Crime Girl -
In this episode of the Crime Girl podcast, your host, Grace, aka Crime Girl, dives deep into one of the most disturbing and psychologically fascinating true crime cases in recent memory — the case of Kouri Richins, the Utah mother and children’s book author convicted of murdering her husband, Eric Richins, with fentanyl.
What began as the tragic death of a young husband and father slowly unraveled into something far darker. Prosecutors alleged financial desperation, manipulation, secret debt, an earlier poisoning attempt, and a carefully managed public image that hid an entirely different reality behind the scenes.
And then there was the children’s book.
Grace also discusses the emotional impact of watching Kouri Richins’s sentencing hearing, including Kouri’s courtroom behavior, her lengthy statement to her sons, and the heartbreaking victim impact statements from Eric’s family.
This episode contains discussion of murder, poisoning, grief, manipulation, and family trauma.
In This Episode
- The seemingly perfect life Eric and Kouri Richins presented publicly
- The financial problems prosecutors said were threatening the marriage
- The alleged Valentine’s Day poisoning incident
- How investigators discovered Eric had massive amounts of fentanyl in his system
- The infamous “Michael Jackson stuff” text messages
- Kouri’s boyfriend and why prosecutors believed the relationship mattered
- Testimony from Kouri’s longtime best friend, Chelsea Barney
- The children’s grief book that shocked the public
- The prosecution’s theory of manipulation and performance
- Kouri Richins’s conviction and sentencing
- Grace’s personal thoughts after watching the sentencing hearing
Mentioned in This Episode
- Are You With Me? by Kouri Richins (Doesn't seem to be available for purchase now--for obvious reasons.)
- Eric Richins
- Chelsea Barney
- Katie Richins-Benson
- The Kouri Richins sentencing hearing
- Fentanyl toxicology evidence
Connect with Crime Girl
Email Grace:
[email protected]
Follow & Connect:
Facebook: Crime Girl Podcast
Instagram: @gracesegal
YouTube: Crime Girl with Grace Segal
To Leave a Review
On Apple Podcasts
(no link is available — here are the steps)
- Open the Apple Podcasts app.
- Search for Crime Girl.
- Select the podcast show page (not an individual episode).
- Scroll to the bottom of the page.
- Click “Write a Review”
Thank you so much for taking the time to review the show!
Credits
Crime Girl is hosted by Grace Taylor Segal.
Timestamps
00:00 Welcome to Crime Girl
02:10 The public image of the Richins family
07:15 Financial trouble and marital strain
11:20 The alleged Valentine’s Day poisoning incident
15:40 Eric Richins’s death and toxicology findings
21:05 “The Michael Jackson stuff” text messages
24:30 Kouri’s boyfriend and prosecution motive theory
28:15 Chelsea Barney’s testimony
32:40 The children’s book and public reaction
38:10 The trial and guilty verdict
43:50 The sentencing hearing and Grace’s reaction
50:20 Final thoughts and My Take
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Hey, my dear True Crime Friends! It's me, Grace! I just want to thank you for listening. I hope you’ll let me know what you think about the podcast and if any particular episodes resonate with you.
Listed just below here is my contact information and the social channels where you can find me. Don’t hesitate to get in touch…I would love to hear from you.
Contact Info
Grace Taylor Segal
Email: [email protected]
Facebook Page here
Instagram - @crimegirl_pod
Website here
Please leave a review if you like the show! Here's how:
On Apple Podcasts (Just follow these steps)
• Open the Apple Podcasts app.
• Search for the podcast you want to review.
• Select the podcast show page (not an individual episode).
• Scroll to the bottom of the page.
• Click "Write a Review".
Thank you so much for taking the time to review the show!
Timestamps