Crime Fix with Angenette Levy - 9 Gripping Moments in Kouri Richins' Murder Trial So Far

Episode Date: February 26, 2026

Kouri Richins, the Utah mom, realtor and children's grief book author, is on trial for the murder of her husband, Eric Richins. Eric died of a fentanyl overdose in March 2022 at their home in Summit County. Prosecutors say Kouri poisoned Eric by spiking his drink with fentanyl but her attorneys claim Eric may have been using the drug without anyone knowing. Law&Crime's Angenette Levy looks at the biggest moments in the trial so far in this episode of Crime Fix — a daily show covering the biggest stories in crime.Host:Angenette Levy  https://twitter.com/Angenette5CRIME FIX PRODUCTION:Head of Social Media, YouTube - Bobby SzokeSocial Media Management - Vanessa BeinVideo Editing - Daniel CamachoGuest Booking - Alyssa Fisher & Diane KayeSTAY UP-TO-DATE WITH THE LAW&CRIME NETWORK:Watch Law&Crime Network on YouTubeTV: https://bit.ly/3td2e3yWhere To Watch Law&Crime Network: https://bit.ly/3akxLK5Sign Up For Law&Crime's Daily Newsletter: https://bit.ly/LawandCrimeNewsletterRead Fascinating Articles From Law&Crime Network: https://bit.ly/3td2IqoLAW&CRIME NETWORK SOCIAL MEDIA:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawandcrime/Twitter: https://twitter.com/LawCrimeNetworkFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lawandcrimeTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/lawandcrimenetworkTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lawandcrimeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The evidence will prove that Corey Richens murdered Eric for his money and to get a fresh start at life. Utah Mom and Children's Griefbook author Corey Richens gets her day in court as she stands accused of murdering her husband Eric by poisoning him with fentanyl. It's a crime Corey says she didn't commit. There's going to be times in this case where the state is going to discuss facts with certain witnesses. and they're going to show you the witch. And I'm going to take those same facts and those same witnesses. And I'm going to show you a widow. And for the first time, we're seeing how Corey Richens reacted after she claims she found Eric dead.

What happened today? Together and something at work tomorrow. We're going through the top moments in Corey Richens' trial so far. I'm Ann Jeanette Levy, and this is Crime Fix. It's been nearly four years since Eric Richens died at his home in Summit County, Utah. It was shocking. Eric was a 39-year-old man, a husband and a father, and he died in the middle of the night in his sleep. It was a mystery.

But later, prosecutors said Eric died from an overdose of fentanyl. But there was a problem with that, according to Eric's family and friends. Eric didn't use illegal drugs, and he certainly didn't take fentanyl. It took more than a year of investigation. before police and prosecutors would say Eric's wife, Corey Richens, murdered him by poisoning him with fentanyl by spiking his drink. But Corey says, that's a lie. For a little background, Corey's case gained some notoriety because of the irony of it all. A year after Eric's death, Corey released a children's book entitled, Are You With Me, to help her sons cope with the loss of their dad.

two months later, she was charged and accused of killing their father by spiking his Moscow mule. Since that time, Corey Richens and her legal team have been embroiled in a contentious legal battle with prosecutors. Those prosecutors claim Corey had tried to poison Eric less than a month before he died on Valentine's Day, 2022. And they claim she murdered Eric, believing she would inherit his money and life insurance policy. To pay off hard money loans, she had taken out to fund her dream. of becoming a house flipping reality TV star. And prosecutors say Corey had a lover. But Corey and her team say she and Eric may have had their problems,

but they worked through them and they were in love. So let's get into it. The trial is underway and it began on Monday, February 23rd, with opening statements. Let's start with the state. Here's lead prosecutor Brad Bloodworth. The evidence will prove that Corey Richens murdered Eric for his money and to get a fresh start at life.

More than anything, she wanted his money to perpetuate her facade of privilege, affluence, and success. Fori Richens owned a house flipping business. She would purchase, rehab, and resell homes. She presented herself to friends and business associates as remarkably successful. The evidence will prove that on the day that Eric died, Corey Richens owed over $4.5 million to over 20 different lenders. and she did not have the ability to service that debt because her bank accounts were exhausted and her credit was exhausted.

She had been taking out new loans to include payday loans to service existing loans, but her new credit was drying up. In the five months leading to Eric Richens' death, Corey Richens overdrafted over 200 transatlantic transactions totaling over $300,000. Bloodworth went on to tell the jury that Corey was living a lie. And on the day that Eric died, Corey Richards was scheduled to close on an unfinished and derelict

mansion in Midway and thus take on an additional $3.2 million in debt. She did not have the financial ability to service that debt, to rehab the mansion, or to hold on to it long enough to resell it. The mansion may appear impressive from a distance, but upon close inspection, it is just a facade. On the other hand, on the day that Eric died, his estate was worth over $4 million. And the evidence will prove that Corey Richens believed she would inherit it all. She believed that she would inherit Eric's $2 million interest in a stonemasonry business, an interest that a prenuptial agreement prevented her from getting any part of if they divorced, but permitted her to get all of if Eric died while they were married.

She believed that she would inherit the million or so-dollar home that they lived in, but that Eric owned separate and apart from her. And she believed that she would benefit from nearly $2 million in insurance on Eric's life to include the $100,000 policy that she took out a few weeks before he died. Brad Budworth also told the jury about Corey Richen's boyfriend. Nine days after the charged attempted murder, one week, one week before the charged murder, Corey Richens text message her boyfriend, I have a crazy dream. You quit your job.

I divorce and come up with millions and millions. We buy Midway and live in the guest house and rent out the huge house as a big event center. $15,000 a day like they charge down the road, maybe $12,000 to stay competitive. And we will just run the event center as our daily job and hang out every day. Raise some kids. Have a little farm, deal? Just over two weeks after Eric Richen's death. Corey Richens text message, her boyfriend, a link to the secret St. Martin's resort and spa in the Caribbean and asked, are we there yet?

One month and five days after Eric Richens' death, Corey Richards texted, I think I want you to be my husband one day. And there were text messages that Bloodworth said detectives found on Corey's phone that showed she was up to something nefarious. She got a new phone. And on that new phone, there were the following internet searches. Can cops uncover deleted messages iPhone? Can you delete everything off an old iPhone without actually having it? Can deleted text messages be retrieved from an iPhone? How to completely wipe an iPhone clear remotely?

how to permanently delete information from an iPhone remotely. On April the 13th, 2022, about five weeks after Eric Ritchin's death, detectives informed Corey Brichens that the autopsy and toxicology results show that Eric died of fentanyl poison. thereafter searches on her phone include if someone is poisoned poisoned what does it go down on the death certificate as so prosecutors say that corey's motive for murder was very simple she was in debt she needed money and had a boyfriend on the side the defense painted a much different picture of corey richens for the jury cori's defense attorney kathy nestor conceded in her opening that corey and eric's marriage

was far from perfect, but she said Corey was no murderer. Eric and Corey adored their boys. They were their world. They were in that place that we've, those of us who've had kids have all been in where you spend your days driving them around to soccer and all their activities and they're just the center of your world. And that's how both of these parents felt about their kids. They loved them a lot.

And what's more important is that the boys adored their father, adored them, adored him. And Corey knew that about her sons and about her family. Their marriage had survived through some rough times, and you're going to hear about that. Like any marriage, it wasn't a perfect marriage. They'd gone through a really bad year where they'd both contemplated divorce, and they did what a lot of couples do. They went to marriage counseling, they worked it out, and they decided to stick it out. And they did. Kathy Nestor then told the jury about what the defense believes is a key weakness. in the state's case, the medical examiner's determination regarding Eric Richens' death.

His death certificate reads that the manner of his death is still unknown to this day. You're going to hear testimony that a medical examiner has the ability to declare the manner of someone's death. It can be homicide. It can be suicide. It can be accidental overdose. It can be murder. It can be anything. To this day, the medical examiner, the professional that's the head of declaring how people die in the state of Utah, has never been able to determine the manner of Eric Richon's death. Now, there are five manners of death, natural, accidental, undetermined, suicide and homicide. Nestor told the jury that Corey didn't hide anything from police the night that Eric died. You're going to hear that before Eric's body was even taken out of their bedroom, Corey was told the body was going to. to a morgue for an autopsy. So within an hour of the cops getting there,

she knew there was gonna be an autopsy of his body. And what happens when you have an autopsy? You figure out how someone died. That's what doctors do. They test your blood, they test your bodily tissues. So she knew that. But did she tell the police or the medical responders or the EMS, hey guys, you might wanna check

with fentanyl, my husband used it all, time. Did she do that? Because with one sentence, she could have taken all suspicion of her and made this about a drug overdose. But she didn't. As a matter of fact, she could have staged a whole drug overdose scene with fentanyl pills on his stomach and everything all over the place and say, gosh, you know, I tried to get him in rehab for years and I couldn't. But she didn't. And you know why? Because she told her truth. She told her truth over and over again. And it's exactly what she told that 911 operator that you just heard and you're going to hear over and over at trial. I don't know what happened. Now you're going to hear that Eric Richon's family simply could not

accept that. They needed someone or something to blame for losing someone they loved that wasn't Eric himself. There's going to be times in this case where the state is going to discuss facts with certain witnesses and they're going to show you the witch. And I'm going to take those same facts and those same witnesses and I'm going to show you a widow. Now, we've really never heard from Corey Richens, except when she granted that interview on a local TV station about writing the children's book about grief. But now we are hearing from her thanks to a body worn camera from police who responded to the Richens home the night that Eric died. Okay, well, you cue the video again for me. Corey told the EMTs trying to revive Eric that he didn't have much of a medical history other than asthma.

What does he take? What medicine does he take? Can you find it? Tell us. Okay. Hey, guys. He's had two epis in their can. No shock. I thought. Two of these one in our cans, blood sugar is. What's your first name?

What's your first name? Yeah, let me talk to you at first time. Let them do their work in there. That's what happened today. When you say we were fine, what time did you see him when he was alerted? We had a drink together at night to celebrate something at work tomorrow. Okay.

What time did you guys go to? bed? 930. And then what, what allured you to him today right now? I just, I just, I know when I sleep with my kids, I was wake up and I go back in my own bed. I just crawl over on his side. And he was laying in bed? Okay.

Okay. And he was on, you say he was on his back? Where are your children now? In that room two room. I go out. Please something to come out. Where are the, you? other two at that are awake. And where's that at?

It's their first one you left. Okay. Is there any family members we can call right now? Yeah. I think that's right there. Okay. Yep. I'll give you a phone right now. Okay. They're doing their best. Okay, ma'am. Here, you can use my phone. Does he have any medical conditions or anything like that? Limes disease. So we are seeing Corey Richens in real time talking to a police officer about Eric Richon's health problems. She says he has Lyme's disease, but no major health issues. Okay.

So no heart problems or anything like that? No. I mean, he just said his chest was hurting when he went to bed. He doesn't drink enough water, you know, when he gets on the fight downstairs. I don't know. It just didn't. I was really tired because he got his allergy shots yesterday morning. Okay.

With my son, I didn't go away so much of cattle. And then when did you discover him at what time? About three? Did you immediately call the 911? Well, as soon as I turned over and he was cold. Mm-hmm. I just felt like something was wrong. I mean, I just put the blanket on it because I just thought it was a brutal.

So I just, I just thought I sat up for a minute, and I just didn't feel like it's... Okay. Mm-hmm. Any COVID or anything like that? We all just got over COVID. Okay. And when was that? Okay, so not recently.

Just, they had like a negative test, so I was the last positive test. He had it, so his last negative test was a week ago. Okay. Hey, ma'am, what's your name? I'm sorry, what was that? What the C? You didn't see. It seemed like you did, though.

It's like that gummy as in like a THC gummy. Okay. And who is this primary care position? Who? How is spelled it? How is it? L-E-E-Y. L-E-P-L-E-Y.

When was the last scene? When was that? To the left, she said, went to bed at 9, 9.30. She's not with the kids, because then she goes to bed. when she was at bed, he was cold and happy. He has life disease. He got a pound she shot yesterday.

He might have taken a gummy. T.H.G. Gummy last night. So, other than that, just life disease. I already have to special. M.E. Dix's probably going to be big here. EMTs on the scene talked about what could have caused Eric's death. There's a lot of blood for us.

No reason. Were you first on the day? We were second. The cell was fire guy was here before us. And there was blood before you get? A little bit coming out as soon as we start doing compressions with the Lucas is when the blood came out. Okay. All right.

I don't know. No pulse or anything? No. No. He was cold. I think he was not a long time, but he did not a long time. He was aced to leave. basically the whole time. Okay.

All right. The officer then asked Corey about Eric's condition when she found him. And when you discovered him, was he on the bed? Yes. He was just laying on his body

just felt like heavy. And which way was he facing? Was he facing towards? No, he was just up. Just facing up. Oh, so he's laying on his back? Okay. And then did you pull?

them to the ground. Take the sheet and pull the sheet. Okay. I could do CPR. Okay. What's his highest level of education? It's a bachelor's degree. Okay. Any, um, mental health conditions? No. Okay. How about any, um, any suicidal history? No. Okay. Has he been seen by a doctor in the last 30 days? Has any prescriptions in the last 30 days? No? Has he had a history of falling or anything? Any history of prescription abuse? No?

I mean, no, but he was in high school and stuff, yeah. Okay. He tells me. Can he a reaction to he shots? He didn't feel good from them. He didn't look good last night. He looked pale last night. And I just, I asked if you were okay.

Yeah, but your thing, his chest was hurting, but... Has he had any history of illicit drug use or anything in the past year? No, no, no, never. Okay. Alex Stanley, what the process is right now. I guess he was in good health and his age and everything like that, okay? Our medical examiner is going to come and do their investigation real quick and then also our detective, just to make sure that everything's documented. you know correctly and then from there they'll explain to you what's going to happen most

likely what I'm thinking because it you know he has no serious health problems or anything like that his age most likely they're gonna take his body to the medical examiners office just to make sure that you know there wasn't anything else all right you have you have any questions for me right now no He had allergy shots yesterday. Yeah, and then, and that's what she was saying. What kind of allergy shots, you know? It gets weekly shots.

Hey man, his boy get weekly shots. Like seasonal allergies? Yeah. Okay. Minutes later, Eric Richon's sister, Katie, arrives. Here, he's going to, brother. Corey? Okay.

Is he your one we could relocate your boys? upstairs because there's going to be a lot of traffic. Yeah, I'll tell her now. I'm going to stay all the kids. I love you so. Explain to her if you want to go. Okay. I miss everything.

Her his will, everything. I miss per attorney. I miss everything. We don't have to read that kind of stuff right now. Just with the voice. I'm sorry. Okay, take a deep breath. Take a deep breath.

Was it breathing? Nightbair. So the only information I know from what the medical staff that was here is he was cold to the touch, okay? And it seemed like he was down for a while. So... He was fined at 9.30. I mean, that's when I went to the bedroom with Ashton. I mean, I mean...

Nothing happened. happened, like nothing happened. This is not real. Nothing happened. Like, you didn't, I didn't hear anything. I was right across the room. Like, he was at pain. Why didn't he yell?

It sounds like he wasn't. I know, but I mean, I'm such a light sleeper. I couldn't have heard anything. I just couldn't hurt anything. It was he said. Corey Richens' defense team says that Eric Richon's family made Corey the villain from the very beginning. So let's get to his family.

You saw Eric's sister Katie in the body-worn camera footage. She testified for the prosecution. When you walked into the home, what were your immediate observations of them? So like I had told you, we had gone on plenty of family vacations together. Corey had been on the family vacations with us. I walked in, it kind of flung through the door. And I saw Corey standing on the other side of the staircase. case, she just shook her head at me. Sorry, guys, bear with me. I apologize.

She was not how she normally was when we would go on overnights. She was very well put together. She had a matching pajama-esque outfit on. Her hair was all done up. She wasn't crying like I was. She wasn't hysterical. Just stood there and shook her head and know at me. described how she felt Corey's demeanor changed very quickly the morning that Eric died. Did there come a time when Corey Richards was consulting Ashton there and she was interrupted? Yes. So Breanne Sorensen, which I believe was Ronnie, Corey's brothers, Beyonce at the time, I think they were engaged at the time. she came in to talk to Corey. It was really interesting because Corey was consoling,

and then she immediately kind of stopped and focused on, they would call her Bree. And Bree started talking about the closing of the midway managers. How did Corey react to what Bree said? Corey was very businesslike, very telling Bree exactly who. what to do, and I was dumbfounded. And I looked at Corey and said, you can't tell me you're going to close on that Midway Mansion when my brother just died. And she looked at me, matter of fact,

and said, yeah, absolutely. He has nothing to do with it. The money's already gone through. It's all my business. I'm going to. Eric Richens' father, Eugene Richens, also testified. Did there come a time in early morning of March the 4th, 2022, when you received a phone call about Eric? I did. Yes. Who called you? Corey did. What did she tell you? She said that Eric wasn't breathing.

Where, sir, were you when you received that call? I was at my home. Is that the ranch? Yes. Is it in Hennefer? It is. What did you do next? I got over there as quickly as I could.

During that morning, what if anything did Corey Richens say to you? I don't recall her saying much of anything to me. He also discussed a later conversation with Corey. Did there come a time later when Corey Richens told you what caused Eric's death? There was. I can't tell you the exact date, but it was. was between Eric's funeral and when the medical examiner had declared what he had passed away of. And she called me and said that she had just talked to the medical examiner.

And they had determined that he died of the same thing Linda did and COVID. And Linda was your wife, right? Linda was my wife, yes. What sir caused your wife's death? She had an issue with fungus in her lungs. Help me again. Sure. Where were we?

What, if anything, struck you about Corey Richens telling you that Eric died of the same thing that Linda died? Well, as I said, I called my daughter Katie. Katie in turn called the medical examiner, and they had never received a call from Corey. they had not even released the results from it yet. The medical examiner testified about her determination about Eric Ritchin's cause and manner of death. Okay, so what was your opinion of the cause of death? My opinion of the cause of death was drug intoxication by fentanyl. What opinion did you come to with regards to manner of death?

Could not be determined. Okay, now let's talk about that determination is guided by a statutory scheme. Is that true? Yes, we have classifications that it's divided into, and basically it's for statistical purposes, it's not really designed for other purposes per se. and so we're limited to natural accident, homicide. I'm just blanking here. Suicide. And then, and determined as well.

And so because this investigation was still ongoing when I retired, I felt that could not be determined was the best solution for me to finish my report before I retired. The jury also heard from a crime scene technician who testified about her processing of the scene. The defense was specifically interested in a pill bottle for an opioid prescription hydrocodone. So what happened to the hydrocodone bottle that was sent with the body of the decedent? It's under the medical examiner's office protocol to keep that until they're done.

So you don't have that bottle? I do not know. So all we have is a picture of that bottle. Correct. So it has never been taken for testing by you to anyone. Correct. So if there was fentanyl residue in that empty pill bottle from 2016, we won't know it because you never took it to be tested, right? I was never given the bottle now.

Corey Richon's trial is expected to last several weeks, and law and crime will have it covered for you. And that's it for this episode of Crime Fix. I'm Anjanette Levy. Thanks so much for being with me. I'll see you back here next time.