Inside $3.75M home grief author Kouri Richins allegedly killed husband over
Before real estate agent Kouri Richins allegedly poisoned her husband, Eric Richins, to death, the two had sparred over a $3.75 million home — which is now in contract.
Located in Heber City, Utah — Kouri, 33, allegedly argued with Eric, 39, about her plans to purchase and flip this 20,000-square-foot home just days before he was found dead at their residence in Kamas.
It would have cost them $2 million in down payment and renovations to eventually flip it.
Kouri had dreamed of flipping the estate, but Eric refused to pay the hefty price.
On March 5, 2022, court documents reveal that hours after Kouri allegedly slipped her husband a lethal dose of fentanyl, she signed the papers to close on the home.
She then invited friends to the 10-acre property to drink and celebrate the new purchase.
Kouri claims they were celebrating buying the home last March when her husband died of a massive overdose as their three kids slept upstairs.
However, Eric’s family told investigators that he planned to tell his wife they were not buying the mansion — on the same day she was also told she was being cut out of his will, the warrants say.
The home is now under contract again with a new buyer, last asking $3.75 million. Backup offers are still being accepted.
“Finish an already-framed architectural masterpiece,” the listing notes.
The property’s floor plan features a butler’s pantry, an office, a swimming pool, an exercise room, a golf simulator, a multi-purpose indoor volleyball court, a rock-climbing wall, two common rooms, two kitchens, and a room with a virtual reality experience, the listing says.
Outside, several covered patios look to unobstructed mountain views.
Made up of eight bedrooms and 12 bathrooms, the listing notes that the home can sleep up to 60 people “for family reunions.”
There is an additional 3,300-square-foot guest/caretaker’s home with four bedrooms and three baths.
“Drive a little farther, and you can snowmobile for any distance, visit downtown Park City, and enjoy Salt Lake City,” the listing says.
Michael Malmrose with Fathom Realty Utah holds the listing.
The unfinished mansion that Kouri bought was already contentious, with locals deeming it an eyesore and calling for it to be torn down.
The author, who wrote her own children’s book about grieving a husband and father, bought it from a young widow who ditched plans to move there after her own husband died.
Kouri has been charged with her husband’s murder, and is expected back in court May 19.
By January 2022, authorities say, Kouri changed Eric’s joint life insurance policy, which he shared with his business partner Cody Wright, so that she was the only beneficiary.
But when the insurance company told the partners, who own the business C&E Stone Masonry, of it, they were able to reverse it back.
After finding out that Kouri had allegedly tried to make that change, Eric altered the beneficiary of his will and his power of attorney to his sister without telling his wife because he was scared she might ‘kill him for the money’, a warrant states.