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The juror in the murder trial of Utah children’s book author Kouri Richins is speaking for the first time, explaining how the panel went from shock to a unanimous verdict that her husband died of fentanyl poisoning.
Richins, 35, now faces the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison after a jury found him guilty of all charges. His sentencing is scheduled for May 13 at 9:30 am MST.
In an interview with ABC’s “Good Morning America,” Judge Laura said her initial impression of Richins changed dramatically as the trial progressed.
“The first thing we hear is these bad things about him … and he’s on his own,” Laura said. “At first, I thought… that Kouri felt trapped.”
UTAH CHILDREN’S AUTHOR, KOURI RICHINS SAYS HORRIFIC WITNESSES WERE AT THE SCENE OF HUSBAND’S POISONING.
Body camera video is shown on a screen during the murder trial of Kouri Richins during her murder trial at the Summit County Courthouse, Park City, Utah, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. (Spencer Heaps/AP Photo, Poole)
That changed when prosecutors presented forensic evidence.
“I was blown out of the water,” he said, pointing to cellphone data that helped jurors trace the movement of the alleged drug dealer.
“We all came to the same conclusion, that he is guilty.”
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Instead of taking a quick vote, the judges had a roundtable discussion to discuss the evidence and their reactions.
“People were really sad, because they didn’t want to find him guilty… and it was really sad,” Laura said.
Laura also described Richins as emotionless during the trial, saying she appeared “like a statue” and showed little reaction – even when the verdict was read.
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Kouri Richins, the Utah mother accused of poisoning her husband, watches during her murder trial at the Summit County Courthouse in Park City, Utah, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. (Spencer Heaps/AP Photo, Poole)
As Richins awaits sentencing, growing attention has also focused on his mother, Lisa Darden, amid new court filings and past allegations raised by investigators.
Defense attorneys have made several attempts to appoint a lawyer for Darden – an unusual move that suggests he could face legal exposure if called to testify.
Richins’ former attorney, Skye Lazaro, told Fox News Digital that the defendants initially petitioned the court to appoint Darden’s attorney, but the state objected. Both the defendant’s request and the prosecution’s objection are still closed by the court.
CHILDREN’S AUTHOR KOURI RICHINS SAYS SCANDAL AND NOORIETY TOXED HER MURDER.
Kouri Richins, left, the Utah mother of three who authorities say killed her husband, Eric Richins, and wrote a children’s book about the ordeal, stands with her attorney Skye Lazaro during a hearing Friday, Sept. 1, 2023, in Park City, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, Poole)
According to Lazaro, the defense renewed that effort in December, and parts of the application were made public.
“From my understanding of what came out, they asked for him to be appointed as a counsel to protect his constitutional rights,” said Lazaro, adding that the defense attorneys are looking for court-appointed attorneys for other potential witnesses.
Documents suggest that Darden could be a key witness, although the extent of his potential testimony remains unclear.
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Kathy Nester, attorney for Kouri Richins, shows the judge a picture of a pill bottle as she delivers her opening statement in Richins’ murder trial at the Summit County Courthouse in Park City, Utah, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. (Spencer Heaps/AP Photo, Poole)
Defense attorneys Kathy Nester and Alex Ramos did not respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
But this isn’t the first time Darden has come under scrutiny.
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In a May 2023 search affidavit, a Summit County Sheriff’s Office investigator wrote that Darden may have been “involved in the planning and orchestrating of Eric’s death,” suggesting his proximity to a separate, earlier death.
According to the affidavit, Darden was living with her partner in 2006 when the woman died suddenly. An autopsy determined the cause of death was oxycodone poisoning.
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Kouri Richins was found guilty of poisoning her husband to death. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, Pool/ Facebook)
The coroner noted that Darden had recently been named as the beneficiary of his spouse’s estate and wrote that, based on his training and experience, the circumstances “likely exclude the possibility of accidental overdose.”
The affidavit went on to say that, given Darden’s “closeness to his partner’s suspicious overdose death” and his close relationship with his daughter, “it is possible that he was involved in planning and orchestrating Eric’s death.”
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Lazaro pushed back on that interpretation, telling Fox News Digital earlier that the previous deaths were linked to a broader opioid crisis.
“[She] he was one of the millions who suffered from, and eventually overcame, opioid addiction,” Lazaro said. “It’s sad, and unfortunately, it’s all too common.”
Darden could not be reached for comment.
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Prosecutors allege that Richins killed her husband in March 2022 by spiking a drink with fentanyl in order to collect millions in life insurance and control the couple’s finances.
The case gained national attention in part because Richins later wrote a children’s book about the tragedy titled “Are You With Me?” his three sons.
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The medical examiner found that Eric Richins had five times the lethal amount of fentanyl in his system.
Richins has denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty.
Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicide and immigration crime. Send news tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.
