Kouri Richins Biography
Many people first heard of Kouri Richins when she published a book to help children deal with the loss of a parent. The book came out after her husband died in March 2022. Later, she faced serious criminal charges related to his death.
This biography looks at the known facts of her life. It starts from her early years and moves through her adult life, career, and the legal outcomes. The goal is to provide clear information based on court records, news reports, and public documents. Readers can learn about the events in order and understand how one person’s story can affect a family and community. Dates help mark important points along the way.
Kouri Richins Early Life and Background
Kouri Richins was born in Oklahoma in 1990. Her family moved often because of her parents’ work. Records show she lived in 17 different states during her childhood. This frequent moving created an unstable environment for her and her brother.
When she was six years old, her father went to prison. Court-related documents from her later trial mention that he was an engineer who had an incident while drunk. He hit an officer during a traffic stop. After this event, her parents divorced. In 2000, Kouri moved to Utah with her mother, Lisa Darden, and her brother.
Life in Utah brought new challenges. Her mother faced issues with gambling, but Kouri and her mother stayed close. In 2021, at a wellness retreat in Arizona, Kouri wrote about her life in the third person. She described trying to find happiness through different choices in her adult years. These early experiences shaped parts of her story, though public details remain limited to what she shared and what came out in legal proceedings.
Her family background includes both difficult times and efforts to build a new life in Utah. She later became a mother and tried to create stability for her own children.
Kouri Richins Education
Public records do not provide many clear details about Kouri Richins’ formal education. Reports note that she attended school during her moves across states and after settling in Utah. Some accounts mention she considered or started graduate school at one point, but exact degrees or institutions are not widely confirmed in available sources.
Like many people, she focused more on work and family as an adult than on sharing school history. Her later business activities suggest she gained practical knowledge in real estate through experience rather than only through classroom learning. Education in her story appears as a mix of formal schooling and life lessons from her changing childhood environment.
Kouri Richins Career
Kouri Richins worked as a real estate investor and agent. She started K Richins Realty LLC around 2019. Her business involved buying and fixing houses, known as house flipping, mainly in Summit County, Utah, near Park City and Kamas.
This work required skills in property management, sales, and project planning. She handled renovations and sales in a competitive housing market. At the same time, her husband Eric ran a successful stonemasonry business. The couple lived in the Kamas area and raised their three sons together.
Before focusing fully on real estate, Kouri took on different roles to support her family. She became known locally for her business efforts. In 2023, she also published a children’s book titled Are You With Me?. The book tells the story of a child who loses a father and finds comfort by imagining him as a firefly. She explained in interviews that she created it to help her sons and other children with grief. It was self-published and promoted on local television shows like Good Things Utah.
Her career combined business activities with this writing project after 2022. The book used ideas such as the three C’s: Connection, keeping memories alive, and finding comfort in daily life.
Kouri Richins Sentencing and Aftermath
Eric Richins died on March 4, 2022, at the family home near Park City. He was 39 years old. A jury later found Kouri Richins guilty of aggravated murder and other charges on March 16, 2026, after a trial in Summit County. The jury decided the case in about three hours.
On May 13, 2026 — the date that would have been Eric’s 44th birthday — a judge sentenced her to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the aggravated murder charge. She received concurrent sentences for the other counts, which included attempted aggravated murder, forgery, and insurance fraud. The judge stated that she was too dangerous to ever be free.
During the sentencing hearing, family members spoke. Eric’s father and sisters asked for the strongest sentence to protect the children. Letters from the three sons were read. They expressed fear and asked that their mother not be released. At that time, the sons were living with Eric’s family, specifically with his sister Katie Richins-Benson.
Kouri Richins spoke in court and maintained her innocence. She told her sons to be like their dad and asked them not to give up on her. Her legal team said they planned to appeal the conviction and sentence. After the sentencing, she remained in custody.
Kouri Richins Legacy
The case of Kouri Richins has drawn attention to topics like grief, family safety, and the justice system. Her children’s book brought awareness to how kids process loss, even as the circumstances around its creation became part of a larger story. Eric Richins is remembered through his obituary as a loving father, coach, and business owner who enjoyed outdoor activities.
The three sons — Carter, Ashton, and Weston — lost their father at young ages (9, 7, and 5 in 2022). They have been raised by Eric’s family since 2023. Public statements show they are receiving support and focusing on healing. Their experiences highlight the long-term effects of family loss on children.
This story serves as a reminder of the importance of open communication in relationships and the value of professional help for grief and financial stress. Communities in Summit County and beyond have followed the case through news coverage on major networks.
Conclusion
Kouri Richins’ life includes periods of movement in childhood, business building in adulthood, family joys, and serious legal consequences. From her birth in 1990 through her sentencing in 2026, the public record shows a path with both efforts to create stability and outcomes decided by the courts.
Eric Richins’ death in 2022 ended a marriage that began with a 2013 backyard wedding. The couple shared three sons and a life in Utah. Facts from trials and reports help separate what is known from what remains private. This biography aims to inform readers with clear details so they can form their own understanding. Families facing loss or legal issues may find help through counselors, support groups, or legal professionals.
FAQs
What is Kouri Richins known for?
She worked in real estate in Utah and published the children’s book Are You With Me? in 2023. She was convicted in 2026 of crimes related to her husband’s 2022 death.
When did Eric Richins die?
He died on March 4, 2022, at age 39.
How many children do they have?
They have three sons: Carter, Ashton, and Weston.
Where are the children now?
As of 2026, the sons live with Eric Richins’ family, including his sister Katie. They continue to grow up with support from relatives.
What was the sentence?
On May 13, 2026, Kouri Richins received life in prison without parole.
What is the book Are You With Me? about?
It is a children’s story about coping with the loss of a father. It uses colorful pictures and messages of comfort, such as remembering loved ones like a firefly’s light.
Did Kouri Richins go to college?
Public details about her higher education are limited. No specific university records are widely reported.