Utah grief writer Kouri Richins additionally tried to poison husband with Valentine’s Day sandwich, prosecutors say

A Utah grief writer charged with spiking her husband’s drink with a fatal dose of fentanyl faces an extra cost of tried homicide after authorities stated she allegedly drugged him with a Valentine’s Day sandwich in an try and kill him.

Kouri Richins was arrested final yr on fees that included aggravated homicide after authorities stated she killed her husband, Eric Richins, at their house in Kamas, about 40 miles southeast of Salt Lake Metropolis, on March 4, 2022.

Eric Richins, 39, was discovered unresponsive within the house after having a drink to have a good time his spouse’s enterprise deal. A health worker stated he had 5 instances the lethal dose of fentanyl in his system and that it was “illicit” and never medical grade.

Charging paperwork filed Monday allege that was not the first time Kouri Richins slipped her husband drugs. On Valentine’s Day 2022, authorities stated Eric Richins practically died after his spouse introduced him a sandwich.

The paperwork state that Eric Richins texted his spouse and stated he was not feeling good and that if he didn’t really feel higher quickly he was going to the hospital. His spouse, who was not house on the time, instructed him he ought to take a nap, in line with the paperwork.

That afternoon Eric Richins reached out to 2 of his shut pals and stated his spouse had left him his favourite sandwich from a neighborhood diner with a be aware, in line with the paperwork.

He instructed one buddy, “you nearly misplaced me” and described breaking out in hives after taking a chunk from the sandwich. He stated he had to make use of his son’s EpiPen and take Benadryl, prosecutors stated within the paperwork.

“Eric Richins instructed Witness 1 that he had nearly died,” the charging paperwork state. “Witness 1 might hear the worry in Eric Richins’ voice and inform that Eric Richins was scared.”

Eric Richins instructed the opposite buddy he thought his spouse had tried to poison him, prosecutors allege.

The paperwork state that opioids, together with fentanyl, may cause allergic and pseudoallergic reactions, together with hives. It additionally notes that Eric Richins didn’t have any meals allergic reactions.

Prosecutors stated within the charging paperwork that Kouri Richins bought illicit fentanyl earlier than the Valentine’s Day meal in 2022 and once more earlier than his demise.

Kouri Richins was additionally charged Monday with two counts of mortgage fraud, two counts of insurance coverage fraud and three counts of forgery. Prosecutors allege that she was in monetary misery on the time of her husband’s demise and solid mortgage purposes and fraudulently claimed insurance benefits after he died.

An lawyer for Kouri Richins stated they’ve reviewed the charging paperwork and “there may be nothing within the paperwork that impacts Kouri’s strategy to defending no matter fees the State levies towards her.”

“She continues to take care of her innocence,” the lawyer stated in a press release.

Kouri Richins is at present in custody awaiting trial.

This text was initially printed on NBCNews.com