Kouri Richins Gets Life Behind Bars For Husband's Murder

Added: 2026-05-17

[00:00:00]One, involved in this process must be treated with respect.

[00:00:05]>> [snorts] >> We cannot have any outward reactions inside the courtroom.

[00:00:09]If any of you feel overcome with emotion, frustration, anger, whatever, of any kind, please remember just to look down.

[00:00:20]Keep your hands folded in your lap.

[00:00:25]The court has considered the following information.

[00:00:29]The evidence, information, arguments, and recommendations provided by counsel on the record today.

[00:00:36]The victim impact statements and other statements made on the record today regarding the appropriate sentence.

[00:00:43]And the presentence investigation report as corrected on the record today, including the numerous statements attached to it.

[00:00:54]In addition, the court has considered each of the factors set forth in Utah Code 76-3, -201 subsection 2B, and has prioritized those factors as required by section 201 2C.

[00:01:12]Having considered the gravity and circumstances of the offenses for which Ms. Richens has been convicted, the number of victims, and available information regarding the history, character, and rehabilitative needs of the defendant, the court hereby orders that the sentences on counts two through five shall run consecutively to each other and to the sentence imposed on count one.

[00:01:44]Moreover, the court exercises its discretion and chooses to impose no fines related to any sentence in this case.

[00:01:54]The court addresses the five counts on which Ms. Richens was convicted in reverse order.

[00:02:01]Ms. Richens, based on your conviction on count five, third-degree felony forgery, the court hereby sentences you to an indeterminate prison term not to exceed 5 years.

[00:02:13]Based on your conviction on count four, second-degree felony insurance fraud, the court hereby sentences you to an indeterminate prison term of not less than 1 and not more than 15 years.

[00:02:26]Based on your conviction on count three, second-degree felony insurance fraud, the court hereby sentences you to an indeterminate prison term of not less than 1 and not more than 15 years.

[00:02:38]Based on your conviction on count two, first-degree felony attempted aggravated murder, the court hereby sentences you to an indeterminate prison term of not less than 5 years and that may be for life.

[00:02:53]Which brings us to the final issue, the appropriate sentence for count one.

[00:02:59]Under Utah Code 76-3-207.7, there are only two options.

[00:03:06]An indeterminate prison term of not less than 25 years and that may be for life or life in prison without parole.

[00:03:15]And the law requires that the court consider each option.

[00:03:20]Under a sentence of 25 to life and considering the effect of the four consecutive sentences, the time that Ms. Richens has spent in custody, and the current practices of the Board of Pardons and Parole, Ms. Richens would likely serve approximately 30 years in the Utah State Prison before receiving her first parole hearing.

[00:03:42]By that time, she would be 66 years old.

[00:03:46]Under a sentence of life in prison without parole, Ms. Richens would be imprisoned for the rest of her natural life unless the Board of Pardons and Parole determines by clear and convincing evidence at some future point that she is permanently incapable of being a threat to the safety of society.

[00:04:06]At which time the Board would have the authority to release her.

[00:04:11]Under either scenario Ms. Richens will be incapacitated meaning structurally prevented from harming anyone >> [clears throat] >> outside of the Utah State Prison System for at least the next three decades and perhaps much longer.

[00:04:28]But the potential impact on the survivors of the tragedy created by Kouri Richens most importantly Eric Richens' three sons is more difficult to predict.

[00:04:42]On one hand, if the court sentences Ms. Richens to life without parole one or more of those young men may come to resent that the court eliminated any opportunity they might have in the future decades into the future to express an opinion as adults with substantial life experience about whether their mother should for example be allowed to die with dignity.

[00:05:12]On the other hand if the court sentences Ms. Richens to 25 to life one or more of those young men may spend the next 30 years questioning why the court failed to protect them from the prospect of the person who murdered their father being released from prison at some time in the distant future.

[00:05:34]Perhaps when they have families and children of their own.

[00:05:40]The court's contemplation of how those young men may come to feel about today's decision some 30 years from now comes from a place of a genuine concern for them and humility regarding the court's inability to predict the future.

[00:05:58]Sitting here today, it is simply not possible for anyone, not even those young men, to know how their view of this case may evolve over the next several decades.

[00:06:12]My hope is that every person affected by Eric Richens' death will, over time, find their way to a state of peace.

[00:06:24]As for today, the court's duty is to make a decision.

[00:06:29]A weighty, long-lasting decision based on the best information available today.

[00:06:38]And the bottom line is this.

[00:06:42]Kouri Richens was convicted unanimously and beyond a reasonable doubt of attempting to murder Eric Richens, her husband and the father of their three children.

[00:06:57]And then, having failed in her first effort, of spending the next 17 days not changing course, but doubling down, preparing to try again, and [clears throat] ultimately completing the act through the administration of poison.

[00:07:15]And for what?

[00:07:17]Money.

[00:07:18]All for pecuniary gain.

[00:07:23]A person, if convicted of committing that sequence of acts in that way and for that reason and who causes the absolute tragedy that has befallen Eric Richens' sons and family.

[00:07:43]A person convicted of those things is simply too dangerous to ever be free.

[00:07:52]Accordingly, Ms. Rigens, based on your conviction on count one, first-degree felony aggravated murder, the court hereby sentences you to life without parole.

[00:08:04]You have the right to an appeal. You must file a notice of appeal within 30 days. You have the right to be represented by counsel on appeal.

[00:08:13]Mr. Bloodworth, anything further from you?

[00:08:15]No, Your Honor.

[00:08:16]Ms. Lewis, Ms. Nester?

[00:08:19]Your Honor, we anticipate filing a motion for a new trial and would like a date set. Um we have a substantial record in this case. We will file a notice of appeal of the conviction and the sentence, um and ask that everything be stayed pending the motion for a new trial as we're entitled to do under rule 4B.

[00:08:37]Excuse me, but we think we need sufficient time to file a motion for a new trial based on the substantial record that exists in this case, longer than the typical 14 days cuz this is not only the trial itself, but the years of litigation and motion practice that preceded the trial. We were hoping that we could get an agreed um deadline of 90 days to file the motion for a new trial, mainly because for half of June I'm out of the country and for half of July Ms. Lewis is out of the country. Um normally we would ask for 60, but there's going to be a month in there where both of us aren't available. Um so we're asking for 90 days.

[00:09:19]All right. Mr. Bloodworth?