- Kouri Richins, a Kamas mother, was found guilty of aggravated murder.
- Jurors deliberated for three hours after a three-week trial with extensive evidence.
- Richins will be sentenced on May 13, Eric Richins' 44th birthday.
PARK CITY — A jury found Kouri Richins, a Kamas mother and real estate agent, guilty of aggravated murder and all charges against her Monday after three hours of deliberations and three weeks of testimony.
In addition to aggravated murder, a first-degree felony, she was found guilty of attempted aggravated murder, a first-degree felony; two counts of insurance fraud, a second-degree felony; and forgery, a third-degree felony.
Richins, 35, was accused of fatally poisoning Eric Richins on March 4, 2022, and slipping drugs into his food, making him sick, a few weeks earlier in an attempt to kill him.
Multiple family members of Eric Richins were in tears after the verdict was read and as people began filing out of the courtroom. Richins looked down at the desk in front of her as the verdict was read.
Amy Richins, Eric Richins' sister, said she feels like their family is in shock and they are happy they got justice.
She shared a family statement: "Four years ago, our family lost the brightest light. Eric is deeply loved and missed every single day. We are grateful to everyone who has worked tirelessly to bring justice for Eric. Our focus is now on honoring Eric's life and supporting his boys as we all continue to heal."
During closing arguments on Monday, deputy Summit County attorney Brad Bloodworth argued that Richins killing her husband is the only rational explanation for all of the evidence. He said she wanted to leave her husband but did not want to leave his money.
"See through her facade, check her ambition, do not let her get away with murder," he said.
Defense attorney Wendy Lewis encouraged the jurors to look for other explanations, saying that if any are reasonable, they must return a not-guilty verdict.
"They don't have the evidence that Kouri Richins killed her husband, so instead they have tried to show you as much evidence as they possibly can to convince you that she's the sort of person who would," she said.
Richins will be sentenced on May 13, which would have been Eric Richins' 44th birthday.
Prosecutors, Eric Richins' family and Kouri Richins' attorneys declined to give statements Monday evening.
After jurors began deliberating, Kouri Richins' attorneys said in a statement that she has maintained her innocence.
"Over the past several weeks, the jury has had the opportunity to hear the full evidence — not the headlines, not the speculation, but the facts. We believe in the jury system, and we trust the process," they said.
Watch the verdict here:
Contributing: Shelby Lofton; Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com
