By Kerry Howard Mwesigwa
Kouri Richins, an author of children’s books based in Utah, has been accused of poisoning her husband with fentanyl, a painkiller that is 100 times more potent than morphine, resulting in his death in March of 2022. Richins has been charged with aggravated murder and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.
At the time of his passing, Eric Richins had five times the lethal dose of fentanyl in his system. In addition, Kouri Richins is alleged to have been in possession of GHB, an odourless substance commonly associated with ‘date rape’ cases due to its ability to cause drowsiness and relaxation in individuals. Charges were brought against Richins after an individual, whose identity has not been disclosed, purportedly confessed to selling fentanyl to her.
Just two months ago, Richins had promoted her book, ‘Are You With Me?’, which focuses on coping with grief, during a local TV segment. In the interview, she explained that she wrote the book to help her family come to terms with the loss of her husband, and that children needed to feel that the spirit of their loved one is always present in their home. However, since the revelation of her charges, her book has been removed from Amazon, and her lawyer has declined to comment on the situation.
