utah woman who wrote children's book on grief
Kouri Richins, the Utah mom who wrote a children’s book on grief, has now been convicted of murdering her husband, and the case is trending again because her trial just concluded in March 2026.
Utah woman who wrote children's book on grief – Quick Scoop
Who is this Utah woman?
- Her name is Kouri Richins , a Utah mom and real estate agent.
- She lived in the Kamas/Park City area with her husband, Eric Richins , and their three children.
What happened to her husband?
- In March 2022 , her husband Eric was found dead at their Utah home; prosecutors say he was poisoned with fentanyl mixed into a cocktail.
- Investigators allege she obtained large quantities of fentanyl through an acquaintance and used a dose around five times the lethal amount.
- The case drew attention because the couple appeared to have an “ideal” marriage and successful careers from the outside.
The children’s book on grief
- About a year after Eric’s death, Kouri self‑published a children’s book on coping with grief, titled “Are You With Me?”
- The book is described as helping children feel that a deceased loved one’s presence is still with them and offering “peace and comfort.”
- She dedicated the book to her “amazing husband and a wonderful father” and promoted it in local TV and radio interviews, presenting herself as a grieving widow.
From author to murder conviction
- In May 2023 , shortly after promoting the book, Kouri was charged with aggravated murder and drug‑related offenses connected to Eric’s death.
- Prosecutors argued the book and media tour were part of a calculated attempt to shape a public image and cover up a planned killing, while she allegedly sought to collect millions in life‑insurance payouts.
- In March 2026 , a Utah jury found her guilty of aggravated murder in Eric’s 2022 death at their home.
- The conviction capped a highly publicized trial that featured financial disputes, alleged affairs, and detailed testimony about the fentanyl poisoning.
Why is this case trending now?
- The story has resurfaced globally in March 2026 because the trial just ended with a guilty verdict , turning the “grief book” into a grim symbol in news and social media conversations.
- Clips of her earlier TV interviews promoting the book are being replayed alongside courtroom footage, intensifying the sense of shock and betrayal many viewers express online.
Forum & public discussion angles
Online comments and forums tend to cluster around a few themes:
- Emotional reaction & betrayal
- Many people say the most disturbing detail isn’t just the poisoning, but that she wrote a children’s book about grief afterward and marketed herself as a model grieving mother.
- Ethics of true crime attention
- Some argue media and readers risk turning real victims (like Eric and the children) into a spectacle by obsessing over the “killer author” angle.
- Impact on the children
- Commenters often focus on the couple’s three kids, who not only lost their father but now face the reality that their mother has been convicted of his murder.
- Trust and manipulation
- The case sparks discussion about how someone can use tools meant for comfort—like a grief book—as part of an alleged manipulation strategy.
“The fact that she wrote a book to ‘help’ her kids, while allegedly causing the very grief they’re living with, is what makes this case feel like a movie villain brought to life.”
(Paraphrasing common sentiments seen across news and discussion coverage.)
Snapshot: Key facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Name | Kouri Richins, Utah mother and real estate agent | [1][4]
| Victim | Husband, Eric Richins, died March 2022 at their Utah home | [6][10][1][2]
| Cause of death | Alleged fentanyl poisoning in a drink, with about five times a lethal dose | [10][1][6]
| Book title | “Are You With Me?” – a children’s book about coping with grief | [4][7][1][2][6]
| Book timing | Published about one year after Eric’s death; promoted on local TV/radio | [7][1][2][4][10]
| Charges | Aggravated murder and related drug charges filed May 2023 | [9][1][2][4]
| Verdict | Found guilty of aggravated murder in March 2026 | [5][8][2][6][10]
If you’re reading about this and feeling heavy
Because this story involves death, betrayal, and children, it can hit hard. If it feels close to home or stirs up your own grief:
- Talk to someone you trust or a mental‑health professional.
- Take breaks from doomscrolling coverage.
- Use resources like crisis hotlines or local support services if you feel overwhelmed.
Bottom note: Information gathered from public news outlets and online coverage and portrayed here.