Bail denied for Kouri Richins, pretrial hearing set for December

Kouri Richins, a Utah mother of three who authorities say fatally poisoned her husband then wrote a children's book about grieving, cries during a bail hearing Monday, June 12, 2023, in Park City, Utah. A judge ruled to keep her in custody for the duration of her trial. Photo: AP Photo // Rick Bowmer, Pool

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah — Kouri Richins, a 34-year-old mother from Kamas, will remain in Summit County Jail as she awaits trial on aggravated murder charges, scheduled for May 2025, according to Fox13. Third District Court Judge Richard Mrazik denied a defense request to reconsider her pretrial release on Tuesday.

The details: Richins’ lawyers argued that changes in the case, including the removal of the death penalty and a drug charge, should support her release.

Mrazik ruled that the charges Richins faces, which include aggravated murder and attempted homicide, are too serious to risk pretrial release despite defense proposals for strict monitoring. He acknowledged Kouri’s efforts to use her time in jail “productively,” but he noted the lengthy prison sentences she faces, which could result in her “dying in prison.” That, he determined, could create a “powerful incentive for [Kouri] to harm herself, threaten witnesses, or flee the court’s jurisdiction” if released on bail.

Mrazik also denied the defense’s request to seat 12 jurors in Richins’ trial; the number of jurors will stand at eight.

Before the hearing Tuesday, prosecutors filed to have two counts of distribution of a controlled substance dismissed against Richins.

According to her lawyer, Kathy Nester, this move will rapidly narrow the case against Richins and expose deeper weaknesses.

“The prosecution is attempting to spin their decision to drop two serious felony distribution charges as a strategic move to ‘focus on other matters,’ rather than acknowledging that these charges were baseless and should never have been brought in the first place. It’s remarkable that a prosecutor would think they can bring such serious allegations without sufficient evidence, then simply walk them back without scrutiny,” Alex Ramos of Richins’ defense said.

What’s next: A pretrial conference on Dec. 12 will address scheduling and motions ahead of the May trial.

Marina Knight contributed to this report.