While I have been the victim of several instances of very significant deception by people theoretically close to me, I was very struck by a television appearance by Kouri Richins a month before her arrest for the murder of her husband, Eric — who was also the father of their 3 young children!

About a year after Eric’s death, Kouri published a children’s book – apparently with the help of a ghost writer — titled “Are You With Me?” about helping children cope with grief. She promoted it on local news station KTVX-TV of Salt Lake City, saying she wrote the book after she saw her three children struggle with their father’s death.

In May 2023, a month after that interview, she was arrested and charged in connection with Eric’s death by poisoning him. In March 2036 a Utah, USA, jury convicted Kouri of murder after deliberating for less than 3 hours. Kouri’s legal team did not attempt to present a formal defence after a very comprehensive prosecution based on extensive circumstantial evidence involving opportunity a series of motives – both financial and personal.

I followed the case quite closely and believe that Kouri did kill her husband by poisoning him. Despite this, she was psychologically able to ask for and front up for an amazing TV appearance which can be seen and is discussed here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHsuMj4xWcE

This interview with a female juror in the Kouri Richins case is interesting in that this obviously very intelligent juror focussed on data (telephone records and financial records) in deciding that Kouri was guilty. This data focus is not surprising because Kouri showed little emotion during the court case. However, the juror — who expressed some empathy for Kouri — also saw the book and television interview as an attempt to make money (data) whereas I tend to see it more in terms of image management (which is something much of Kouri’s life seems to have been about).

See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPGtk29CX_c

This body language analysis was done AFTER Richins was arrested.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EW0vIHjk-qQ

I don’t like the presenter of this podcast, but some very interesting things emerge from police bodycams. Kouri’s physical reactions seem excessive (and performative), and she is incredibly unconcerned about dealing with the children:

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pH4Xh3XBiZE

Is Eric Richins family partly responsible for his death? Kouri Richins, after years of marriage and 3 children (the oldest being 9) lived in a “family” home that was entirely owned by Eric — ie Kouri had no direct title to it. Moreover, Eric’s family seem to have all been very close to each other and protective of him (some reports suggest a pre-nuptial agreement was presented to Kouri on the day of the wedding by Eric’s mother), and Kouri complained that Eric himself wanted to control her desire to work and have a business.
It seems that if there was a divorce, Kouri would have had a fight for part or all of the “family” home and probably custody of her children. If all this is true, Eric and his family attitudes to Kouri probably contributed to his death!

While I think Kouri’s desire to escape her existing circumstance was the main driving force for murder, this podcast by a psychologist asks if Kouri’s “addiction” to seeking happiness through love was the motive for the murder:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MutqHzQk1d8

How children’s book affected verdict:

Deputy’s Body Cam Reveals Kouri Richins’ Words the Night Eric Richins Died