Children’s book author sentenced for husband’s poisoning death as judge calls her ‘too dangerous’

A Utah children’s publication writer who erstwhile wrote astir helping her young sons header with grief was sentenced Wednesday to beingness successful situation without the anticipation of parole aft being convicted of sidesplitting her hubby with a fentanyl-laced drink.

Kouri Richins received the condemnation successful a lawsuit that stunned observers with its premix of alleged greed, deception and profoundly idiosyncratic fallout.

In handing down the sentence, Judge Richard Mrazik said helium considered the afloat scope of the lawsuit nether Utah law, including the severity of the transgression and its interaction connected those involved.

He noted that adjacent nether a lesser condemnation of 25 years to life, Richins apt would not person been eligible for parole until astir property 66.

UTAH CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHOR KOURI RICHINS CONVICTED IN HUSBAND’S MURDER

Kouri Richins appears astatine a sentencing proceeding with her defence lawyer Wendy Lewis, left, successful 3rd District Court successful Park City connected Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP, Pool)

The justice said the condemnation ensures Richins "will beryllium incapable to harm anyone for the adjacent 3 decades oregon overmuch longer," portion acknowledging the semipermanent affectional toll connected her children.

He said helium has "genuine concern" for the boys successful the decades up and could not foretell however their views whitethorn germinate implicit time, expressing anticipation that those affected by Eric Richins’ decease volition yet find peace.

The justice added that Kouri Richins is "simply excessively unsafe to ever beryllium free."

Before the condemnation was handed down, the justice warned those successful the courtroom to stay composed.

Kouri Richins reacts to an interaction connection from Katie Richins-Benson during her sentencing successful 3rd District Court successful Park City, Utah, Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP, Pool)

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"This is an emotionally charged situation, reasonably so, but nary outward reactions," Mrazik said.

Richins sat astatine the defence array successful a lime greenish jailhouse azygous arsenic her supporters filled the backmost rows, portion Eric Richins’ household sat conscionable feet away.

Prosecutors called unfortunate witnesses, opening with Eric’s father, Gene, who described a lad devoted to his family.

"Eric was archetypal and foremost an unthinkable father," helium said. "To his 3 boys, his sons were his world."

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Utah writer Kouri Richins allegedly attempted to bargain her hubby Eric Richins' beingness security benefits earlier his decease successful March 2022. (Family Handout)

"The sports teams inactive interruption their huddle by saying, ‘1-2-3 Eric,’" helium added. "Eric’s boys mislaid a father. I mislaid my son."

Eric’s sister, Katie, spoke adjacent connected what would person been his 44th birthday.

"Today is Eric’s birthday. I basal earlier you due to the fact that helium can’t," she said.

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Body camera footage of Kouri Richins is displayed connected a show during her execution proceedings astatine the Summit County Courthouse successful Park City, Utah, connected Feb. 23, 2026. (Spenser Heaps/AP Photo)

She accused Richins of cutting the boys disconnected from household and trying to entree their father’s assets.

"She utilized them arsenic a bargaining chip," Katie said, adding Richins spent years warring for power of spot funds.

Statements from the couple’s children were besides work successful court, describing fearfulness and trauma.

UTAH CHILDREN’S AUTHOR KOURI RICHINS SAYS STATE THREATENED WITNESSES AHEAD OF TRIAL IN HUSBAND’S POISONING

Kouri Richins appears astatine a sentencing proceeding with her defence lawyer Wendy Lewis, left, successful 3rd District Court successful Park City connected Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP, Pool)

"I woke up to sirens… I was scared," 1 kid wrote.

"You took distant my dada for nary crushed different than greed," different said.

In records obtained by PEOPLE, the children besides expressed fearfulness of their parent being released.

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Kouri Richins was sentenced to beingness without parole for sidesplitting her husband. (Facebook/ Kouri Richins)

"I’m acrophobic if she gets out, she volition travel aft maine and my brothers," 1 wrote.

Prosecutors urged the tribunal to clasp Richins afloat accountable.

"Kouri Richins earned this," Summit County Attorney Brad Bloodworth said. "Fathers are not meant to hide sons."

Amy Richins makes an interaction connection during the sentencing of Kouri Richins successful 3rd District Court successful Park City, Utah, Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP, Pool)

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The sentencing fell connected what would person been Eric Richins’ 44th birthday.

During the hearing, prosecutors asked the justice to barroom Richins from contacting her children unless they initiated it, but the justice said helium could not legally assistance that request.

"I don’t similar what I’m astir to say, but nether the law, I cannot," Mrazik said.

The tribunal scheduled a restitution proceeding for July 31.

The defence presented letters asking for leniency, portion a pastor described Richins arsenic progressive successful jailhouse programs.

Richins became affectional arsenic her member addressed her directly.

"Little sister, I emotion you. I miss you," helium said.

Gene Richins makes an interaction connection during the sentencing of Kouri Richins successful 3rd District Court successful Park City, Utah, Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP, Pool)

Richins past addressed the court, speaking straight to her children.

"My saccharine babe boys," she said. "I cognize contiguous you don’t privation to talk with me… That’s OK."

She urged them not to fto the lawsuit specify them.

"Use those opportunities to turn and to learn. They bash not specify you."

Richins claimed she had tried to interaction them but had been chopped off.

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"I person been desperately trying to get successful interaction with you," she said.

She insisted she had not abandoned them.

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"I did not wantonness you, careless of what anyone tells you."

She besides reflected connected her marriage, acknowledging infidelity connected some sides.

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"I fell successful emotion with idiosyncratic who wasn’t your dad… Your dada fell successful emotion with idiosyncratic who wasn’t me."

Kouri Richins was convicted of sidesplitting her husband, Eric Richins. (Facebook/ Kouri Richins)

"We forgave and moved connected and we loved. Our emotion was enough. Your emotion is each you request to disregard the noise," she added.

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Richins was convicted earlier this twelvemonth of murdering her husband, on with aggregate counts of fraud and forgery tied to what prosecutors described arsenic a calculated crippled to cod astir $2 cardinal successful beingness security portion drowning successful astir $7.5 cardinal successful debt.

Jurors heard she closed connected a $2.9 cardinal mansion the aforesaid time her hubby died and aboriginal spent much than $1.3 cardinal successful security proceeds wrong months.

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Investigators testified that Eric Richins had much than 5 times the lethal magnitude of fentanyl successful his system. Prosecutors besides pointed to an earlier alleged effort to poison him weeks earlier his death.

The lawsuit drew nationalist attraction not lone for the allegations, but for what followed.

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After her husband’s death, Richins published a children’s publication astir grief meant to assistance her sons header with the nonaccomplishment — a item prosecutors said underscored the calculated quality of the crime.