In this episode of Debate The News: True Crime, we break down the Kouri Richins case, the high-profile Utah murder case centered on the death of Eric Richins. Prosecutors argued that Richins poisoned her husband with fentanyl after a marriage marked by financial strain, secret life insurance policies, estate planning disputes, and a failed earlier attempt involving a Valentine’s Day sandwich.

The episode follows the prosecution’s theory from motive to verdict: the alleged fentanyl sourcing, the fatal Moscow mule, the autopsy findings, the phone data, and the behavior after Eric’s death that prosecutors said showed consciousness of guilt. Adrienne and Joseph also dig into the twist that made this case explode in the public imagination: roughly one year after Eric died, Richins self-published a children’s grief book, Are You With Me?, built around helping kids cope with the loss of a father.

The conversation also covers the defense strategy, the decision not to call witnesses, the March 2026 guilty verdict, and the separate financial case still hanging over Richins. As always, the live audience weighs in on motive, manipulation, image management, and whether this was a straightforward murder case or a heavily layered circumstantial prosecution.

Do you think the prosecution proved motive, method, and intent beyond a reasonable doubt? Did the children’s book change the way you viewed the case? Join the conversation live on Chatter Social and be part of the next Debate The News: True Crime recording. Debate The News: True Crime records live on Thursdays at 7:00 PM ET on the Chatter Social App. Download Chatter Social: (for iOS / for Android).

The hosts are not attorneys, law enforcement officials, or medical professionals. This show is recorded live with minimal editing, and any factual errors are unintentional. Any individuals, businesses, or organizations discussed who were never convicted of a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The opinions of guests and audience members are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Adrienne Barker, Joseph Lobosco, or Debate The News: True Crime.

→ Adrienne Barker — Host

→ Joseph Lobosco — Host

→ Leslie — Guest Contributor

→ Mariana Thomas — Guest Contributor

→ Debbie Dowling-Wahba — Guest Contributor

→ Jessaka — Guest Contributor

→ Nikki — Guest Contributor

Credits:

Debate The News: True Crime

"Murder, Fentanyl and a Moscow Mule: The Trial of Kouri Richins"

Created by: Jonathan Bing, Adrienne Barker and Joseph R. Lobosco

Producers: Adrienne Barker, Joseph R. Lobosco, Danielle Paci, and Jonathan Bing

Writers: Joseph R. Lobosco and Adrienne Barker

Editor: Joseph R. Lobosco

Cover Art: Joseph R. Lobosco

Special Thanks: Nelson, Lea, Nawzil, and the entire Chatter Social team

Theme Song: Alaina Cross — “Karma” [NCS Release]

Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds

Free Download/Stream: ncs.io/karma

Watch: ncs.lnk.to/karmaAT/youtube

🎧 A Debate the News: True Crime Production

Download the Chatter Social app: (for iOS / for Android).