- Kouri Richins faces trial in the death of her husband.
- The trial remains in Summit County despite requests to relocate; it starts Feb. 23.
- Richins' case includes charges of aggravated murder, attempted murder, and forgery.
PARK CITY — Jury selection was underway Tuesday in the upcoming trial of the Kamas mother accused of fatally poisoning her husband and then writing a children's book about coping with grief.
Kouri Richins will face trial on charges of aggravated murder and attempted murder of her husband, Eric Richins, insurance fraud and forgery. She has pleaded not guilty.
Despite repeated requests from her attorneys to move it, the trial will stay in Summit County. It begins on Feb. 23 and is expected to last through March 26.
KSL will be in the courtroom following developments.
Shelby Lofton, KSLOn Day 1 of jury selection, the majority of possible jurors were passed by the judge. They'll find out next week for certain if they're chosen.
Many of them said they have read or seen some media coverage of the case but didn't know a lot of details and said they didn't have strong opinions.
Judge Richard Mrazik instructed them to refrain from researching, reading, watching or discussing anything pertaining to the case.
Timeline of the Richins case
March 4, 2022 — Kouri Richins calls police early in the morning to report her husband Eric Richins is "cold to the touch." He dies unexpectedly at their home.
June 9, 2022 — Kouri Richins is charged with assault, a class B misdemeanor, in connection to an alleged altercation at her home with her sister-in-law.
March 7, 2023 — Kouri Richins publishes a book titled "Are You With Me?" It is a children's book about dealing with grief featuring her husband and sons.
May 8, 2023 — Kouri Richins is charged with killing her husband through a fentanyl overdose and is arrested.
May 18, 2023 — Amended charges accuse Kouri Richins of fraud, claiming she took out $2 million in life insurance policies against her husband without his knowledge.
June 12, 2023 — Mrazik denies a request from Kouri Richins for bail, ruling she will stay in jail as the charges move through court.
Sept. 14, 2023 — Prosecutors claim a letter found in Richins' jail cell titled "Walk the Dog" outlines false testimony for her mother and brother.
Nov. 3, 2023 – Mrazik denies motions to dismiss Kouri Richins' charges based on allegations that prosecutors breached professional conduct rules in publishing the "Walk the Dog" letter. He also denied a motion from prosecutors to restrict Richins' contact with her family and a motion from Richins to remove the Summit County prosecutors from the case.
Jan. 4, 2024 — Court documents reveal that Eric Richins' autopsy found medications prescribed to Kouri Richins, in addition to fentanyl.
March 25, 2024 – Richins is charged with attempting to murder her husband on Valentine's Day weeks before his death in amended charges.
May 13, 2024 — Kouri Richins is found guilty in the assault case after not following plea in abeyance conditions in the agreed upon time period.
May 19, 2024 — A newly unsealed search warrant reveals Kouri Richins' mother had a romantic partner who also died of 'suspicious overdose' in 2006.
May 20, 2024 — Mrazik allows Richins' previous attorney, Skye Lazaro, to withdraw after her firm reported an ethical issue in representing her. This led to a delayed preliminary hearing in her case.
May 24, 2024 — Kouri Richins proclaims her innocence in voice recordings sent to national media before new attorneys — Kathryn Nester, Wendy Lewis and Alexander Ramos — are appointed to represent her.
Aug. 27, 2024 — Richins ordered to stand trial following testimony at a preliminary hearing.
Nov. 12, 2024 – Mrazik grants request from Kouri Richins to try mortgage fraud charges separately, denies request to reconsider bail.
January 23, 2025 — Officers testify about their investigation into Eric Richins' death as Richins' attorneys contest which evidence can be brought into trial.
February 3, 2025 — Court wrestles with questions on the jury questionnaire, concerned about how the questions are phrased in relation to jurors recollection of media coverage.
March 17, 2025 — Richins' attorneys request her trial be moved to Salt Lake County.
April 7, 2025 — Mrazik grants a request to delay the trial for Kouri Richins previously scheduled to begin in April 2025 after denying a request to move the trial to Salt Lake County.
June 6, 2025 — Utah Supreme Court declines to consider appeal of the decision to keep her jury trial in Salt Lake County
June 13, 2025 — New jury trial set for Kouri Richins in February and March of 2026.
June 27, 2025 — A new case is filed against Kouri Richins with some mortgage fraud cases moved over from her other case and new charges.
October 8, 2025 – Prosecutors remove charges for drug distribution in Kouri Richins' case.
Nov. 17, 2025 — Mrazik denies a request from Kouri Richins for yet another bail hearing.
Jan. 8, 2026 — Judge Richard Mrazik makes decisions on which things to allow into the trial.
Feb. 2, 2026 — Judge denies a second request to move the trial to Salt Lake County after finding there are enough potential jurors who returned questionnaires sent by the court.
Feb. 10, 2026 — Jury selection begins.
Feb. 23, 2026 — Trial for Kouri Richins scheduled to begin.
