Utah Mother Kouri Richins Sentenced to Life Without Parole for Poisoning Husband

Kouri Richins was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole Thursday for the aggravated murder of her husband, Eric Richins. The sentence, handed down by Judge Richard Mrazik, came on what would have been Eric Richins’ 44th birthday.

Judge Mrazik ordered the sentences on counts two through five to run consecutively to each other and to the sentence on count one, the aggravated murder conviction. He imposed no fines on any of the counts.

The judge addressed the counts in reverse order:

• On count five, third-degree felony forgery, Kouri Richins received an indeterminate prison term not to exceed five years.
• On count four, second-degree felony insurance fraud, she received an indeterminate term of not less than one nor more than 15 years.
• On count three, second-degree felony insurance fraud, she received an indeterminate term of not less than one nor more than 15 years.
• On count two, first-degree felony attempted aggravated murder, she received an indeterminate term of not less than five years and which may be for life.
• On count one, first-degree felony aggravated murder, she was sentenced to life without parole.

In explaining the decision on the murder charge, Judge Mrazik noted that Utah law offered two options: an indeterminate term of 25 years to life or life without parole. He said that under a 25-to-life sentence, accounting for the consecutive sentences, time already served, and practices of the Board of Pardons and Parole, Kouri Richins would likely serve approximately 30 years before her first parole hearing, at which point she would be about 66 years old.

The judge weighed the potential long-term impact on Eric Richins’ three sons. He acknowledged that a life-without-parole sentence might lead some of the young men to later resent the elimination of any future opportunity to express an opinion as adults about whether their mother should be released. Conversely, a 25-to-life sentence could leave them for decades fearing the possibility of her eventual release.

“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,” Judge Mrazik said. He expressed hope that all those affected by Eric Richins’ death would eventually find peace, but stressed the court’s duty to decide based on available information.

The judge concluded that Kouri Richins had been convicted unanimously and beyond a reasonable doubt of first attempting to murder her husband and the father of their three children, then spending the next 17 days preparing a second attempt and ultimately killing him by poison — all for pecuniary gain.

“A person convicted of those things is simply too dangerous to ever be free,” he said.

Kouri Richins was informed of her right to appeal and that she must file a notice of appeal within 30 days. She has the right to be represented by counsel on appeal. Defense attorney Mr. Bleworth was present in court.