, following a fight between the couple, Kouri had told her it would be better if her husband were dead. Other court documents revealed that Eric was considering divorcing Kouri when he was killed. The couple had argued about purchasing a $2 million mansion Kouri planned to “flip” as part of her real estate business.

Prosecutors also highlighted that Kouri Richins was a beneficiary of multiple life insurance policies on Eric — four of which she had allegedly purchased without his knowledge between 2015 and 2017. Notably, Eric had tried to remove Kouri from both his life insurance policies and his will shortly before his death.

The day after Eric’s death, Kouri allegedly signed paperwork finalizing the mansion purchase. Within the following year, she gained public attention as the author of a children’s picture book titled *Are You with Me?* The book centers on coping with the loss of a loved one.

Richins appeared on a local Utah television station to promote the book, discussing the emotional challenges she and her three sons faced while navigating their grief. In that interview, she described Eric’s passing as unexpected.

The court awaits the official announcement of the jury’s verdict in this high-profile case.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kouri-richins-verdict-utah-murder-husband/