On March 4 last year, Kouri Richins (33) called the emergency number. She had just found her husband Eric Richins (39) lifeless on the floor at the foot of the bed in the couple’s home in Utah, USA.
Life-saving first aid was attempted, but Eric was pronounced dead at the scene.
Vodka in bed
According to BBC she told police she had mixed a Moscow Mule and given the drink to her husband, who was in bed. The 33-year-old himself is said to have slept in another room with one of the couple’s children, who is said to have suffered from night terrors.
MARRIED COUPLE: Eric Richins was found dead by his wife on March 4 last year. Photo: Handout
sea view
When she later entered the bedroom around three in the morning, the 39-year-old is said to have “been cold to the touch”.
Wrote a seminal book
After the sudden death of her spouse, Kouri decided to write a children’s book about the great grief.
“Are You With Me?” – translated to “Are you with me?” – is about a boy who loses his father, but is constantly reminded of his presence.
To radio station KPCW Kouri herself said that the book should help children cope with death. She also hoped that the book would help her three sons process the loss of their father.
Got rotten fish after “happy ending”
The children’s book is dedicated to her late husband, whom she describes as “a wonderful husband and father”. It was released in March this year.
– We hope it will provide some comfort. Not only to our family, but also to other families who are going through the same thing, she said on air just over two months ago.
Shock reversal
On Monday this week, however, Kouri Richins herself was charged with having killed her husband. This is reported by several American media, among others The New York Times.
The autopsy and toxicology report determined that 39-year-old Eric Richins had a five-times lethal dose of fentanyl in his blood. The medical examiner also concluded that the fentanyl had been taken orally, the court documents state.
In questioning, Kouri said that she had left the mobile phone on the bedside table in the couple’s bedroom during the night. However, the investigation showed that the phone had been unlocked several times until three in the morning when she called the emergency number. Kouri is said to have sent several text messages, but these were later deleted.
Wanted to buy the “Michael Jackson stuff”
The police found out that on several occasions the woman has sent drug-related messages with an acquaintance, where she has asked for prescription drugs.
Kouri also asked for “something stronger” and wrote “some of that Michael Jackson stuff,” after which she specified fentanyl, according to court documents.
In 2009, Michael Jackson died of an overdose of a number of prescription drugs.
The police are asking for help
She bought 15 to 30 fentanyl pills for $900 in February 2022 — just six days before Eric died. This corresponds to around NOK 9,400 at today’s exchange rate.
Fentanyl is a powerful, synthetic opioid, which is used in pain management. Fentanyl is 75 to 100 times stronger than morphine, and has faster onset of effects and side effects than morphine, writes Major medical encyclopedias.
– Difficult case
In addition to murder, Kouri Richins is charged with three counts of drug possession with intent to distribute GHB.
It is not known how Richins will respond to the charges. The New York Times has tried to get a comment from the 33-year-old’s defender. The request has not yet been answered, writes the newspaper.
Scientists sound the alarm after this
To NBC News District Attorney Margaret Olson says they do not want to comment on the indictment.
– Please consider that the deceased and the accused have young children, which makes this case very sensitive and difficult, she says in an email to the news website.
The next detention meeting is set for 19 May.
2023-05-10 16:37:27
#Wrote #book #grief #shock
