Kouri Richins, charged with poisoning her husband to death, now faces an additional 26 financial fraud charges, revealing a complex web of deception that may have been the motive for murder.
Key Takeaways
- Kouri Richins faces 26 new felony charges including mortgage fraud, money laundering, and forgery, on top of her pending murder trial.
- She allegedly used power of attorney to secure a $250,000 home equity loan on her husband’s premarital home without his knowledge.
- At the time of Eric Richins’ death, her realty business was nearly $5 million in debt, with prosecutors suggesting financial desperation as motive for murder.
- Her defense team argues the new charges highlight weaknesses in the murder case and question the timing amid jury selection efforts.
- The murder trial is scheduled for February 2026, with prosecutors alleging she poisoned her husband with fentanyl.
A Web of Financial Deception Unravels
The case against Kouri Richins has expanded dramatically with prosecutors adding 26 new felony charges related to financial crimes. These charges include 5 counts of mortgage fraud, 7 counts of money laundering, 5 counts of forgery, 7 counts of issuing bad checks, 1 count of communications fraud, and 1 count of engaging in a pattern of unlawful activity. The financial charges paint a picture of a woman whose real estate business was collapsing under massive debt, potentially providing a motive for her husband’s alleged murder. Prosecutors claim the financial crimes are directly connected to Eric Richins’ death in March 2022.
Desperate Financial Situation Before Husband’s Death
Court documents reveal that Richins’ realty company, K. Richins Realty, was in dire financial straits at the time of her husband’s death. The business had only $170,000 in revenue but was facing monthly debts exceeding $250,000, with loans from over 25 different lenders. Eric Richins allegedly discovered his wife’s financial deception about a year before his death, creating significant tension in their marriage. Despite her husband believing the home equity loan had been repaid, it remained outstanding when he died.
On the day of Eric Richins’ death, the business reportedly owed $1.8 million, a figure that skyrocketed to nearly $5 million the following day. Most alarming to investigators, Richins was scheduled to close on an unfinished mansion the day after her husband died, despite lacking the financial means to manage the additional debt. This timing has raised serious questions about premeditation and financial motivation for the alleged murder.
Murder Case and Defense Response
The murder trial, scheduled for February 2026, centers on allegations that Kouri Richins poisoned her husband with fentanyl and attempted to alter his life insurance policy. Adding an unusual twist to the case, after her husband’s death, Richins authored a children’s book about grief. Prosecutors allege she killed her husband specifically to gain access to his finances, not realizing he had changed his life insurance beneficiary after discovering her financial deception.
“This sudden push to file new fraud charges over two years later underscores the weakness of the State’s pending murder charges, since these fraud charges would not even come into play unless they fail to secure a conviction. The timing is also extremely troubling in light of the fact that the parties are trying to seat an impartial jury in Summit County,” stated Richins’ attorneys.
Richins’ defense team has strongly criticized the timing of these new charges, suggesting they represent a strategic move by prosecutors who may be uncertain about their murder case. They argue that introducing these financial charges now, while jury selection efforts are underway, risks prejudicing potential jurors and complicating the defense’s strategy. The additional charges will undoubtedly add layers of complexity to an already high-profile case that has captured national attention.
