Woman accused of poisoning her husband now accused of witness tampering
Sep 18, 2023, 3:09 PM | Updated: 3:22 pm
Kouri Richins, a Utah mother of three who authorities say fatally poisoned her husband then wrote a children's book about grieving, looks on during a bail hearing Monday, June 12, 2023, in Park City, Utah. A judge ruled to keep her in custody for the duration of her trial. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, Pool)
(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, Pool)
SALT LAKE CITY — Kouri Richins, a woman accused of fatally poisoning her husband, is now accused of witness tampering after a handwritten letter was found in her jail cell.
In the six-page letter, Kouri Richins compelled her mother, Lisa Darden to provide her brother information to give a false testimony, according to prosecutors.
The State of Utah motioned for a no-contact order to “prevent the defendant from further witness tampering,” and Judge Richard Mrazik granted the order.
The letter, titled “Walk The Dog!!” instructs Kouri Richin’s mom to tell Ronald Darden to testify that Kouri Richin’s husband, Eric, was getting fentanyl from Mexico, which eventually led to his death.
It states: “Eric told [Redacted name] that he got Pain Pills and fentanyl from Mexico from the workers at the ranch,” Kouri Richins goes on to explain that Ronald Darden can “reword [the narrative] however he needs to to make the point just include it all.”
Richins states in the letter that her brother would probably have to testify to this, but “it’s super short not a lot to it.” She later explains, “it can be short and to the point but has to be done. Upon information and belief. LOL.”
Richins wanted her mom to meet with her brother Ronald Darden, in person since she worried the “house and phone are bugged.”
“Tell [redacted name] don’t overanalyze it. It was a quick 2 min. conversation. LOL Tell him I need him to do this. Bring me home and then we will get those d*** b******!”
The letter was recovered in Kouri Richin’s cell inside a book.
Kouri Richins was first arrested in May 2023 for the murder of her husband, Eric Richins. Eric Richins was found dead in 2022 of a fentanyl overdose. Kouri Richins told police that she and her husband were celebrating and she made him a mixed drink before bed the evening before he died.
Kouri Richins is charged with first-degree felony, aggravated murder, but will not not face the death penalty if convicted.
After her husband’s death, Kouri Richins wrote a children’s book about dealing with grief after the death of a loved one. In June, a judge ordered that Richins remain in custody as the court case moves forward.
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