Utah mother who self-published a children’s book about husband’s death now on trial for his murder
Fortune
by Hannah Schoenbaum, The Associated PressFebruary 21, 2026
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Utah mother Kouri Richins, 35, is on trial for the murder of her husband, Eric Richins, facing charges including aggravated murder, attempted murder, forgery, mortgage fraud, and insurance fraud. Richins gained attention after self-publishing a children’s book titled *“Are You With Me?”* in 2023, which she claimed helped her sons cope with their father’s sudden death in March 2022. Prosecutors allege that Richins killed her husband by slipping fentanyl into a cocktail he drank, driven by financial motives and a potential affair. The case has sparked significant interest due to its chilling details and the ironic use of her book as evidence in the trial.
Richins’ defense team argues that the narrative surrounding her case is misleading and emphasizes that she will present her side of the story during the trial. Key evidence includes toxicology reports showing five times the lethal dose of fentanyl in Eric Richins’ system, as well as allegations of a prior attempted poisoning using a sandwich laced with fentanyl. Prosecutors claim that Richins purchased fentanyl pills from a housekeeper, Carmen Lauber, who is a critical witness for the prosecution but has been granted immunity and faces no charges herself.
The trial highlights the intersection
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Originally published on Fortune on 2/21/2026