Defense attorneys filed a motion on Jan. 25 alleging prosecutors and investigators threatened witnesses with arrest, jail and the withdrawal of immunity ahead of trial. The filing describes two witnesses who say they were warned to cooperate or face consequences. Prosecutors say Eric Richins died after ingesting a fentanyl‑laced drink; charging documents also cite high levels of quetiapine. Jury selection is set for Feb. 10 and trial for Feb. 23.
Utah Author’s Defense Alleges Prosecutors Threatened Witnesses Ahead Of Husband’s Poisoning Trial
Utah children’s author Kouri Richins says state threatened witnesses ahead of trial in husband’s poisoning
Defense lawyers for Utah children’s author Kouri Richins filed a motion on Jan. 25 accusing members of the prosecution team of intimidating witnesses in the weeks leading up to jury selection in her high‑profile murder case.
The motion asks a judge to order prosecutors to produce all communications with potential trial witnesses, alleging messages and conversations included threats of arrest, imprisonment and the withdrawal of previously granted immunity.
Kouri Richins, left, a Utah mother of three who wrote a children's book about coping with grief after her husband's death and was later accused of fatally poisoning him, speaks to her attorney, Kathy Nester, during a hearing, Aug. 26, 2024, in Park City, Utah.(AP Images)
Alleged Witness Pressure
According to the court filing, one witness told defense counsel she felt harassed by a lead detective after she declined to be "prepped" for testimony and asked that questions be submitted in writing. The motion asserts the detective warned the witness she could be arrested and jailed if she failed to cooperate.
A second witness, the filing adds, says a county investigator told them immunity that had been granted could be rescinded if they refused to meet again with the prosecution team. That witness said they had already cooperated and were previously told they had committed no wrongdoing.
Kouri Richins, the Utah mom of three and children's book author accused of poisoning her husband to death, now wants charges against her dismissed.
Defense attorneys described the conduct as "blatant witness intimidation," and say the communications could affect witness credibility and must be disclosed under federal rules.
Legal Claims And Next Steps
The defense argues the alleged conduct may violate Utah’s witness intimidation statute and the state Victim and Witness Rights Act, and points to federal disclosure rules that require prosecutors to turn over information that could impeach a witness. Prosecutors declined to comment publicly, saying they will respond to the motion in court because the case is nearing trial.
Case Background
Kouri Richins, a Utah mother of three who later wrote a children’s book about grief titled Are You With Me?, is charged with aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder and multiple financial crimes in the 2022 death of her husband, 39‑year‑old Eric Richins.
Kouri Richins, who wrote a children's book about coping with grief after her husband's death and was later accused of fatally poisoning him, during a hearing on May 15, 2024, in Park City, Utah.
Prosecutors allege Richins poisoned her husband with a drink laced with illicit fentanyl while the couple celebrated at home in March 2022. The medical examiner reportedly found Eric Richins had more than five times a lethal level of fentanyl in his system. Charging documents also state his gastric fluid contained 16,000 ng/ml of quetiapine, an antipsychotic medication often used as a sleep aid.
Authorities further allege that earlier, on Valentine’s Day 2022, Richins slipped fentanyl into her husband’s sandwich; court records say Eric Richins broke out in hives, had trouble breathing, used his son’s EpiPen and took Benadryl before falling asleep for hours. He survived that incident. A witness identified in court papers as C.L. told police Richins requested fentanyl and that drugs were delivered to her days before the Valentine’s Day episode.
Prosecutors allege Richins’ motive was financial: she purchased multiple life insurance policies totaling nearly $2 million and later changed the beneficiary to herself without her husband’s authorization. Court records say Eric discovered the change and switched the beneficiary back to his business partner. Authorities also say Richins intended to use insurance proceeds to finish and flip a Wasatch County mansion valued at about $2 million.
Richins has denied the accusations and maintains she did not kill her husband.
Jury selection is scheduled to begin Feb. 10, with trial set to start Feb. 23 before Judge Richard Mrazik. The judge has not yet ruled on the defense motion.
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