Hidden True Crime - Unhinged Google Searches, Estate Drama, & Wild Memes | Kouri Richins Trial Day 1 Full Recap

Episode Date: February 24, 2026

After nearly four years of twists, motions, and relentless speculation, the trial of Kouri Richins is finally underway—and day one did not disappoint. In this episode, we break down the explosive opening statements from both sides in the death of Eric Richins, who was found with five times the lethal dose of fentanyl in his system inside the couple’s Utah home. Prosecutors allege a calculated murder fueled by financial collapse, a secret boyfriend, life insurance policies, and a “fresh start” motive—laying out damning text messages, deleted phone data, alleged pill purchases, and claims of a staged 911 call. The defense counters with a dramatically different narrative: a grieving widow, a flawed investigation, mishandled evidence, family interference, and a manner of death still officially listed as undetermined. From emotional testimony by Eric’s father and sister to tense cross-examinations about trusts, life insurance, divorce plans, and who really controlled the narrative from day one, we walk you through every key moment of testimony, the body cam footage, and the battle over what happened between 9:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. This is where the state must prove its case—and where reasonable doubt takes center stage. Sponsor: Rula: Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts at Rula for just $15 per session with insurance at https://www.rula.com/HIDDEN #rulapod About Hidden True Crime What started as a simple conversation at their dinner table became a captivating podcast. Join the dynamic duo of Dr. John Matthias, a criminal psychologist, and Lauren Matthias, an investigative journalist, as they delve into the psychological facets of unthinkable crimes every week. Their unique perspectives and in-depth analysis offer a fresh take on true crime storytelling. Thank you for your support through sponsorships, subscribing, listening, and becoming a Patreon member at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/HiddenTrueCrime⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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following this case from the very beginning with all of you, and the trial against Corey Richens has officially begun. And what a day, right? It's been almost four. years since Eric Richens was found dead in the early morning hours of March 4th, 2022 in his Utah home. Toxicology later showed he had ingested about five times the lethal dose of fentanyl. And at the time, his death shocked their community in Camus, Utah. His wife, Corey Richens, was originally seen as a grieving widow. That is until she was arrested over a year later in May of 2023.

and since that arrest, more than 1,000 days have passed. Can you believe that 1,000 days? Corey has been held in the Summit County Jail without bail for over 1,000 days, charged with aggravated murder and several other felonies tied to Eric's death. And what started as one criminal case has gradually grown into a legal maze, with so many twists and turns, with nearly 1,000, 600 court entries and at least a dozen terabytes, a dozen terabytes of potential evidence. That is an almost unbelievable amount of material to me. I almost don't believe that,

but here we are, yes, terabytes a dozen. And if you have been following this case with me from the very beginning, you know that it has never been quiet. Before Corey's arrest, she even published a children's book titled, Are You With Me? It was written with her three sons in mind as a way to help them process and grieve Eric's death, their father's death. And then just a month later, she was arrested and accused by Summit County prosecutors of poisoning Eric for financial gain. That's the motive, financial gain. Prosecutors allege that she purchased $1,800, $800,000, worth of fentanyl in the weeks leading up to his death. They claim she had a financial motive pointing to life insurance policies, trust disputes, and alleged attempts to benefit from Eric's assets.

They also say that Corey's phone data shows inconsistencies in her account of that night, including messages that were sent and later deleted and questions about whether CPR was actually even performed on Eric that night. The defense now led by attorneys Kathy Nestor and Wendy Lewis say the public narrative has been dominated by the prosecution from day one. And in a statement ahead of trial, they say Corey has been waiting nearly three years for this moment, the chance to finally have the facts heard by a jury instead of filtered through headlines, the media, and podcasts. They maintain that she is innocent and say that the state cannot prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. And along the way, this case has taken so many twists. There was controversy over

a letter prosecutors referred to as the walk the dog letter, the infamous walk the dog letter, which they argued that suggested Corey was attempting to influence witness testimony. But the defense counter that it was simply part of another fictional writing project of Corrie's. There were multiple attempts to move the trial out of Summit County due to concerns about finding an impartial jury, but each time, Judge Richard Morazick denied the request. The case was even appealed to the Utah Supreme Court, and they ultimately declined to intervene, which has finally cleared the way for trial to proceed locally in Summit County. Corey's charges have also expanded in addition to aggravated murder and attempted criminal homicide.

There are charges tied to alleged false insurance claims in forgery. Separate financial crime charges were filed in 2025. And those will be handled in a different case. So we might have another trial ahead of us. And at one point, prosecutors added an attempted murder charge, another, an attempted murder charge along with the murder charge related to a Valentine's Day incident in February of 2022. The legal back and forth has been constant. There have been charges and changes in defense teams. There have been renewed bail requests, all denied, by the way. There have been

debates over jury instructions, evidence and timelines. And through it all, Corey has remained in custody. Jury selection began on February 10th and wrapped up within a few days. Eight jurors and four alternates were seated. The trial is expected to last five weeks running Monday through Thursday. And honestly, I thought that was a little long. But after today, I'm thinking that it might last all five weeks. We'll see.

And they say they have at least 1,000 exhibits and testimonies from around 10 experts. and potentially up to 100 witnesses. So yeah, five weeks. So after years of waiting, months of delays, and countless motions, Corey maintaining her innocence, we are finally at the point where the evidence will be presented in open court. No more hearings, no more documents being dissected line by line. This is where the state has to prove its case officially.

And where the defense is to challenge every piece. piece of it. Day one is officially underway. What a day, right? I watched it all with you on our live stream. Prosecutor Brad Bloodworth began the state's opening statement by taking the jury back to the evening of March 3rd, 2022 inside the Richens family home in Camus, Utah. Corrie Richens, her husband, Eric Richens, and their three young sons were together. Carter was nine. Ashton, was seven and Weston was five. Bloodworth told the jury that Eric lived for his boys. At 7.22 p.m., Corey received a text message from her boyfriend and lover Robert Josh Grossman. Yes, so there's also a lover involved beyond the financial motive. And the message included an

image of two people romantically kissing with the caption, Love You. And at 8.36 p.m., Corey responded, love you. And later that evening, after the boys went to bed, Eric, Corey made Eric a drink and brought it to him in their bedroom. He drank it while sitting on the bed. She then left the room. And around 3 a.m., she returned and later claimed that she realized that Eric felt cold. She nudged him and he didn't respond. She described him as stiff and pale with his mouth wide open. However, phone data established a more detailed timeline at 306 a.m. Corey unlocked her phone beginning at 308 a.m. She traveled approximately 243 feet with that phone.

She unlocked it again at 310, 315, and twice at 319. At 321 a.m. She called 911. Paramedics arrived, but were unable to revive Eric. He had no pulse and was cold to the touch. He was pronounced dead at 3.58 a.m. on March 4th, and first responders believed he had been dead for some time. Bloodworth told jurors the evidence would show this was not an accident. He stated that the state of Utah would prove that Corey Richens poisoned her husband with fentanyl and that this was an aggravated murder case.

He further stated that two weeks before Eric's death, Corey attempted to murder him. Two weeks before his death attempted to murder him. And two weeks before that, she fraudulently took out a life insurance policy on him. And two weeks after his death, she filed a fraudulent claim on another policy. The state's theory of motive is centered on money and what Bloodworth described as Corey's desire for a fresh start. He said that the evidence will show that on the day Eric died, Corey owed more than $4.5 million to over 20 different lenders. She operated a house flipping business and portrayed herself as successful and affluent. But according to the prosecution, this was all a facade and her finances were absolutely collapsing.

In the five months leading up to Eric's death, she overdrafted more than 200 transactions totaling over 3,000. totaling over $300,000. She had been taking out new loans, including payday loans, to service existing debt. But her available credit was running out, and on the day Eric died, she was scheduled to close on an unfinished and deteriorating mansion in Midway, Utah, taking on an additional $3.2 million in debt. Bloodworth told the jury, she didn't have the financial ability to service that debt. complete renovations or hold the property long enough to resell it. In contrast, well, Eric's estate was worth more than $4 million. The state alleged that Corey believed she would inherit his $2 million interest in his stone masonry business, which she would not receive in a divorce because of their

prenuptial agreement. However, she would receive it if, and only if Eric died while they were married. She also believed she would inherit the home he owned separately and benefit from nearly $2 million in life insurance, including a $100,000 policy she had taken out shortly before his death. Bloodworth then addressed what he described as the fresh start motive, which overlapped with the financial motive. He told jurors that Corey was chronically unhappy in her marriage and had consulted with a divorce attorney in the months leading up to Eric's death. Three months before he died, she booked a $4,000 five-night, all-inclusive trip to secret St. Martin's resort and spa in the Caribbean with her boyfriend. They were scheduled to check in the month after Eric died. Bloodworth then presented text messages. between Corey and her boyfriend.

Fifteen days before the alleged murderer, she wrote in these text messages, quote, if I was divorced right now and asked you to marry me tomorrow, you would. I just want to lay on the couch and cuddle you, watch a murder documentary, and snuggle. End quote. How ironic. Eleven days before Eric's death, she texted, Babe, I miss you. I want you today, every day, not just sexually, but physically.

mentally, every day when I wake up, I do want a future together. I do want you to figure life out together. If he could just go away and you could just be here, life would be so perfect, end quote. Well, one week before Eric's death, she described a crazy dream in which she divorces, comes up with millions and millions, buys the mansion in Midway, and builds a life running an event center with her boyfriend. Two weeks after Eric's death, she sent him a link to the resort and asked, are we there yet? One month and five days after his death, she wrote, I think I want you to be my husband one day. Bloodworth then turned to the attempted murder charge. Carmen Lauber, a house cleaner, who had known Corey for nearly nine years and had a criminal history involving drugs,

allegedly purchased illicit pills at Corey's request on February 11, 2022. The pills were bought from a street dealer named Robert Crozier at a Maverick gas station in Draper, Utah. On Valentine's Day, February 14th, Corey purchased a sandwich from the Mear Lake Diner and left it for Eric before leaving town to meet her boyfriend an hour away. Well, at 1133 that morning, Eric texted Corey, quote, I'm going to lay down for a bit. If I don't start getting better, I'm going to head to the hospital soon. End quote. Well, shortly afterward, all activity on his phone stopped for about 90 minutes during the middle of a workday. And when it resumed, he called two close friends, who later described him as sounding scared,

confused and sad. According to the state, a few days later, Corey asked Carmen if she could get something stronger. And on February 26, approximately five or six days before Eric's death, Carmen again purchased pills from the same dealer at the same Maverick location. And those pills were left at a home. Corey was finishing renovating. The prosecution stated that the pills contained fentanyl. The autopsy and toxicology results showed that Eric died of fentanyl poisoning. He had several times a lethal amount of fentanyl in his blood and additional fentanyl in his stomach. Bloodworth told jurors that the amount was intentional. It was not accidental.

The state also described evidence of what it called consciousness of guilt. So after Valentine's Day, when confronted about Eric's reaction, Corey texted a friend claiming that he never broke out in hives or ever used an epipan. On the morning of Eric's death, she wrote in a notebook that she entered the bedroom at 3.20 a.m. nudged him and immediately called 911. Even though phone data showed us, she unlocked her phone at least 15 minutes earlier than that time she wrote down. Text messages and data from her phone from the two months before Eric's death and a week or two after, they were deleted.

And after police seized that phone and she obtained. a new one. Internet searches included questions about whether police could uncover deleted iPhone messages, whether deleted texts could be retrieved, and how to completely wipe an iPhone remotely. After detectives informed her on April 13th that Eric had died of fentanyl poisoning, additional searches included what poisoning would say on a death certificate. Really, what searches? who searches, I just want to say, what poisoning would say or would come out on a death certificate? It was a shocking text to learn about or search, not text, excuse me, Google search. And whether police could force a lie detector test.

She also searched women, Utah prison, and luxury prisons for the rich in America. Nearly a year after Eric's death, while she knew she was under investigation, Corey published this children's book I've mentioned about coping with the loss of a parent and promoted it on local television and radio. Bloodworth told the jury that the state would prove that Eric did not die accidentally or by self-harm, that Corey had the means, motive, and opportunity, and that no one else committed the crime. that at the end of the trial, the state of Utah would ask them to find Corey Richens guilty of aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, two counts of insurance fraud, and forgery.

He concluded by returning to the morning of March 4th, 2022. So at 8.30 a.m., medical examiners placed Eric's body into a body bag, and they wheeled him out of his home for the last time. his three sons were upstairs with their uncle. Corey had not yet told them their father was dead and would not tell them for several more hours. After law enforcement left the home, three images were accessed on Corey's phone. I mean, those memes were really interesting. It was the first time we'd ever seen them. So, yeah, pretty disturbing.

And with that, the state concluded their opening statement. There are moments in life, burnout, stress, anxiety, major life changes when therapy could really help. But finding a therapist who actually takes your insurance, that's where things usually fall apart. Mental health care shouldn't feel out of reach. And that's why Rula is changing the experience. Rula is a health care provider group that partners with over 100 insurance plans, bringing the average co-paid down to about $15 per session. And in some cases, as low as $0. That means real therapy from licensed professionals covered by insurance the way it should be.

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You deserve mental health care that works with you, not against your budget. Defense attorney Kathy Nestor began her opening statement by playing part of Corey's 911 call from the morning she found Eric Dad. Take a listen. What's the address? What's the address? We're low court. 2-8.

Low court. Grateful number in case we get disconnected. 4-3-5. It's going to be in Frances. Okay, tell me exactly what happened. No, I don't... Okay, I can't understand you. I need you to take a deep breath.

What's going on? We did with my kids. I just came in the bed, in our bed. Who's cold? And he's not breathing? He's not breathing? I need you to confirm it for me. Is he not breathing?

breathing. Okay, we're going to, can you do CPR? You don't know, I'm going to tell you how to. Are you willing to do CPR? Yeah. Okay. She told the jury those were the sounds of a wife becoming a widow. She then brought everyone back to the night of March 3rd, 2022, saying that just six and a half hours before that call, Corey and Eric were in their bedroom celebrating. According to Nestor, they were celebrating because Corey was about to close on the biggest real estate deal of her career, the property known as the Midway Mansion. She described it as a sprawling multimillion dollar home in Midway that had been abandoned before construction was complete. The plan was to repair vandalized areas, fix the windows, clean it up, and flip it for millions more than the

price they paid. Nestor said Corey stood to make at least $2 million in profit for herself and her investors. She said that Eric was involved in the project and had been at the property that very day spreading gravel to prepare for open houses once the deal closed. Nestor told the jury there was more to celebrate than just the real estate deal. She said Eric's stone masonry business was thriving and had made over $750,000 in one year, which was continuing to increase. She explained that their lifestyle included a two-story garage filled with exotic trophy animals from hunting trips. Eric took to Africa and Mexico. They had four-wheeler, snowmobiles, ATVs, ski equipment, and multiple vehicles. She painted the picture of a financially secure and active family. She also said that no one would dispute that both parents adored their three boys and that the children adored their

father. She described a busy family life filled with sports and activities and said the marriage, while imperfect, had survived a difficult year. This included almost getting a divorce, but they attended marriage counseling instead. Nestor said a close friend will testify that in the weeks before Eric's death, he and Corey appeared happier than ever. Turning to the timeline, Nestor said that on March 3rd, Eric sent excited text to Corey suggesting that they take shots to celebrate her closing on the Midway Mansion. That evening, after returning from the property, the family had dinner together. Corey's mom stopped by and had all also been at the property earlier that day meeting with a carpenter for renovations.

After tucking the boys into bed, around 9 p.m., Corey and Eric had their celebratory drinks. Mester said they used copper Moscow mule cups they had received as a gift and also had a lemon drop shot. She told the jury that they didn't end up finishing the drinks and they were left in the sink. Around 9.30 p.m., one of the children who suffered from night terrors began car. trying out. Nestor said Corey went to sleep with her son at that time. She added that Corey told police that Eric may have taken a marijuana gummy that night and said officers later found multiple gummies in his belonging, some dispensary packaging and some in clear bags. Nestor said that around 10 p.m. Eric was on the phone with a friend, Scott Wagner, who would testify that

Eric sounded normal, not intoxicated or impaired, and that there was no unusual background noise. Shortly after 10.30 p.m., Corey's phone was unlocked and moved a short distance. Nestor argued that Eric frequently checked Corey's phone and suggested he may have opened it. She said that was the last confirmed activity from Eric that night. She told jurors that when Eric was found, his Apple Watch was neatly on its charger. His phone was on a nightstand charger and he was lying in his underwear on his back, on his side of the bed, appearing to have gone to sleep normally. She showed an empty pill bottle on the nightstand that had expired in 2016 and had been prescribed for hydrocodone pain medication and said that this would

become important later. Nestor then said that shortly after 3 a.m., Corey's phone was unlocked, which was consistent with her statement that she woke up around 3 a.m., the phone moved briefly through parts of the house and then became inactive again. Within minutes, she called 911. Nestor said that by that point it was clear Eric had been dead for hours and that lividity on his back indicated blood pooling which is consistent with someone who had been lying in the same position for a significant amount of time. She stressed that somewhere between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. Eric ingested a fatal dose of fentanyl, but after four years of investigation, the state still, still could not show how it got into his system. She pointed out that the manner of his death on his certificate remains undetermined to this day.

Nestor criticized law enforcement for not treating the home as a secured crime scene that night. She said multiple people moved through the house and that the cups left in the sink were not. never collected or tested and were later put in the dishwasher by the nanny. She reiterated that Corey's version of events never changed despite repeated interviews and even secret recordings of her phone calls over the next year. It never changed. She told jurors that before Eric's body was removed, Corey was informed that there would be an autopsy. Nestor argued that if Corey had wanted to stage a drug overdose, she could have suggested

that he was a fentanyl user or planted evidence to make it seem like an overdose. But she didn't, despite even knowing there would be an autopsy. Instead, Corey has consistently stated, I don't know what happened. Nestor then shifted to Eric's family, saying they couldn't accept that he might have used drugs and quickly began suspecting Corey. She said Eric's sister told police on day one that Corey may have been upset about a trust that was that placed assets under the sister's control. And she revealed that the family hired a private investigator, spending nearly $100,000,

and that this investigator examined Corey's life extensively, including her business dealings and personal communications. She argued that many of the experts now testifying for the state were originally retained by the family, addressing the Valentine's Day Sandwich incident, Nester said Eric experienced in a little. allergic reaction, took Benadryl, possibly used an Epipin, napped, and later drove the children to soccer. She argued there was no medical evidence of poisoning and said that Eric didn't even mention

the incident to his allergy doctor soon afterward. She added that opioid use can sometimes mimic allergic reactions, which experts will testify to during the trial. Nestor also acknowledged that Corey had purchased pain pills for Eric at his request from a woman named Carmen specifically seeking oxycodone. She said a dealer, Robert Crozier, would testify that he sold 30 milligrams oxycodone pills at the time and not, not fentanyl, and pointed out that no oxycodone was found in Eric's system during the autopsy. She claimed that Carmen later changed her story, to say Corey actually requested fentanyl only after facing her own legal trouble, suggesting

that pressure from law enforcement influenced her new statement. Nestor also noted that Eric had traveled to Mexico weeks before his death and pointed out that fentanyl commonly enters the United States from Mexico. She described Eric as someone who dealt with chronic pain from his job and outdoor activities and used marijuana gummies regularly, even allegedly smuggling them in his luggage on trips. As for the financial motive, Nestor argued that the amounts in question including a $100,000 credit union life insurance policy application, the state claims Corey forged were small compared to what Eric earned and what Corey stood to gain from her business dealings.

She told the jury that spouses often sign documents for one another and said the state would have had to prove she did so without his knowledge. Near the end, Nestor used a visual illusion slide, showing both a young woman and a witch, telling jurors that the state would show them a witch, while she would show them a widow. And if they could see both possibilities by the end, she said, that, that was a reasonable doubt. Take a look at this. Look at this picture of a young woman and a fur coat.

See it? Now look again. You see a witch? Now, 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. At the end of the trial, if you can still see both faces, that's reasonable about. Well, she closed by reminding jurors that under the law, Corey is presumed innocent and that the burden rests entirely on the state to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. She asked them to hold

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These and eligibility requirements may apply to certain checking features of the cash account. The first witness, the jury then heard, was from Eric's father, Eugene Richens. His testimony, it was heartbreaking to hear from a father who lost his son. It really focused on who Eric was as a person, the kind of family he came from, and the relationship they shared. Eugene explained that in their home, family was always the top priority. They did everything together. Education was important, but so was hard work and religion. And the faith that the rich in family belongs to is the LDS faith, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

He described those values as the foundation of how he and his wife raised, their children. Eric, he said, gravitated toward the outdoors and athletics from a young age. He was a strong student, very intelligent and naturally driven. So Eugene operates a cattle ranch, and Eric helped there regularly while growing up. And that experience, according to his father, Eugene, instilled in him the work ethic that later contributed to his success as an adult. As the years went on, their relationship stayed close. Eugene testified that he's saw Eric up to three times a week and spoke with him on the phone daily. They crossed paths constantly at the ranch, at the boys' ball games, and at other family activities. This was not a distant

father-son relationship. They were actively involved in one another's daily lives. And when describing Eric's personality, Eugene said he was fun-loving and likable. He loved people and people loved him in return. At one point on the stand, Eugene became emotional as he talked about how proud he was of the man his son had become. Let's take a listen. What was Eric's personality? Eric had a very, very fun loving personality. He had a very likable personality. He loved people and people loved him. You mentioned that you raised him to have a strong work ethic, be grounded in family, to do well in school. Did you see those qualities in him as an adult?

I did. I did. I was very, very proud of him. He also spoke about Eric as a father. According to Eugene, Eric was more than just a parent. He was a coach and a best friend to his young boys. Eugene helped coach as well, and the family spent significant time together at sporting events and at the ranch. The oldest son enjoyed roping there, and Eugene was clear in his testimony that he believed Eric was an excellent father. He also shared that before Eric's death, they had plans to purchase a cabin together. Eugene testified that he eventually intended to turn over the ranch to Eric and his siblings

when he retired. There were long-term family plans in motion. And then the focus shifted to March 4, 2020. to. Eugene said he was at the ranch when he received a call from Corey. She told him that Eric was not breathing. He immediately drove to their home, arriving between approximately 415 and 430 that morning. And when he got there, several people were already present. His daughter, Katie, Eric's sister, was there. Corey was there, along with first responders. Corey's mother, Lisa Darden, was also present. Yeah. And so were, Eugene's son-in-law, Clint, and two granddaughters. Eric and Corey's sons were also at the home.

Eugene remained there until around 10 or 10.30 a.m. He testified that he does not recall Corey saying much to him that morning. It was Katie who told him that Eric had passed away. He remembered being helped to the couch, but said he does not recall Corey directly speaking to him about Eric's death while he was there. Eugene then described a phone call he later received from Corey sometime between. between when the medical examiner took custody of Eric's body and the funeral. And according to Eugene, Corey told him that the medical examiner had determined that Eric died from the same thing that Linda did. Linda was Eric's mother. Same thing Linda did and COVID.

So Linda, Eric's mother, Eugene's wife, she had died from a fungal infection in her lungs. Eugene testified that after speaking with Corey, he immediately called Katie. his daughter Katie and then Katie then contacted the medical examiner's office and at that point in Eugene's testimony the defense objected on hearsay grounds as he began to recount what the medical examiner had said. However, Judge Marazic allowed the answer. Eugene testified that the medical examiner told Katie that Corey had never contacted their office and that Eric's autopsy results had not yet been released. Eugene also explained that he had been present throughout his wife's illness and was familiar with her symptoms. He testified that Eric did not exhibit the same symptoms prior to his death. The state then briefly had Eugene review handwriting samples and after that the prosecution indicated they had no further questions and at that time. So it's possible no further questions at that time, meaning it's possible they may bring him back to testify about those samples later. The defense declined to cross-examine Eugene, and we moved onto the next witness. And up next,

on the stand, was Eric's sister, Katie Richens Benson. Katie explained that she and Eric were only two years apart, so growing up, they were inseparable. They did everything together as children. They went to school together, worked on the ranch together, fished, hiked, everything. In adulthood, they were still very close. They talked all the time, almost daily on the phone and spent holidays together with their families. When asked to describe Eric's personality like her father, Katie immediately began to break down and got very emotional. She said Eric was one of the most likable people you've ever met. He loved everyone. It didn't matter who you were or where you came from. Everyone felt like his best friend. That's how he made people feel. He was upbeat, he was positive,

and he would literally give a stranger the clothes off his back. Take a listen. What was Eric's personality like as an adult? Eric was one of the most likable people. I'm sorry, guys. Okay. So he was one of the most likable people you've ever met. So Eric was the kind of person that loved to everyone.

It did not matter who you want. were, where you came from, where he met you. Everyone thought they were his best friend. If you talk to him, they all said I'm Eric's best friend because that's the way Eric made you feel. He was upbeat. He was positive. He literally would give a stranger he met on the side of the road, his jacket, anything to help anyone out. That's the kind of person he was. What did he like to do? How did he spend his time? So the number one thing that Eric loved was his kids. So he would do anything for his boys.

He was the best dad he would ever see. He was a phenomenal uncle. If there were kids involved, he was there. He would show up. The number one thing that Eric loved was his boys. He was the best dad, a phenomenal uncle. And if there were kids involved, he was there. He coached his son's teams, set everything up at games, and was just super involved.

Like their father, he wanted to instill a good work ethic into his son, so they helped on the ranch too. He loved anything outdoors and anything involving family. Eric was very meticulous when it came to planning his son's futures. Katie said there wasn't a waking moment that Eric wasn't thinking about his kids. He had money set aside every month so the boys would have funds for college and even some left over for a down payment on a home. He had every aspect planned out. She explained that she had a special bond with her oldest nephew Carter,

who loved riding horses at the ranch. Eric would ride his ATV alongside them while they were on horseback and bring snacks and drinks so Carter could just enjoy riding without having to worry about anything else. Next, Prosecutor Bloodworth asked if Katie had ever seen Eric sick or injured. She reiterated again that they were very close. In adulthood, Eric liked to play adult softball, and sometimes those games would last until after midnight. Regardless, if Eric ever got hurt on the field, he'd still call Katie super late to tell her about his injuries.

She'd asked if he needed a ride to the doctor. She said it didn't matter if he was in another country. He'd always call her if he didn't feel well or if something was wrong, whether that was physical or mental. He always called her. other than allergy medication, Katie said the only medication she'd ever seen Eric take was Advil. Well, Bloodworth then asked if she'd ever seen Eric use illicit drugs. And Katie explained that growing up, their mother was a drug and alcohol counselor. And so she taught them the dangers of drugs.

And before Eric died, he and Katie had been working on future plans, including a trip to Disneyland with the kids. They were also looking into programs to help foster his middle son, Ashton's talent, in love for math, they wanted to enroll him in a coding program for the summer. He was just that good. And then Katie explained that she had originally owned Eric and Corey's home and then later sold it to her brother. So Bloodworth displayed a photo of the house and Katie testified that she is the one that sold it to Eric in late 2012.

Next, Bloodworth asked Katie to identify a document. She said it was a copy of Eric and Corey's prenuptial agreement. She testified that on the day of their wedding, she read over it with Eric before he and Corey signed it. Bloodworth then moved on and like when Eugene analyzed the handwriting samples, it seemed this topic might be revisited later and was simply being introduced to Lee Foundation. And then Bloodworth transitioned to the day Eric died, which is March 4th, 2022. Katie received a phone call early that morning from her father. And again, Katie broke down as she described her father. screaming and crying on the phone that Eric wasn't breathing.

She said that she started screaming too and fell to the floor. After that, Katie and her husband loaded up their little girls and drove to Eric and Corey's house. When they arrived, emergency personnel were already there, along with Corey and her mother, Lisa Darden. And the first thing Katie did was look for her nephews. They were all together in the middle son, Ashton's bedroom. Katie said there were police officers and first responders outside the bedroom. And throughout the house, and so she decided to take the boys upstairs to the bonus room, which was basically like their playroom, and get them settled. She then went to get her husband from the car so he could stay upstairs with the boys and make sure they were okay.

Next, Bloodworth asked Katie what her observations of Corey were when she entered the home. And Katie said that when she first ran into the house, Corey was standing by the staircase and just shook her head. And from that, Katie knew that her brother was gone, and she fell to the floor. Katie also explained that she'd been on vacations with Corey and had stayed overnight with her before. And Corey looked more put together than usual for the middle of the night. She was wearing a matching pajama set. Her hair was done up, and she wasn't crying or hysterical. All she did was shake her head.

When asked about Corey's interactions with the boys, Katie said there weren't any until the next morning. Katie's husband stayed upstairs with the boys, and Katie and her other sister went up and down several times to check on them. But Corey never went upstairs. Katie said she repeatedly asked when they were going to tell the boys and said that she felt they needed to know. Unfortunately, even though they tried to shield them, the boys, they saw Eric's body being wheeled out of the house from the top of the stairs. It's a heartbreaking thing to learn today. Katie said she told Corey and her mother that the boys had seen him were very upset and needed to be told what was happening. And Corey said, okay, yep, bring them, bring them down.

And that was the first time Corey interacted with the boys. Katie testified that they all sat the boys down on the couch in the living room and Corey told them their dad would not be coming back that he was gone, just like that. Katie said that after that, Ashton became very upset and went to his room. He lay on the bed with the covers pulled up around his face. And when Katie tried to console him, he said he wanted his mom, understandably. Katie said she had to tell Corey several times that she needed to go in and talk to Ashton, that she wasn't his parent and he needed her. Corey eventually went in and Ashton ran to hug her.

They sat together on the floor and she consoled him. And during that time, Corey's brother's fiancé, Brianne came into the room to talk to Corey and strangely brought up the closing on the Midway Mansion while Corey was in the middle of comforting her son. And Katie said that Corey's demeanor changed. She became very businesslike and started telling Briand exactly what needed to be done to close the mansion. Katie testified that she stopped and said, You can't tell me you're going to close on the mansion right after my brother just died.

And according to Katie, Corey shrugged and said, yes, absolutely. He has nothing to do with it, and the money's already gone through. It's my business I'm going to. Well, next, Bloodworth asked about Eric's Apple Watch. Katie said Ashton had gone into his parents' room and retrieved it. Corey took it from him, but Ashton said, I want my dad's watch. So Katie then testified that she saw Corey delete everything from the watch right then and there before handing it back to Ashton. Katie also said that that same morning, Corey told her she was going to sell the home they were living in, which struck her as very odd. Katie said that after just learning her brother was dead, she could barely function. Meanwhile, though, Corey was already making plans to sell the house there it could just been wheeled out of and to close on the Midway Mansion. She said she just couldn't wrap her mind around how Corey was acting.

Bloodworth asked who owned the home at the time of Eric's death, and Katie explained that the house was held in a trust that Eric had set up and that Eric was the trustee. And once Eric died, Katie. Katie became the trustee, meaning Corey wouldn't have had the authority to sell the house. Katie also testified that Corey discussed plans for Eric's stone masonry business and how she intended to run it. Corey allegedly said she would hire one of Eric's friends, TJ, to run Eric's portion of the business for her and that she would take care of everything. And on March 5th, the day after Eric died, Katie said there was a family meeting to begin preparing for Eric's services. present there was Katie and then Katie's husband Clint, her sister Amy and Amy's husband Andrew, her father Eugene, his friend Tisha, Corey's brother Ronnie, her half-brother DJ, DJ's fiance Brianna, and then Corey's mother Lisa. Katie said she knew Eric's wishes were to be

buried and not cremated, which aligned with their family. religious beliefs. Again, it's not historically traditional for those that are LDS to be cremated. Although some do choose that, it is more likely in the LDS faith to be buried. And they had discussed bearing him near his mother, choosing pallbearers and deciding he would speak at the service. Well, towards the end of the conversation, Lisa, Corey's mother said, when are we going to talk about that Eric wanted to be cremated? Well, Katie testified that Corey looked surprised at first and then said, oh, yeah, Eric told me that he didn't want any bugs on him after he died, so we're cremating him.

Well, then Katie asked why she had let them discuss all the burial details if she knew he was supposedly going to be cremated. Corey responded, well, isn't that what you do when you cremate them? that's when Eric's father, Eugene, became visibly upset because he knew his son had wanted to be buried next to his mother. And like with Eugene's testimony, Bloodworth then showed Katie handwriting samples from Eric. She identified them as various documents with Eric's signature that she had obtained and turned over to investigators. And then after that, the state had no further questions at that time, again, at that time. And it was the defense's turn to question Katie.

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Well, Katie confirmed that she did and agreed it was Eric's trust. Nestor directed her to the section outlining the objectives of the trust. Katie read that the purpose was to, quote, to provide for both my wife and children during any time I am incapacitated or after my death, end quote. So Nestor had her repeat that Corey was in fact a beneficiary of the trust along with the children and that this structure reflected what Eric wanted. Katie explained that as trustee, her role was to administer the trust, meaning she was responsible for carrying out her brother's wishes, according to the terms laid out in the document. And then Nestor clarified for the jury that the trust held Eric's assets and that the trustee oversees those assets and distributes them to the beneficiaries as needed over time. Nestor then asked whether Katie was being paid for serving as trustee. Katie said the trust allowed her to pay herself or reimburse herself for time spent

administering it, but she has never done that because she wants the beneficiaries to receive everything that they are entitled to. The questioning then turned to the mechanics of how the trust would function. So Nestor asked what would happen if one of the boys needed money or if Corey wanted to purchase something like a car. Katie explained that the trust was divided into two separate trust, one for the three boys, is primary beneficiaries, and then the other one for Corey. The documents specified what the funds could be used for. So if Corey requested money for something authorized under the trust terms, it would be Katie's responsibility to distribute

those funds. So Nestor asked whether trust funds could be used for care and maintenance of the family home. And Katie clarified that. the home itself was a trust asset. So if repairs were needed or mortgage payments had to be made, trust funds could be used for those purposes. Nestor then asked Katie how much money Corey had requested in the year after Eric's death for house-related expenses or anything else. And at that point, the state objected on the grounds that the question exceeded the scope of direct examination. This means they are arguing that the line of questioning goes beyond the topics that were covered during direct examination and therefore should not be explored on cross.

The state argued that this specific financial detail had not been addressed earlier. Judge Marzic sustained the objection, meaning he agreed with the state and did not allow Katie to answer the question. After that, Nestor shifted to the night of Eric's death. She asked Katie to again describe what Corey looked like that morning, and then Katie repeated that Corey was wearing a matching pajama set or a sweatsuit set and that our hair was neat. pulled up into a bun on the top of her head. So Nestor also asked whether Corey had comforted her when she collapsed to the floor up to learning that Eric was dead. And Katie testified that she did not recall Corey comforting her at all. And then court broke for lunch. And then after lunch,

Nestor picked right back up with cross-examination of Katie, Eric's sister. She continued. And then she started by revisiting Katie's memory of the morning Eric died. And then Katie had testified that when the family arrived, Corey was wearing a matching pajama sweatsuit. And her hair, again, was fixed. This is a big part. And Nestor then played body cam footage from an officer and pointed out that Corey's hair

didn't look quite as neat as Katie had described. She also emphasized that Corey was clearly in pajamas. Katie responded that she did not really know what to call the outfit, just that it looked like a matching set. Then, in the footage, Corey is seen reaching down and embracing Katie in a hug. And that moment, that moment seemed important to the defense because Katie had previously said, again, that she did not recall Corey comforting her, right? So Nestor directly told her, your memory here is wrong. Katie pushed back saying, to be fair, this was four years ago. Nestor quickly replied that, yeah, everything they're discussing happened four years ago. And you could feel, honestly, the defense trying to chip away at her reliability, even if only slightly. Nestor then shifted to a conversation Katie had with law

enforcement that morning. Katie said she spoke with an officer named Detective Woody in the driveway. And then when asked if she told the detective, she believed Corey was involved in Eric's death, Katie said no. She explained that she told Detective Woody that Corey has stolen money from Eric in the past and that there had been tension in the marriage. She said she felt an overwhelming sense that she needed to tell someone. And when Nestor pressed her on whether she said that because she thought Corey had a motive, Katie said no. So then Nester asked whether Katie told the detective that Corey was upset about the trust and trustee situation, right? And then Katie didn't initially recall saying that, but she conceded she definitely could have mentioned it after further questioning.

The defense also revisited the issue of Eric's son wanting his Apple Watch. Katie had testified that Corey deleted things off of it. But Nester clarified that Corey reset the watch, rather than individually delisted. deleted items off the watch. And Nestor suggested that it would make sense for a mother, not wanting her young child to have full access to his father's phone or Apple Watch. And Katie agreed that hypothetically, yeah, that makes sense. Nestor brought up the home sale. Katie had testified that Corey mentioned wanting to sell the house Eric had just died in. Nestor suggested that maybe Corey was traumatized by her husband dying in their bedroom.

Katie answered that she didn't know and that you would have to ask Corey. whether or not she was traumatized. On the topic of drugs, Kitty had said on direct that she never knew Eric to take anything stronger than Advil. But on Cross, she acknowledged that after his death, she learned from medical records that he occasionally used THC or marijuana for back pain. Nestor pointed out that Eric didn't tell her that while he was alive. She also tried to imply that because their mother had been in drug and alcohol as a counselor,

sobriety might have been especially important in their family. Katie countered that their mother would have not been against marijuana use. Nestor also noted that although Eric drinks socially, he did not drink in front of Katie or other family members and she did agree with that. And then came a surprising exchange. Nestor suggested that while Eric may have shared a lot with Katie, he obviously would not have discussed his sex life with his sister Katie. and Katie quickly disagreed and said, oh, no, he actually did share those details, including that he had been taking testosterone. Nestor asked whether Katie had ever gone through Eric's phone. She said no, but that their sister Amy had possession of it for some time after he died,

though she does not know how long or what she did with it. Katie testified that the family was initially restricted from going down the hallway to Eric's bedroom until his body was removed, but afterward they were able to move freely through the home. She only saw police searching the kitchen trash can, but could not say what else they searched. She also could not hear Corey's police interview. The defense asked about an empty hydrocodone pill bottle shown during opening statements, and Katie said the bottle was old from 2016 when Eric had a procedure and that he told her he did not want to rely on the pills. She said that she helped him set up acupuncture appointments later so he would not need prescription pain medications.

Nestor walked through the prenuptial agreement that Katie saw Corey and Eric sign on their wedding day, and under that agreement, Corey would have no claim to Eric's stone masonry business in the divorce, but she would inherit it if he died while they were married. However, that changed, though, once Eric placed his half of the business into a trust. Back to the day, Eric died. Nester asked about Katie going into the garage. And Katie said a medical professional asked if Eric had taken any medication. So she checked his truck. And Corey's mother Lisa and Corey's brother's fiancé Brie were also in the garage.

And Katie said she did not see Amy in the truck. Nestor asked whether Katie knew Eric's body would go for an autopsy. She said yes. Two days later, there was a discussion about cremation versus burial. but she did not know if the autopsy had already been completed. Nestor emphasized that regardless of cremation discussions, an autopsy would have taken place. Ultimately, Eric was buried, not cremated. Katie also testified, but the family gathered documents bearing Eric's signature to support their civil lawsuit against Corey as they were trying to prove she forged his name.

Nestor pointed out that two experts hired by the family for the civil case later became experts for the state in the criminal case. Katie said she did not refer them to the state and did not know who did. However, she acknowledged that she emailed one of the lead detectives, a timeline, and list of suspicious events involving Corey in the years before Eric's death. And now, I have to say, watching the hidden true crime live stream with a lot of you today, many of you comment. I just want to point it out that of course a family would help investigators in their loved ones' murder case. And that is fair. I agree. Fairly they would. But you can also see what the defense is suggesting here, right? That the Richens family may have gone above and beyond and fueled suspicion around Corey. They researched her business dealings and sent that information to law enforcement.

They hired an investigator. In Katie's email, one of the suspicious things she noted, was that Corey requested Eric's wedding ring back from the medical examiner. Nestor also brought up Katie telling officers that Corey may have tried to poison Eric with a sandwich on Valentine's Day. She questioned Katie about looking into Lisa's Venmo account, Lisa Dart and Corey's mother, and about various emails and letters Katie may have sent. Katie remembered some, did not recall others. When asked how she obtained Corey's bank records, Katie said any records she accessed came through the civil litigation process.

The defense questioned how long Corey remained in the house and who maintained it. Katie said in January and February she paid for snow removal and repairs because the home became trust property. Nestor asked how many times she gave law enforcement access to the house. Katie was not sure and when asked if it was around 10 times, she said her husband handled that part. Nester asked if their private investigator had unfettered access. Katie said no, but they did install cameras in the house.

Katie hired a private investigator within a couple of weeks of Eric's death. Nestor asked about a celebration of life on April 1st. Katie was unaware of one and said she did not plan any separate celebration beyond the funeral. Nestor ended her cross there. And on redirect, Prosecutor Brad, Bloodworth turned to the civil lawsuit and clarified that Corey filed it against Katie in her capacity as trustee. Corey Richens was arrested on May 8th, 2023. After the arrest, the estate no longer employed its attorney. Katie testified that Corey signed Eric's name on a $250,000 home equity line

of credit without his knowledge and that Eric later discovered credit cards in his name that he did not know about. Well, Nestor quickly objected, arguing the state had opened the door to broader questioning. The attorneys approached for a sidebar. And after the sidebar, Bloodworth asked whether Katie Gaye Detective's names of friends to interview and information about the trust and control of the home. She said yes. Nestor conducted a brief recross, asking about the March 21st conversation and clarifying what a he lock is, the home equity line of credit.

Katie maintained that court obtained one without telling us. saying Eric. And when asked whether she had power of attorney to serve as trustee, if Eric died, Katie said she would need to ask her lawyer and was not certain. She testified that Corey had previously held power of attorney, but used it to withdraw money without Eric's knowledge, and that Eric did not sign the original document granting it. Nestor asked when Eric consulted a divorce attorney, Katie said it was about a year and a half before he died and that her husband helped connect him with that divorce attorney. Finally, Nestor asked whether Corey ever requested money from the trust. Katie said she did not. And after that, Katie was released as a witness and then

was allowed to remain in the courtroom, which was interesting to me. The next witness called was Clint Benson. Clint works in real estate operations and asset management for Salt Lake County. He's also a licensed realtor and appraiser. Clint explained that before Eric bought his family home, he and Katie, his wife, Eric's sister, had actually lived there. And then after Eric purchased it in 2012, Eric and Corey moved in and they married less than a year later. After Eric's death, Corey and the boys continued living in the home. Clint testified that on May 8th after Eric's death, he arranged for a locksmith to change all of the locks.

He also had a security company, monitor the house, got the internet set up so that cameras could be installed, taped the door so he could tell if they had, if they'd been opened or not, and set up motion notifications on his phone. The home also had a separate detached garage. At one point, when cameras captured someone entering the home, he called law enforcement and police arrived within minutes. He told the jury that whenever Eric and Corey's boys needed to get something from the house, he would meet them there. if attorneys or investigators needed access, he would also meet them and let them in. Clint was asked whether he had ever seen a missionary journal in the home. And he said Eric had gone on a mission, meaning an LDS mission, a Mormon missionary, elder Richens.

So he had gone on a mission, but the questioning then quickly shifted to something much more explosive than a missionary journal. So in November 2020, Katie received a phone call from Eric and put it on speaker. Eric was angry and upset and said he was on his way to the Benson's home. And when he arrived, Clint pulled up the Summit County Recorder's website and looked at the parcel information for Eric's property. And that's when he discovered a $250,000 home equity line of credit taken out against the house. And so he told Eric, right? And then according to Clint, that's when conversations about divorce attorneys began between him and Eric.

He said Eric was very upset. Clint suggested divorce attorney Christina Miller and became an intermed, and became like the middleman between Eric and Miller because he testified, Eric believed Corey was monitoring his emails and did not want her to know he was considering divorce. And so Clint confirmed that all correspondence between Eric and the attorney went through him. Though he did acknowledge it was possible Eric communicated directly without his knowledge, but Clint and Katie, he said, supported Eric regardless of whether he chose to divorce or stay married to Corey. The state then turned to the night of March 4th. Clint testified that

his youngest daughter had the stomach flu that night when Katie received that call that Eric was not breathing. They ran out of their house, leaving the doors open, and drove to Eric's home. And when they arrived, Clint stayed outside at first with his daughters while Katie went inside. Eventually he went inside too. He said his priority was caring for all of the children, both his daughters and Eric and Corey's boys. He noticed what he described as unusual hand movements from Corey. He then took all of the kids upstairs through that bonus room, the playroom where they stayed for about four hours. He heard medical personnel leaving the home. At one point his daughter was throwing up on the floor. Two of Eric's sons looked out the window and they saw their father being wheeled out on a stretcher.

I cannot imagine. And one child was able to remain level-headed, while the other broke down and was extremely upset. Clint also testified that he later heard Corey talking about someone taking over the operation of Eric's company with another man. And after the state finished, defense attorney Wendy Lewis began cross-examination. Lewis asked, asked about the 2012 sale of the home and confirmed that Eric and Corey moved in together and married within a year. She pressed Clint on the divorce attorney issue asking whether he attended any meetings between Eric and the attorney. He did not. She confirmed that all correspondence went through Clint because Eric believed Corey was monitoring his emails.

Clint agreed that Eric may have also communicated directly with the attorney without his knowledge. Lewis then focused heavily on access to the home. after Eric's death. Clint again confirmed he had the locks changed within hours and installed cameras with help from a family member. He testified that he had been present anytime someone entered the home. Law enforcement searched the home multiple times between 2023 and now. And when Lewis suggested, around 10 times, Clint said that seemed reasonable. She noted police searched the home again two weeks ago. When asked whether items were removed during those searches, Clint said he would need to check records, but anything he personally removed was limited to the children's belongings like clothes,

stuffed animals, which he delivered to the boys. The defense then turned to the private investigator, Mr. Gabler. And initially, he was paid by Clint and then later paid by the trust set up for Eric's three boys. And Lewis confirmed that approximately $100,000 from the boys' trust was used to pay the investigator. Clint acknowledged that Gabler supplied information to some at County detectives and that he was included on emails about Corey's possible involvement in Eric's death. There was a sidebar at one point. There were a lot of sidebar bars at one point, but after this particular sidebar and break, Lewis continued asking about the investigator's access to the home, and then Clint testified that he was present every time the private investigator entered the home.

He said the investigator documents everything he does and is very specific about recording his actions. So when asked whether the investigator ever moved items around the house, Clint said if items were moved, they would be documented. Cameras were installed in the home, but the footage overrides every 60 days unless the footage is subpoenaed. He was not sure whether the investigator ever video recorded independently. Lewis asked whether the investigator removed anything from the home. Clint believed some documents may have been taken but was not certain. He maintained that he was with the investigator for the most part whenever he was inside the home. Lewis also asked whether the investigator was looking for evidence to help the prosecution.

Clint said no, that he was conducting his own investigation, an independent investigation. When asked two had been in the home in the last 60 days, Clint said himself, the defense's private detective and sheriff deputies. Lewis asked Clint whether he had ever seen Corey Grieve immediately after losing someone close to her. He said he had not. She also clarified that when Eric was wheeled out, he was covered with a sheet. On redirect, the prosecutor asked Clint whether he had a distinct recollection of seeing Eric's body being wheeled out, and Clint said he did. He also testified that if the private investigator ever found something of interest, he would immediately call the sheriff's office.

And in one final follow-up, the defense clarified that when something of interest was found, the investigator would contact law enforcement and they would obtain a warrant. Clint said he believed that was true and with that, Clint Benson stepped down from the stand. But another witness was ready. The next witness was patrol deputy Vincent Nguyen with the Summit County Sheriff's Office. I believe the prosecutor questioning him was Lindsay Shervinak. She began by asking about his body cam. explained that it was always on in buffering mode and began recording when he manually activated it

or when his patrol lights were turned on. He was working in the early morning hours of March 4th and arrived at the Richens home around 3.40 a.m. that fateful morning. And when he arrived, several other personnel were already on scene. And Corey and the children were also at the home. The state moved to admit the body cam transcript from that night and then requested to play the actual footage. Something none of us have ever seen before. And the video contained a blurred portion where Eric's body was visible in the bedroom. In the footage, officers could be heard asking Corey what medications Eric took. She was crying and said she didn't know.

Paramedics were working on Eric in the bedroom and that portion. of the video remained blurred. Investigators were heard discussing the bottle of oxycodone from 2016 that had been located in the bedroom. Eric was eventually pronounced dead. Nguyen was seen speaking with Corey in the living room in that portion of the footage and Wynne asked where the children were. And Corey said that one was asleep and the other two were at their bedroom door.

She asked to call her mom and use Nguyen's phone. And on the phone, she repeatedly said, mom and told her something was, wrong with Eric and that he wasn't breathing. Her mom told her she was on the way. Nguyen asked about Eric's medical history and Corey mentioned Lyme disease and said he had received an allergy shot the day before. She estimated she discovered him around 3 a.m. When asked whether she immediately called 911, she explained that when she turned him over, he felt cold, so she put a blanket on him. She described him as feeling heavy and also said they had recently gotten over COVID. She also said that Eric sometimes took a THC gummy before

bed. When asked about Eric's primary care doctor and whether he had any recent appointments. And Corey said he had a physical about six months earlier and also said she needed to call Eric's dad. And then at one point, Nguyen informed other deputy that family members would be arriving and that two of the children were awake near their doorway. And next in the video, which we're going to watch some of this video soon, but next in the video, Nguyen was back in the living room asking more background questions, including whether Eric had ever served in the military or you. use tobacco, Corey said no. She said that Eric had been on the bed when she found him and said she initially thought he was cold because the room itself felt cold. It's kind of odd. But Corey's

mom arrived at the house and on the footage, Corey could be heard saying, oh my God. And then her mom told officers that Eric had received allergy shots the previous day. Shortly after Katie arrived, his sister and was heard yelling, asking what happened and where her brother was. deputies asked Corey to move the boys upstairs and Katie identified herself as Eric's power of attorney. She appeared visibly distraught, like really distraught and it's really honestly hard to watch. She told her husband to take the children upstairs and at one point she struggled to catch her breath like panic attack or hyperventilating. She went down to the floor and Corey hugged her. Katie said they would get through this for the boys and that it didn't feel real.

Nguyen explained that on the scene that detective, and the medical examiner were on their way and that certain protocols had to be followed. He told the family they couldn't cross into the bedroom area while investigators were working. After the body cam video finished, the state moved to admit still images with the footage, along with Corey's voluntary statement, and when testified that he was responsible for maintaining the crime scene log and completing the death checklist, he said he was looking for anything that might explain Eric's death. When asked about Corey mentioning THC Gummies, when testified that he didn't see

any in the home. He also didn't observe any illicit drugs or paraphernalia. Heartbreaking in that in that moment for me when I see the sister just breaking down and when I see the children, I also note that the sister keeps saying, I need to get to my boys. It's so clear she loves those boys. I also found it really interesting. Lisa, Corey's mother, they're sort of sitting distantly from her daughter, not really consoling her. Don't know if the pajamas were that big of a deal to me, the whole thing is just absolutely heartbreaking. But seeing the grief of Eric's sister. Another thing I know, too, is did you note that moment where they bring up this idea

that there is going to need to be an autopsy since Eric seems young and healthy? And the response is, oh, my God, I thought that that was a very telling moment for me. interesting. The defense attorney, Alex Ramos, then began cross-examination. So Ramos asked Nguyen about his arrival time, you know, this body cam when he got there and whether he ever turned off his body camera. And Nguyen said he didn't recall doing so and explained that if he had turned it off, he would have documented that in his report. Nguyen also testified that he was not present when Eric's body was removed. Nguyen said he left after additional deputies arrived but did not write an exact time in his report. Ramos asked about the body camera software, which when identified

as watch guard, he explained that at the time, the footage uploaded automatically via Wi-Fi once he returned to the sheriff's office. When testified that his role in the home was primarily in the living room, he did not go into the kitchen or search the home for medications, and he didn't direct another deputy to search the kitchen or sink area. So when asked about the hydrocodone bottle, whether he photographed it or if he took it into evidence, Nguyen said he did not, and he does not remember who did. Ramos pressed him on whether he knew Corey's mom had been at the home the night before the incident, but Nguyen maintained that he didn't know that. And then when it came to the THC Gummies,

Wynn testified that he learned about them directly from Corey, but did not personally search for them because he wasn't assigned to search for medications, that responsibility fell to another officer. Ramos reiterated the importance of properly documenting times in a death investigation and asked Nguyen about the timeline of events, including when Corey said they went to bed. He also asked about the temperature inside the home, which Nguyen said was 71 degrees. And at one point, Ramos suggested that he might need to continue his questioning the following day

and asked whether the defense could pause and resume with Nguyen later. After a sidebar, that concluded Deputy Nguyen's testimony for the day. What a first day. But don't worry, it's just getting started. Tomorrow, we can expect to hear from Deputy Nguyen as he finishes up cross-exam, a paramedic who was on the scene, two other first responders who were on the scene, and then a crime scene tech, Ms. Gibson.

We are live streaming the trial every day here at Hidden True Crime. I'll be in chat. I'll be with Lily, our HR manager, who you saw and sometimes see watching. And we will also be going to court as well to be determined those dates. So come, join us in the live stream every day. And then we'll be doing these nightly recaps.

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