The murder trial of Kouri Richins in Summit County, Utah, continues to center on the final hours of her husband Eric Richins’ life on March 3–4, 2022, with prosecutors emphasizing that Eric consumed just one Moscow Mule—a celebratory cocktail she allegedly prepared—before going to bed, only to be found dead hours later from a massive fentanyl overdose. Toxicology reports confirmed approximately five times the lethal dose of the synthetic opioid in his system, with no evidence of prior fentanyl use or paraphernalia at the scene initially.

According to court filings, witness testimony, and trial updates (as of early March 2026), Kouri told investigators she made the Moscow mule for Eric to toast a major house-flip closing that day. The couple reportedly shared the drink (or he drank it primarily) in their Kamas home near Park City. Eric then went to bed, while Kouri handled other matters, including tending to one of their three young sons who had a nightmare. She accessed her phone around 3:06 a.m. but didn’t call 911 until 3:21 a.m., when she discovered him unresponsive and cold in their bedroom. First responders arrived shortly after, with bodycam footage showing her distraught and performing CPR while expressing disbelief (“He was active, he didn’t just die in his sleep”).

The core question haunting the case, as prosecutors repeatedly highlight, is who prepared that drink—and how the fentanyl entered it. They allege Kouri deliberately laced the cocktail with illicit fentanyl she obtained from her former housekeeper, Carmen Lauber (who testified to selling her the drug on multiple occasions, including around the time of the death and a prior alleged attempt via a fentanyl-spiked sandwich in February 2022 that caused Eric hives and blackout). No direct physical evidence (like fentanyl residue in the glass or kitchen) was found that night, but later searches uncovered hidden items, deleted data, and suspicious phone activity linking to drug sources.

Key elements from testimony and evidence:

Eric had no known history of opioid abuse; friends and family testified he didn’t use illicit drugs beyond occasional THC gummies.
The massive dose (five times lethal) would have caused rapid, severe respiratory depression, aligning with him dying while asleep without waking.
Prosecutors point to motive: Kouri faced millions in debts from real estate ventures and Eric’s business, stood to gain nearly $2 million in life insurance, and was allegedly having an affair (texts with ex-boyfriend Robert Josh Grossman included wishes for Eric to “go away” and plans for a future together).
Digital forensics showed deleted messages, calls to drug contacts, and late-night activity, but no texts between the couple about drugs.
Defense argues the death could be accidental (perhaps self-administered or tied to Eric’s pain management for Lyme disease), with no smoking-gun proof Kouri added fentanyl; they challenge witness credibility and evidence chain.

The trial (now in its third week, with prosecution nearing its close as of March 9, 2026) has featured emotional testimony from Eric’s family, friends, the alleged affair partner (who teared up reading affectionate texts), forensic accountants detailing debts, and experts on toxicology. Kouri, who promoted her self-published children’s grief book “Are You With Me?” a year later as a grieving widow, maintains her innocence on charges including aggravated murder, attempted murder, insurance fraud, and forgery—facing life without parole if convicted (no death penalty sought).

This case has drawn intense scrutiny for its layers of alleged deception, financial desperation, and the exploitation of grief through the book promotion. The single Moscow Mule remains the pivotal focus: a seemingly innocent celebratory drink that prosecutors say became a vehicle for murder, while the defense insists the fentanyl’s origin remains unexplained. Proceedings continue, with a verdict potentially weeks away.