Children’s book author Kouri Richins’ young sons want her to die in prison after she killed their dad: ‘I’m afraid’

Nypost · May 12, 2026 · 786 words · By Priscilla DeGregory

Criminal Justice/Sentencing Betrayal of Trust Victim Impact

headphones Listen to the eFinder podcast briefing

Generate a natural audio summary of this story

Daily briefing

What to know about Criminal Justice/Sentencing

Children’s book author Kouri Richins’ young sons want her to die in prison after she killed their dad: ‘I’m afraid’ The three young sons of Utah kids grief author Kouri Richins said they are terrified of her and want her to spend the rest of her life in…

Claims checked 11

Techniques found 4

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left14%

Center72%

Right14%

7 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Why it matters

“I’m afraid if she gets out, she will come after me and my brothers, my whole family,” her eldest son, now 13, said according to prosecutors.

Common ground

“I think she would come and take us and not do good things to us, like hurt us.” The 35-year-old mom — who was convicted in March of killing hubby Eric Richins by dosing his cocktail with fentanyl — faces a maximum of life in prison without the possibility of…

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Name Calling / Labeling, Appeal to Fear: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Criminal Justice/Sentencing story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that Kouri has attempted to retaliate against Eric’s sisters, dad and law enforcement from behind bars by lodging false criminal and civil allegations against them?
How does this story connect Criminal Justice/Sentencing with Betrayal of Trust over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/05/12/us-news/childrens-book-author-kouri-richins-sons-w…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 4 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 95% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Name Calling / Labeling 85% confidence

Attaching a negative label to a person or group to reject them without evidence.

Why it matters: Recognizing name calling / labeling helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Appeal to Fear 80% confidence

Building support by instilling anxiety or panic in the audience.

Why it matters: Recognizing appeal to fear helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Appeal to Pity 90% confidence

Evoking sympathy to win support rather than using logical arguments.

Why it matters: Recognizing appeal to pity helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 11 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

info Single Source 4

check_circle Corroborated 4

help Insufficient Evidence 2

schedule Pending 1

info

Claim 1: “Kouri has attempted to retaliate against Eric’s sisters, dad and law enforcement from behind bars by lodging false criminal and civil allegations against them”

SINGLE SOURCE

The evidence mentions a $13M lawsuit filed by the estate against Kouri, but does not provide evidence that Kouri filed false criminal or civil allegations against the family or law enforcement from prison.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The estate of Eric Richins has filed a $13M lawsuit against his widow, Kouri Richins. Kouri, who wrote a children's book about grief, is accused of killing h...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnEqJPR9_Ig

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Kouri Richins, a Utah wife and mother accused of murdering her husband Eric Richins before writing a book on grief, appeared in court for a bail hearing.
https://lawandcrime.com/crime/wife-and-mom-who-wrote-book-on…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Eric Richins' father Eugene remained stoic and bowed his head while the verdict was read out in court. Eric's family and friends clutched one another for comfort with his sister Amy silently dabbing t…
https://www.dailymail.com/crime-desk/article-15651831/kouri-…

info

Claim 2: “Kouri used her middle son as a false alibi the night of Eric’s death, claiming she was in his room helping him fall asleep”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence mentions her 'master plan' and the night of the poisoning, but the specific detail about using the middle son as a false alibi by claiming to be in his room is not clearly corroborated across multiple independent sources in the provided text.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 33 year old Kouri Richins seemed to have a master plan…get rid of her husband, Eric Richins to reap the rewards of money and a mansion…and don’t forget to ma...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gr0kPowiSNc

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Kouri Richins was convicted of killing her husband, Eric Richins, in March 2026. Prosecutors alleged that she killed him for financial gain amid her own financial issues and an affair. Before she was …
https://www.aol.com/articles/kouri-richins-killed-her-husban…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Kouri Richins, left, and her late husband Eric Richins are seen in an undated photo Richins shared on social media.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/22/us/kouri-richins-utah-trial

check_circle

Claim 3: “Eric died from a Moscow Mule Kouri gave him that was laced with five times the lethal dose of fentanyl.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources (AOL, iHeart/web search) specifically mention that Eric Richins died from a Moscow Mule laced with five times the lethal dose of fentanyl.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Kouri Richins was convicted of murdering her husband, Eric Richins, with five times the legal dose of fentanyl.
https://www.aol.com/articles/kouri-richins-killed-her-husban…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Kouri Richins, 35, was convicted on all charges after poisoning her husband Eric by lacing his cocktail with fentanyl.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/kour…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Prosecutors allege Kouri laced her late husband’s Moscow mule with five times the lethal amount of fentanyl the night he died on March 4, 2022. The state alleges Kouri was motivated to kill Eric for “…
https://www.aetv.com/articles/kouri-richins-husband-eric-ric…

check_circle

Claim 4: “Kouri — a failed home flipper — murdered her husband while the kids were home in a bid to inherit Eric’s $4 million estate and run away with her handyman lover.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources (iHeart, AOL) state that prosecutors argued she murdered her husband for financial gain (money/estate) and mention her financial distress and an affair.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Case Background: Kouri Richins, 33, invited her friends over for a party the day after her husband, Eric Richins, 39 died at their 10-acre home.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZO4oDnkLCs

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Facebook / Kouri Richins. Throughout the prosecution’s arguments, Richins derisively smirked and made faces, including furrowing her eyebrows, grinning, and occasionally hurriedly leaning over and spe…
https://www.aol.com/news/grief-author-kouri-richins-found-00…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — “The evidence will prove that Kouri Richins murdered Eric for his money and to get a fresh start at life,” Bloodworth said. “More than anything, she wanted his money to perpetuate her facade of privil…
https://www.iheart.com/content/2026-03-17-ruling-made-on-gri…

schedule

Claim 5: “Kouri still faces a second trial for alleged financial crimes tied to Eric’s killing.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

check_circle

Claim 6: “she wrote a children’s book, “Are You With Me?”, which she said was meant to help her boys with the grief of losing their dad.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources (Goodreads, KPCW/web search, AOL) explicitly name the book 'Are You With Me?' and state it was written to help children cope with the death of a loved one/their father.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The pair shared three children. But court documents alleged that Kouri Richins had significant debt, fraudulently took out life insurance policies on her husband and attempted to poison him multiple t…
https://www.aol.com/articles/utah-mom-wrote-childrens-book-1…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Author of children's book on grief, written following the death of her husband, has been charged with murder of said husband.After the alleged murder, she wrote this children's picture book "Are You W…
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123277319-are-you-with-m…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Kouri Richins was interviewed by KPCW in April to discuss her book on grief. The charges come two months after Ms Richins wrote a picture book "Are You With Me?" to help children cope with the death o…
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65536506

check_circle

Claim 7: “The 35-year-old mom — who was convicted in March of killing hubby Eric Richins by dosing his cocktail with fentanyl”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources (AOL, Google News, and other news reports) confirm Kouri Richins was convicted of murdering her husband Eric Richins using fentanyl.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Kouri Richins was convicted of murdering her husband, Eric Richins, with five times the legal dose of fentanyl.Here's everything to know about Kouri Richins, the mother of three and children's book au…
https://www.aol.com/articles/kouri-richins-killed-her-husban…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Kouri Richins Convicted On Multiple Charges, Jury Delivers Verdict In Eric Richins' Tragic Killing.Family of Eric Richins reacts with relief after verdict in Kouri Richins murder trial. Yesterday. Sav…
https://news.google.com/stories/CAAqNggKIjBDQklTSGpvSmMzUnZj…

help

Claim 8: “Two weeks before the murder, Kouri tried to kill Eric by dosing his sandwich with fentanyl”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results regarding an attempted poisoning via a sandwich two weeks prior.

info

Claim 9: “Kouri’s sons were 5, 7 and 9 when she murdered their dad”

SINGLE SOURCE

While the evidence confirms Kouri Richins is a mother of three and was convicted of the murder, the specific ages of the children (5, 7, and 9) at the time of the death are not mentioned in the provided search results.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Mar 20, 2026 · A Summit County jury ultimately found 35-year-old Kouri Richins guilty of aggravated murder on Monday, after prosecutors argued during the three-week trial that she killed her husband f…
https://abcnews.com/US/friend-speaks-after-kouri-richins-fou…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 1 day ago · Kouri Richins was convicted of murdering husband Eric Richins in 2022 with a fentanyl-laced cocktail. Learn about the case, including her trial and sentencing.
https://www.biography.com/crime/a70499053/who-is-kouri-richi…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 22 hours ago · SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Kouri Richins is set to learn how much time she could spend in prison as she faces sentencing this week in Utah, where the process can differ from many other sta…
https://kutv.com/news/2news-investigates/legal-expert-explai…

help

Claim 10: “She dug her real estate company into a hole of millions in debt”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results regarding the specific debt of her real estate company.

info

Claim 11: “the Division of Child and Family Services found the oldest child had been physically and emotionally abused by Kouri”

SINGLE SOURCE

The search results for this claim returned mathematical definitions of 'division' rather than information regarding the Division of Child and Family Services or abuse allegations.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Division is one of the four basic operations of arithmetic. The other operations are addition, subtraction, and multiplication. What is being divided is called the dividend, which is divided by the di…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Division_(mathematics)

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Free calculator that determines the quotient and remainder of a long division problem. It also provides the calculation steps as well as the result in both fraction and decimal form.
https://www.calculator.net/long-division-calculator.html

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Feb 19, 2026 · Division is one of the 4 major operations in arithmetic, alongside addition, subtraction, and multiplication. In addition to whole numbers, you can divide decimals, fractions, or expone…
https://www.wikihow.com/Do-Division

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.