Kouri Richins, a Utah mother accused of fatally poisoning her husband, looks on during her murder trial at the Summit County Courthouse in Park City, Utah, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. Photo: AP Photo/Spenser Heaps, Pool

PARK CITY, Utah — The prosecution in the murder trial of Kouri Richins signaled Thursday it is nearing the end of its case after nearly two weeks of testimony that this week has focused heavily on the defendant’s finances, relationships and statements about her marriage.

Richins is charged with aggravated murder, attempted murder and several financial crimes in connection with the 2022 death of her husband, Eric Richins, who prosecutors say was fatally poisoned with fentanyl at the couple’s home in Summit County. She has pleaded not guilty.

The trial is being held in Summit County’s Third District Court before Judge Richard Mrazik and has drawn national attention, some of which is because of Richins’ background as a children’s book author who wrote a book about grief after her husband’s death.

Friend describes messages, financial tensions

On the ninth day of testimony, jurors heard from Richins’ close friend Chelsea Barney, who described conversations and text messages that prosecutors say shed light on Richins’ state of mind before and after her husband’s death.

Barney testified Richins told her she had taken out a $250,000 home equity line of credit on the family home and that Eric Richins had been angry about it, allegedly forcing her to turn off her credit cards.

Prosecutors also displayed text messages between the two women. In one message shown in court, Richins wrote, “If I die, Eric did it.”

Other messages presented by the state showed Richins writing after her husband’s death in March 2022: “They will not take from me what is mine.”

Jurors also heard recorded phone calls between Richins and her brother. In one exchange, Richins said, “He did it first,” referring to meetings her husband had with a divorce attorney. She also told her brother to “quit portraying me to be this person,” suggesting that any actions she had taken were similar to things Eric had done.

Defense attorneys objected to playing the recordings before the witness tied to the calls testified, arguing they would not have an opportunity to cross-examine that person. Mrazik overruled the objection and allowed the jury to hear the recordings, instructing jurors to focus only on Richins’ statements.

Witness recounts ‘trapped’ comment

Another witness, Becky Lloyd, who worked at Eric Richins’ stone masonry business, testified about a conversation she said she had with Richins in December 2021.

Lloyd told jurors Richins described feeling “trapped” in her marriage and worried her husband might try to take their children.

Lloyd testified she believed Richins also said it “would be better if he was dead.”

During cross-examination, defense attorneys played part of a later interview Lloyd gave to a private investigator in which she said she would not feel confident repeating the statement under oath.

When questioned again by prosecutors, Lloyd told the court she had previously shared the same account with several friends and remained confident Richins had made the remark.

Boyfriend details relationship

On Wednesday, jurors heard emotional testimony from Robert “Josh” Grossman, a man who said he had been romantically involved with Richins before and after her husband’s death.

Grossman testified the two met around 2017 in South Carolina while working on house-flipping projects. He said their relationship became romantic around 2020 after he moved to Utah to help with the renovations, sometimes living in homes Richins was remodeling.

During testimony, prosecutors displayed text messages between the pair, some written less than a month before Eric Richins died.

In one exchange, Richins asked, “If I was divorced right now and ask you to marry me tomorrow, you would?”

Grossman responded, “Yes. In Love with Y O U! Of course I would.”

In another message, Richins wrote, “If he could just go away and you could just be here! Life would be so perfect!!!”

Grossman testified the two had planned to meet for brunch the week Eric Richins died to celebrate closing documents on a mansion project.

The day before Eric Richins’ death, Grossman texted about wanting to celebrate the news with balloons and champagne. Richins replied later that evening saying she had been busy and told him she loved him.

The next morning, according to testimony, she texted him that Eric Richins had died and said she believed it was due to an aneurysm.

Grossman told jurors the pair later spoke about the death during a trip to the Uinta Mountains roughly two weeks afterward. He said Richins did not appear happy about her husband’s death and seemed to be grieving.

Prosecutors nearing end of case

During a scheduling discussion Thursday, chief prosecutor Brad Bloodworth told the judge the state expects to call its final witness early next week.

That witness is expected to be Summit County Sheriff’s detective Jeff O’Driscoll, the lead investigator in the case.

Prosecutors have already called nearly 40 witnesses in the trial, which the court scheduled to last about five weeks.

The defense has its own list of witnesses and said it may recall some of the state’s witnesses when presenting its case.

Defense attorneys have also filed two motions seeking a mistrial. Mrazik has denied one request, while another remained pending when court recessed Thursday for the weekend. Proceedings are scheduled to resume Monday.

Defendants in criminal trials are not required to present evidence or testimony because they are presumed innocent unless prosecutors prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. It is not yet clear whether Richins will testify in her own defense.