A Utah mom accused of killing her husband, after which authoring a kids’s e book about grieving, took out tens of millions of {dollars} in life insurance coverage on him years earlier than his demise, prosecutors alleged.
In line with up to date charging paperwork obtained by The Related Press, prosecutors stated that Kouri Richins purchased 4 life insurance coverage insurance policies on behalf of her husband, Eric Richins, with out his data from 2015 to 2017, together with advantages totaling almost $2 million.
The lady, age 33, is accused of poisoning her 39-year-old husband in March 2022 by lacing a Moscow mule cocktail with a deadly dose of fentanyl. She reportedly advised investigators that she had discovered her husband unresponsive in the course of the evening, and earlier this month, she was charged with homicide.
A press release of possible trigger alleged that Kouri Richins had made earlier makes an attempt to poison her husband. He as soon as grew to become in poor health after she made him a drink whereas on trip in Greece, it stated, and he additionally grew to become sick after consuming a sandwich she made on Valentine’s Day final yr.
In line with court docket paperwork, investigators discovered messages that Kouri Richins despatched to an acquaintance about acquiring medication together with fentanyl and “a number of the Michael Jackson stuff,” presumably referring to the anesthetic propofol. Prosecutors allege that these substances have been used within the makes an attempt to kill her husband.
Earlier than his demise, Eric Richins reportedly deliberate to divorce his spouse and adjusted his will to profit a sibling fairly than her. Three months earlier than his demise, nonetheless, Kouri Richins made herself the only beneficiary, based on native information outlet KPCW.
In line with the AP, Eric Richins met with a divorce lawyer and property planner to chop his spouse out of his will in October 2020 after studying about monetary strikes that Kouri Richins had made with out his data.
These allegedly included her taking out a $250,000 house fairness line of credit score, withdrawing $100,000 from his checking account, spending greater than $30,000 on his bank cards, and stealing $134,000 from his enterprise.
Greg Skordas, a spokesperson for Eric Richins’ household, advised CBS affiliate KUTV that regardless of his suspicions that his spouse tried to poison him, the person seemingly wished to protect the connection for his kids.
“It seems Eric could have stayed in a relationship that wasn’t good as a result of he cherished his boys, and wished to maintain the household relationship collectively,” Skordas advised KUTV. “Perhaps he was hopeful issues would change, however his primary concern was for his boys.”
After her husband’s demise, the widowed mom of three self-published a kids’s e book about grieving the lack of a cherished one. “Are You With Me?” follows the story of a kid whose late father continues to observe over them after his demise.
In an interview with native station ABC4 in April, Kouri Richins stated she and her kids started writing as a strategy to navigate life following Eric Richins’ demise.
The brand new allegations within the up to date charging paperwork have led her detention listening to to be rescheduled. She is subsequent anticipated in court docket on June 12.
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