Kouri Richins Verdict: Why The 'Moscow Mule' Mom's High-Profile Murder Trial Is Delayed Until 2026

The Kouri Richins verdict has not been delivered, as the high-profile murder trial for the Utah mother and children's book author has been dramatically delayed until 2026. As of today, December 18, 2025, the case against Richins—who is accused of poisoning her husband, Eric Richins—remains in the pre-trial phase, marked by contentious motions, amended charges, and bombshell claims about a recanting star witness. The sensational nature of the case, which involves a lethal dose of fentanyl and a children's book on grief titled "Are You With Me?," continues to captivate true crime audiences worldwide, eager for the jury to finally hear the evidence.

The latest and most critical update is the official trial date: jury selection is scheduled to begin on February 10, 2026, with the trial itself set to commence on February 23, 2026. This significant delay has allowed both the defense and prosecution to file numerous motions, including attempts by Richins' legal team to secure bail and suppress key pieces of evidence. The lack of a verdict for the "Moscow Mule" mom stems from the complexity of the evidence and the severity of the charges she faces in Summit County, Utah.

Kouri Richins and Eric Richins: A Complete Profile and Case Timeline

The case centers on the death of 39-year-old Eric Richins, a father of three who died in March 2022 at the couple's home in Kamas, Utah. His wife, Kouri Richins, was later arrested and charged with his murder.

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• Kouri Richins (Defendant): Age 33-34 (at time of recent filings). A real estate agent and author of the self-published children's book on grief, "Are You With Me?", which she released a year after her husband's death.
• Eric Richins (Victim): Age 39 at the time of his death on March 4, 2022. A father of three children with Kouri. His death was ruled a result of fentanyl intoxication.
• Location of Crime: The couple's home in Kamas, Summit County, Utah, near Park City.
• Date of Death: March 4, 2022.
• Key Allegation: Kouri Richins allegedly administered a lethal dose of the synthetic opioid Fentanyl to Eric Richins in a cocktail, widely reported as a "Moscow Mule."
• Trial Date: Jury selection begins February 10, 2026; trial begins February 23, 2026.

The timeline of the case has been protracted, involving a 10-month delay to the trial date. Prosecutors have also filed amended charges, expanding the scope of the alleged crimes beyond the murder itself.

The Shocking Charges and Financial Motive Allegations

Kouri Richins is facing a litany of serious charges that paint a picture of an alleged premeditated crime driven by financial gain. The charges were amended in October 2025 by the Summit County Attorney's Office.

The primary charges against Richins include:

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• Aggravated Murder (First-degree felony)
• Attempted Aggravated Murder (First-degree felony)
• Seven Counts of Felony Money Laundering
• Five Counts of Felony Forgery
• Two Counts of Insurance Fraud

The attempted aggravated murder charge relates to an alleged prior attempt on Eric Richins’ life just two weeks before his death, where he became violently ill after a meal his wife prepared. The financial charges—including money laundering, forgery, and insurance fraud—allege a motive tied to Eric Richins' life insurance policies and business finances. Evidence suggests Kouri Richins attempted to change the beneficiaries on several of her husband’s policies shortly before his death.

The couple had a prenuptial agreement, which is a key piece of the prosecution’s financial motive theory. The agreement stipulated that neither spouse had a claim to the other’s businesses, with the only exception being in the event of death.

The Fentanyl, The "Moscow Mule," and the Recanting Witness

Central to the prosecution's case is the manner of Eric Richins' death. Investigators allege that Kouri Richins slipped "five times the lethal dose" of Fentanyl into the cocktail she served him on the night of March 4, 2022. Kouri Richins claims she made him a "Moscow Mule" and then went to sleep with one of their children, only to wake up later and find her husband unresponsive.

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A major development in late 2025 involved a key witness for the prosecution. This individual, identified as Robert Crozier, was initially expected to testify that he sold the Fentanyl to Kouri Richins' housekeeper, who then allegedly provided the drugs to Richins.

The Witness Recantation Controversy

In a dramatic turn, the defense filed a motion claiming that Crozier, the star witness, had recanted his original testimony. The defense argued that Crozier now claims he never sold Fentanyl to the housekeeper, significantly undermining the prosecution’s chain of evidence regarding how Richins allegedly obtained the lethal drug.

This development prompted Richins' defense team to file a motion seeking a new bail hearing, arguing that the new testimony weakened the case against her and warranted her release from jail. However, in November 2025, the judge denied the request for bail, ruling that even with the witness controversy, there was still sufficient evidence for Richins to remain incarcerated pending trial.

The "Walk The Dog Letter" and Suppressed Evidence

Another area of intense legal battle revolves around a piece of evidence known as the "Walk The Dog Letter." This letter, allegedly written by Richins while in jail, is believed to contain details about the case. Her defense team has filed motions to suppress this and other key evidence, including electronic data and statements made by Richins, arguing they were improperly obtained or are inadmissible. The court's rulings on these suppression motions will be critical in shaping the evidence presented to the jury in February 2026.

The absence of a Kouri Richins verdict means the legal fight is far from over. With the trial date set and the defense actively challenging core evidence, the next few months will be crucial. The outcome will depend on whether the prosecution can successfully tie the financial motive and the Fentanyl evidence together, or if the defense can successfully leverage the recanting witness and suppression motions to create reasonable doubt for the jury.