Mum who wrote grief book for children after allegedly killing husband sues his estate for money

A mum who has been accused of killing her husband before writing a children's book about grief has now filed a lawsuit against his estate for money.

Kouri Richins, from Utah, is currently being held without bail on charges of criminal homicide, aggravated murder, and three counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute following the death of her husband, Eric Richins, in March 2022.

Walker Mortuary

An autopsy and toxicology report determined that Eric, who was just 39, had about five times the lethal dosage of fentanyl in his system when he died.

Richins claimed she'd brought her husband a drink before bed, before falling asleep in their son's room. When she returned to their room at around 3am, she claimed to find her husband dead on the floor.

Richins has not yet entered a plea in relation to the charges, but a court filing obtained by CNN reveals that she is busy suing Eric's estate.

The wife is seeking half of all equity in the couple’s home, which is estimated to be worth 'at least $1.9 million' (£1.5m), according to the filing.

The home was in Eric's name, though mortgage payments came from a joint account owned by the couple.

Therefore, the suit argues: “Kouri is entitled to half of all equity in that Family Home."

ABC4

As well as the proceeds from the home, Richins is seeking about $2 million (£1.5m) in proceeds from the sale of a share Eric held in a stone masonry business.

A pre-nuptial agreement signed by the couple states Eric's 'partnership interest in said business shall transfer to the Wife' should he die while they're married, however the proceeds are being held in an estate managed by Eric’s sister.

Eric told an estate planner prior to his death that his estate should be managed by his sister in the event of his death.

He also set up a trust to 'provide for both my wife and our children during any time that I am incapacitated and after my death'.

Richins' lawsuit makes no mention of the charges she's facing in relation to her husband's death.

It comes after details about her alleged search history emerged in court earlier this month, with investigators claiming that she searched questions such as 'What is a lethal dose of fentanyl', prior to Eric's death.

One year after losing her husband, Richins published a children’s book titled Are You With Me?, which shared information about coping with grief after the loss of a loved one.