Mom Writes a Book for Her Children to Cope With Dad’s Death… While She Poisoned Him

Kouri Richins during a hearing on Aug. 26, 2024 in Park City, Utah ; Kouri Richins children's book about mourning. Credit : Rick Bowmer/AP Photo ; Amazon

Even though modern society has already accustomed us to all kinds of violence and various atrocities, I read the story of Kouri Richins and it left a bitter taste in my mouth. A woman who writes a book to help her children cope with the death of their father, reading this first part of the story it seems like a commendable action, a thought immediately going to the children... yet continuing the story, it turns out that at the same time she is the one who killed him.

Eric Richins, 33 years old, was poisoned with fentanyl in a cocktail prepared by her, after a failed attempt on Valentine’s Day, with a dose five times the lethal amount. The motive? As easily imagined, always the damn money, to collect two million dollars from the insurance and live a new life with a lover.

There are details that are even more shocking: Kouri had taken out life insurance policies without him knowing, and she did online searches like “lethal dose of fentanyl” and “luxury prisons for the rich”. For the children, whom the book was meant to help, this is a huge wound, they lose their beloved father and discover that the culprit is their own mother.

A mother and wife, who becomes the executioner of those she should protect and love, is perhaps the most disturbing image we can imagine. This story reminds us that violence has no gender, but is universal; it can hide behind smiles, affectionate gestures… it is not only physical, in fact very often it is manipulation, betrayal, deception.

References: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdxg1nx2r61o