Mel Barrett and Rebecca Lavoie are back to dissect Day 10 of the Kouri Richins trial, and we are officially in the "piling on" phase of the prosecution’s case. As the state prepares to rest, they’re throwing everything at the wall—from forged signatures to high school drug rumors—but something is definitely off about the actual proof.

In this episode, we break down the heavy hitters from Monday’s testimony:

The Business Partner: Cody Wright took the stand to describe Eric as a "cowboy" who wouldn't let a cold stop him, let alone a fentanyl overdose. But the real chill? Cody’s description of a Valentine's Day call from Eric where he heard a "sense of urgency and fear" in his voice that he’d only heard twice before in his life.

The "Simulated Forgery": Handwriting expert Matthew Throckmorton dropped a technical bomb, testifying that Eric "probably did not" sign those critical insurance documents. He called it a simulation—someone drawing a signature to pass it off as real.

The Driveway Bombshell: Detective Jayme Woody recounted the moment she pulled into the driveway and met Eric’s sister, Amy, who claimed Eric told her point-blank: "I think Kouri is going to kill me."

The state is working overtime to create an "atmosphere of a bad person." They want you to see a woman who fakes taxes, forges signatures, and had a messy childhood. But let’s be clear: Character evidence is not a conviction.

Being a lousy financial manager or an unfaithful spouse isn't the same thing as being a murderer. We’re still missing the actus reus—the actual mechanics of how Kouri allegedly got that fentanyl into Eric. We spent hours today arguing over "red devils" and Sudafed from Eric’s high school days just to try and prove he wasn't a "drug person," but the state's burden is higher than "he was a good guy and she's a bad girl."

If the Medical Examiner still has the manner of death listed as "undetermined," how can a jury get to "beyond a reasonable doubt"? At the end of the day, a fair trial means proving the crime, not just the character. If you can see both faces of that optical illusion—the witch and the widow—the law says you have to walk.

Something is definitely off.

If you want to watch the Impact x Nightline episode that Mel is featured in about Pamela Smart's new legal fight, watch it here: https://www.hulu.com/series/98fb0a9b-...

If you like us, please tip us: 

venmo: @melbarrettwrites 

cashapp: cash.app/$SomethingsOffTips 

You can now join the YouTube channel! When you become a member Rebecca will send you free stickers! Click the join button to select your favorite level. 

Follow @realmelbarrett on all socials / TT: @jackofalltradesdc Listen to the In Between Podcast wherever you get your podcasts! Follow ‪@reblavoie‬ on all socials Listen to Crime Writer's On wherever you get your podcasts!

As the prosecution begins to wrap up its case against Kouri Richins, the testimony from her inner circle painted a chilling portrait of a woman who was not just in financial ruin, but allegedly vocal about a world where her husband no longer existed.

We’re breaking down the testimony of Kouri’s childhood best friends, Allie Staking and Chelsea Barney. From a "funny" story about hidden THC gummies in Hawaii to the heartbreaking moment Chelsea realized her "best friend" had allegedly stolen her life savings and left her facing eviction, the betrayal in the courtroom was palpable.

Inside this episode:

PLUS we'll go live to the courtroom for the O'Keefes v Karen Read civil cas

Stick around for our closing segment where we head back to Massachusetts. Karen Read is back in the headlines after a "misleading" phone call between her and Aidan "Turtleboy" Kearney was leaked. Is this the "smoking gun" the McAlberts have been waiting for, or is it another case of a conversation taken wildly out of context? 

If you want to watch the Impact x Nightline episode that Mel is featured in about Pamela Smart's new legal fight, watch it here: https://www.hulu.com/series/98fb0a9b-...

If you like us, please tip us: 

venmo: @melbarrettwrites 

cashapp: cash.app/$SomethingsOffTips 

You can now join the YouTube channel! When you become a member Rebecca will send you free stickers! Click the join button to select your favorite level. 

Follow @realmelbarrett on all socials / TT: @jackofalltradesdc Listen to the In Between Podcast wherever you get your podcasts! Follow ‪@reblavoie‬ on all socials Listen to Crime Writer's On wherever you get your podcasts!

Mel Barrett and Rebecca Lavoie are back to dissect Day 8 of the Kouri Richins trial, a day that felt less like a courtroom and more like a post-mortem of a "shadow war" Eric Richins didn't know he was losing. In this episode, we’re talking about the arrival of the "other man," Robert Josh Grossman. 

Grossman sat in that box and confirmed the affair, but he also dropped a chilling detail: ten days after the funeral, Kouri asked him point-blank what it felt like to kill someone while he was serving in Iraq. Mel and Rebecca ask—is that grief-fueled curiosity, or a killer looking for a kindred spirit? 

Something is definitely off about the paper trail: 

The 6-Minute Mission: We look at the digital evidence of someone using Kouri’s login to try and flip a $2 million beneficiary 61 times in six minutes. That’s not a glitch; that’s an obsession. 

The Digit Slip: A new $100,000 policy taken out weeks before the death had Eric’s SSN transposed and was mailed to a private PO box. Coincidence? We think not. But the defense isn't backing down. 

We break down the high-stakes mistrial motion filed after the defense discovered the state might have hidden the fact that their star witness, Carmen Lauber, failed drug court. Plus, we dive into the "catch pole" text that has the lead detective looking more like a bully than an investigator. 

Join us as we ask: Was Eric Richins a man who knew his time was up, or is the "Moscow Mule Killer" just a widow being buried by bad accounting? Something is definitely off. 

If you want to watch the Impact x Nightline episode that Mel is featured in about Pamela Smart's new legal fight, watch it here: https://www.hulu.com/series/98fb0a9b-...

If you like us, please tip us: 

venmo: @melbarrettwrites 

cashapp: cash.app/$SomethingsOffTips 

You can now join the YouTube channel! Click the join button to select your favorite level. 

Follow @realmelbarrett on all socials / TT: @jackofalltradesdc Listen to the In Between Podcast wherever you get your podcasts! Follow ‪@reblavoie‬ on all socials Listen to Crime Writer's On wherever you get your podcasts!

Join Mel and Marti Cummings as they discuss the current state of politics that led to war with Iran. Is the Epstein Files or Trump's ego? 

Mel is building this new show from scratch and can use your help! 

If you appreciate the work, please consider tipping. 

Venmo: @melbarrettwrites Cashapp: $newslight 

If you are unable to tip, that's totally okay! Please consider liking, sharing, commenting, and subscribing

Mel Barrett and Rebecca Lavoie are breaking down Day 7 of the Kouri Richins trial, an eight-hour masterclass in forensic accounting that suggests Kouri’s financial empire wasn't just crumbling—it was a full-blown "implosion".

In this episode, we dive into the staggering testimony of Brooke Karrington, the state's star financial witness. Karrington detailed a web of debt totaling $8 million and a net worth that sat at a chilling negative $1.6 million on the day Eric Richins died. We look at the $1.3 million in life insurance payouts that Kouri allegedly burned through in just 90 days, leaving her with a measly $800 in her account by September 2022.

Plus, something is definitely off about:

We also analyze Kathy Nester’s surgical cross-examination for the defense, where she pivoted the narrative from "calculated killer" to "overwhelmed entrepreneur". Was Kouri a murderer, or just a woman who was too busy flipping houses to keep her books straight? And what about that safe in the garage and the $10,000 allegedly found in a backpack?

Finally, we go behind closed doors to discuss Judge Richard Mrazik’s rulings on "junk science" experts and the high-stakes legal battle over Kouri’s allegedly forged tax returns.

Join us as we ask: Is this a motive for murder, or a portrait of a messy, high-stakes life spinning out of control? something is definitely off.

If you want to watch the Impact x Nightline episode that Mel is featured in about Pamela Smart's new legal fight, watch it here: https://www.hulu.com/series/98fb0a9b-...

If you like us, please tip us: venmo:

@melbarrettwrites

cashapp: cash.app/$SomethingsOffTips

You can now join the YouTube channel!

Click the join button to select your favorite level. Follow @realmelbarrett on all socials / TT: @jackofalltradesdc Listen to the In Between Podcast wherever you get your podcasts! Follow ‪@reblavoie‬ on all socials Listen to Crime Writer's On wherever you get your podcasts!

There is the official story: A mother, a nurse, and a "premeditated" tragedy in a quiet Massachusetts suburb. And then there is the truth that lives in the gray area.

In this episode, Mel Barrett deconstructs the case against Lindsay Clancy. As the July 20, 2026, trial date looms, the legal battle has shifted from the "what" to the "why." We dive deep into the medical records that reveal a staggering cocktail of 13 psychiatric medications prescribed in just four months—a chemical storm that Patrick Clancy says turned his wife into a "zombie."

We walk through the haunting 55-minute timeline of January 24, 2023, and break down the defense's high-stakes motion for a bifurcated trial. Why is the state fighting so hard to keep the jury from seeing the science and the horror as separate issues? And what does the recent 2026 court appearance—Lindsay’s first in person—tell us about the road ahead?

This isn't just a story about a crime; it’s an indictment of a medical system that treats postpartum mental health like a chemistry experiment.

Inside the episode:

If you want to watch the Impact x Nightline episode that Mel is featured in about Pamela Smart's new legal fight, watch it here: https://www.hulu.com/series/98fb0a9b-...

If you appreciate the work Mel does, please tip her! 
venmo: @melbarrettwrites 

You can now join the YouTube channel! Click the join button to select your favorite level. 

Follow @realmelbarrett on all socials / TT: @jackofalltradesdc Listen to the In Between Podcast wherever you get your podcasts!

Join Mel and Rebeccas as they recap day six of the Kouri Richins trial PLUS did the O'Keefe's let their confirmation bias color what they think Karen Said on a private recording? Also...how does Kate Peter suddenly have access to Aidan Kearney's private messages? 

Let's discuss! 

If you want to watch the Impact x Nightline episode that Mel is featured in about Pamela Smart's new legal fight, watch it here: https://www.hulu.com/series/98fb0a9b-...

If you like us, please tip us: 

venmo: @melbarrettwrites 

cashapp: cash.app/$SomethingsOffTips 

You can now join the YouTube channel! Click the join button to select your favorite level. 

Follow @realmelbarrett on all socials / TT: @jackofalltradesdc Listen to the In Between Podcast wherever you get your podcasts! Follow ‪@reblavoie‬ on all socials Listen to Crime Writer's On wherever you get your podcasts! 

0:00 Intro + Housekeeping 

22:28 Karen Read Updates… when is enough, enough? (plus how does Kate Peter have TB’s private phone extraction?!) 

43:20 Will Karen get her phone back? (plus the importance of certified transcripts) 

1:03:59 RUBBBYYYY 

1:04:18 Walk the Dog Letter + Kouri Richins catch up 

1:15:54 Day Six Summary/Discussion 

1:58:40 Kouri’s Google Searches + Closing Thoughts

Mel breaks down pre-trial motions and day-by-day coverage of the first week of the Kouri Richins trial.

Here's what you'll find inside the episode: 

And soooo much more!

Mel will be covering the trial Read-a-Thon style, doing nightly updates with Rebecca when she's available and solo when she's not!

Join Mel tomorrow for DAY SIX!

If you want to watch the Impact x Nightline episode that Mel is featured in about Pamela Smart's new legal fight, watch it here: https://www.hulu.com/series/98fb0a9b-...

If you like us, please tip us: 

venmo: @melbarrettwrites 

cashapp: cash.app/$SomethingsOffTips 

You can now join the YouTube channel! Click the join button to select your favorite level. 

Follow @realmelbarrett on all socials / TT: @jackofalltradesdc Listen to the In Between Podcast wherever you get your podcasts! Follow ‪@reblavoie‬ on all socials Listen to Crime Writer's On wherever you get your podcasts!

Join Mel + Rebecca as they break down the new filing from Kelsey Fitzsimmons team alleging that her ex-fiance, Justin Aylaian, broke into her home while she was recovering from her gunshot wound and destroyed her surveillance system, burglarized her home, and illegally gained access to her electronics where he proceeded to steal money from her bank accounts and infiltrate her social media. And the icing on top: THERE'S VIDEO On the other side of Massachusetts crime news we have a new hearing where Michael Proctor is fighting against the release of his phone extraction to Karen Read's team. This one's spicy too.

Buckle up, y'all.

If you like us, please tip us:
venmo: @melbarrettwrites
cashapp: cash.app/$SomethingsOffTips

You can now join the YouTube channel! Click the join button to select your favorite level.

Follow @realmelbarrett on all socials / TT: @jackofalltradesdc Listen to the In Between Podcast wherever you get your podcasts! Follow ‪@reblavoie‬ on all socials Listen to Crime Writer's On wherever you get your podcasts!

Mel + Rebecca finally share the lowdown on the Kouri Richins case and trial, while asking questions of our DOJ.

If you want to watch the Impact x Nightline episode that Mel is featured in about Pamela Smart's new legal fight, watch it here: https://www.hulu.com/series/98fb0a9b-8a84-40df-8d88-7e1b032252f1?play=false&utm_source=shared_link

If you like us, please tip us: 

venmo: @melbarrettwrites 

cashapp: cash.app/$SomethingsOffTips 

You can now join the YouTube channel! Click the join button to select your favorite level. 

Follow @realmelbarrett on all socials / TT: @jackofalltradesdc Listen to the In Between Podcast wherever you get your podcasts! Follow ‪@reblavoie‬ on all socials Listen to Crime Writer's On wherever you get your podcasts!