Kouri Richins: Behind the Facade

Episode of 48 Hours · May 25, 2026 · 41 min

Natalie Morales reports on the trial, conviction and sentencing of Kouri Richins for poisoning her husband Eric, featuring two jurors, attorneys and family members.

Summary

This 48 Hours episode, reported by Natalie Morales, examined the February–March 2026 trial of Kouri Richins in Summit County, Utah, for the 2022 fentanyl death of her husband, Eric Richins. Prosecutor Brad Bloodworth argued she poisoned him for money and a new life with her lover Josh Grossman, citing her roughly $8 million in debt, a forged $100,000 life insurance policy, a prior attempt with a drug-laced Valentine's Day sandwich, testimony from housekeeper Carmen Lauber that she obtained fentanyl for Richins, digital evidence from the 911 call, and post-death web searches.

The defense, led by Catherine Nestor and Wendy Lewis, argued there was no evidence of how the fentanyl got into Eric, pointed to his chronic pain, drug use, a recent Mexico trip and an empty pill bottle, attacked Lauber's credibility over her deal with investigators, and described the investigation as biased by Eric's family. Former defense attorney Skye Lazaro said the debt was normal for house flipping and the searches came after a search warrant. The defense rested without calling witnesses, which jurors Laura and Eric said surprised and disappointed them.

The jury deliberated about three hours and convicted Richins on all five counts, including aggravated murder, on March 16, 2026. At sentencing, statements from her three sons described neglect and asked for the harshest sentence; Richins told her children the accusation was a lie. Judge Richard Mrazik sentenced her to life without parole.

Chapters

0:07
Cold open
Jurors, attorneys and family introduce the case of a wife accused of poisoning her husband and later writing a grief book about him.
4:12
The state's case begins
Morales outlines the February 2026 trial, the charges, and the family's early suspicions of Kouri Richins.
6:17
The 911 call and behavior at the scene
Phone sensor data, body cam footage, and Richins's real estate talk and celebratory gifs raised jurors' doubts.
10:47
The note and the poisoned drink theory
Prosecutors presented a kitchen note and incident report as evidence she served Eric fentanyl in a drink.
11:56
Housekeeper Carmen Lauber's testimony
Lauber testified she procured fentanyl for Richins, corroborated by text message metadata.
14:56
Prior attempt and financial motive
The state cited a Valentine's Day sandwich incident, $8 million in debt and a forged life insurance policy.
16:34
The affair with Josh Grossman
Grossman's testimony, love texts, a planned getaway and post-death web searches were presented to jurors.
20:01
The defense's opening
Nestor argued the couple were celebrating a real estate deal and suggested Eric's own drug use and Mexico trip.
23:27
Defense cross-examinations
The defense challenged Katie Richins's memory and Lauber's cooperation deal and offered innocent explanations for motive evidence.
28:18
Defense rests without witnesses
The defense called no witnesses and Richins waived her right to testify, surprising the jurors.
32:22
Closing arguments
Prosecutors portrayed a ruthless social climber while the defense alleged a biased, sloppy investigation.
35:25
Deliberations and verdict
After about three hours the jury convicted Richins on all counts, including aggravated murder.
37:27
Sentencing
Her sons' statements, her own plea to them, and a life-without-parole sentence concluded the case.

Key points

What was said, by whom, with the exact words. Timestamps jump to the moment.

Linked moment · 6:17Skip to 6:17 using a listen link in the info box.
Laura
Laura said forensic data showed Richins held the phone to her ear rather than using speaker, undermining her account of CPR.
“The digital download expert could actually see that Corey did not put the phone on speakerphone. She was still holding it up to her ear”
Listen from 7:10 · 911 call evidence
Eric
Juror Eric said he weighed Lauber's testimony heavily and found it corroborated by digital evidence.
“I put a lot of weight on Carmen Lauber's testimony. I found it very impactful, very important to the prosecution's case”
Listen from 14:21 · Cooperating witness testimony
Eric
Juror Eric concluded that Eric Richins did not sign the $100,000 life insurance document.
“frankly, even as a lay person, looking at the signatures, Eric did not sign that document”
Listen from 16:27 · Life insurance fraud
Laura
Laura said the resort reservation with Grossman suggested Richins had been planning Eric's removal for a while.
“The reservation for the trip was damaging to Corey. To me, that made it look like she had been planning something for a while”
Listen from 19:02 · Murder of Eric Richins
Eric
Juror Eric said the defense's strongest point was the lack of proof of how fentanyl reached Eric's stomach.
“I think the most powerful point the defense made is that we don't know exactly how the fentanyl got into Eric Richen's stomach”
Listen from 26:06 · Fentanyl poisoning
Laura
Laura said she was disappointed the defense presented no witnesses, feeling jurors were denied the rest of the story.
“I was disappointed because I felt like there was more to the story and they denied us access to that”
Listen from 30:23 · Right to testify
Eric
Juror Eric said Richins's financial situation drove her to drastic action, and he told fellow jurors he found the evidence devastating.
“She was in such a position that she had to take drastic action to dig out of the financial hole that she was in”
Listen from 35:59 · Murder of Eric Richins

People

In the conversation

Natalie MoralesCBS News correspondent who reported and narrated the episode
LauraJuror and jury foreperson in the Kouri Richins trial who withheld her last name
EricJuror in the Kouri Richins trial who withheld his last name
Skye LazaroFormer defense attorney for Kouri Richins who withdrew over a conflict of interest
Greg SkordasAttorney and spokesperson for Eric Richins's family
Greg HallFriend and former colleague of Kouri Richins

Discussed

Eric RichinsUtah man murdered by his wife Kouri Richins with a fentanyl-laced drink in 2022
Weston RichinsYoungest son of Eric and Kouri Richins
Ashton RichinsMiddle son of Eric and Kouri Richins
Carter RichinsOldest son of Eric and Kouri Richins

Topics

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Annie Elise and guest Amy Colette review true crime headlines: the Makayla Settles plea, Kouri Richins' sentencing, Murdaugh's retrial, Disney cruise CSAM arrests, and Melissa Casias.

From the publisher

Scared of their own mother. Why the children of convicted killer Kouri Richins want her to stay behind bars. Natalie Morales reports.

Summary, chapters and key points were generated from the episode transcript on September 28, 2026. Quotes are checked word for word against the transcript.

Categories: True Crime