PARK CITY, Utah — Kouri Richins, charged with the murder of her husband, faces a significant delay in her legal proceedings due to a recent appeal request, pushing her trial back nearly a year.
During a virtual hearing on Friday, new jury trial dates were set, with jury selection slated to begin on Feb. 10, 2026, followed by the trial starting on Feb. 23. This delay comes after Richins’ attorneys appealed a court ruling limiting the jury pool to residents of Summit County, as they sought to include jurors from neighboring Salt Lake County.
Richins, a mother and real estate agent, has been charged with aggravated murder and attempted murder, among other counts, stemming from allegations that she administered lethal doses of fentanyl to her husband, Eric Richins, in March 2022. She has also been implicated in a separate incident involving a Valentine’s Day dose of drugs.
Given the constraints of a jury drawn solely from Summit County residents, Richins’ legal team has requested additional time for jury selection. They also indicated that the trial’s duration should be extended by one week to accommodate a lengthy list of witnesses and the anticipated testimony from Richins, which her attorney, Kathy Nester, suggested would be extensive. Nester noted that numerous audio and video recordings would need time for presentation as well.
During the recent court session, Judge Richard Mrazik outlined a schedule for additional hearings leading up to the trial, encouraging both parties to collaborate on the timeline for filing necessary documents. Currently, there are four motions awaiting oral arguments, covering requests to exclude defense expert witnesses and challenges regarding the admissibility of certain evidence, including a letter referred to as “Walk the Dog!!”
Richins’ legal representatives expressed their intent to submit at least one more motion pertaining to the exclusion of additional evidence. Mrazik also announced plans to send out jury questionnaires to 2,000 individuals, surpassing the number used in previous jury pools. The court anticipates a six-day jury questioning process, with 40 potential jurors appearing each day.
The case against Richins stems from a late-night call to dispatch on March 4, 2022, when she reported her husband was found unresponsive. Prosecutors allege that she delivered a fatal dose of fentanyl that night, with earlier charges asserting that she had attempted to poison him weeks prior.
In addition to the murder charges, Richins faces multiple counts related to controlled substance distribution, insurance fraud, and forgery. There is also a separate trial scheduled regarding allegations of mortgage fraud and additional forgery charges.
Following the hearing, Richins’ attorneys released a statement expressing their relief at the newly established trial date, asserting their confidence in her innocence. They emphasized that they are prepared to confront the narratives surrounding the case once the facts are presented in court.
The next hearing in Richins’ case is set for Aug. 1.
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