Children’s book author Kouri Richins’ sons demand life sentence after she killed their dad
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
HEBER CITY, UTAH: Three young sons of Utah author Kouri Richins have begged the judge to keep their mother in prison for life, stating, “I’m afraid if she gets out, she will come after me and my brothers,” as they expressed total terror of the woman who murdered their father.
Prosecutors are seeking the harshest possible sentence for the woman who poisoned her husband, Eric, to death, before writing a children’s book about grief.
Kouri Richins’ sons break their silence to demand mother remain behind bars
The sons of Kouri Richins, who were just 5, 7, and 9 when their father was killed in 2022, have broken their silence regarding the woman who raised them.
According to court documents filed by prosecutor Brad Bloodworth, the children do not want their mother to ever have the chance of parole. The eldest son, now 13, told prosecutors that his fear is rooted in his own safety and that of his relatives.
He stated, “I’m afraid if she gets out, she will come after me and my brothers, my whole family. I think she would come and take us and not do good things to us, like hurt us.”
This child has notably stopped calling her "mom," instead referring to her only by her name, saying, “I miss my dad, but I do not miss how my life used to be, I don’t miss Kouri, I will tell you that.”
Financial greed turns Kouri Richins into a source of terror
Kouri was convicted of poisoning Eric’s cocktail with five times the lethal limit of d***s in an attempt to inherit his $4 million estate and settle her massive business debts.
While she later wrote a children’s book called 'Are you with me?' to supposedly help her sons through their mourning, the boys claim her presence only brings trauma. The middle son, now 12, spoke about the milestones his father will miss, such as birthdays and learning to drive.
He told the court that he needs his mother to remain behind bars to feel any sense of security, saying, “I will not feel safe is [she is] out … with her in jail, I will be able to continue to feel safe and live a happy and successful life without fear of [her] hurting me or anyone I love.”
Prosecutors label Kouri Richins ‘irredeemable’ as youngest child begs for safety
The prosecution argues that Kouri is "irredeemable" because she has shown no remorse and has even attempted to harass Eric's family from jail.
Even the youngest son, who was only in preschool when the murder occurred, expressed a deep desire for his mother to stay in prison forever. He explained that her memory brings him nothing but pain, stating, “[w]hen someone talks about Kouri, it makes me feel hateful and ashamed. She took away my dad.”
He added that he remains constantly worried about her returning to his life, saying, “If she got out I would be so scared. I’m worried she would take me away… Once she is gone I will feel happy and I will feel safer and relaxed and trust people more.”
Prosecutors insist that life without parole is the only way to ensure these boys never have to face their father’s killer again.
