Utah grief book author Kouri Richins texted her alleged lover in the days leading up to her husband’s murder, a forensics expert revealed Monday at a hearing over whether she’ll stand trial.
Richins — accused of killing Eric Richins with a fentanyl-laced Moscow mule — sent text messages to Robert Grossman in the two days prior to her husband’s March 4, 2022, fatal overdose, digital forensic expert Chris Kotrodimos testified in a Park City courtroom.
“Around the time that Mr. Richins passed away there were ongoing messages between Mr. Grossmann and Mrs. Richins,” prosecutor Joe Hill asked Kotrodimos.
“Yes,” answered Kotrodimos.
The day before her husband’s death, Kouri Richins texted Grossmann, her 41-year-old alleged paramour, saying, “Love you,” according to a report by the Daily Mail citing court papers.
Kotrodimos also confirmed Kouri Richins, 34, kept Grossmann in the loop about her arrival time while driving to see someone on Feb. 14, 2022 — the first time, prosecutors claim, she tried to poison Eric Richins, 39, with a fentanyl-laced sandwich.
“She said she was on her way to see him,” Kotrodimos said of Kouri Richins’ messages to Grossmann. “He asked if she was about an hour away and she said yes and sent him a screenshot.”
The forensics expert said Kouri Richins and Grossmann began messaging in November 2021, and continued to after Eric Richins’ death.
“The volume varied depending on the day but it was pretty much daily communications,” Kotrodimos told prosecutors, adding they also spoke on the phone.
“A lot of data” had been scrubbed from Khouri Richins’ cell phone between January and March 2022 — including her call logs, text messages and internet search history, Kotrodimos said.
Kouri Richins had hired Grossmann, a handyman, to renovate homes for her real estate company.
The hearing Monday kicked off what is slated to be three days of witness testimony to determine whether prosecutors have enough to try Kouri Richins for aggravated murder and related charges.
She could face up to 25 years in prison, if convicted.
Summit County Detective Jeff O’Driscoll testified earlier Monday that the Richins’ housekeeper Carmen Marie Lauber had allegedly sold Kouri Ritchins fentanyl three times — on Feb. 11, Feb. 26 and March 9, 2022.
Prosecutors contend that she cooked up an elaborate scheme to off Eric Richins after he began suspecting his wife of cheating and plotting to kill him.
Eric Richins had recently cut her out of his will and changed his life insurance policy.
After his death, she published a children’s book “Are You With Me?” about coping with grief.
Kouri Richins, who has maintained her innocence, was arrested in May 2023 and remains behind bars.
