Prosecutors dismiss drug charges against Kamas woman charged with murdering her husband
Nov 11, 2024, 7:00 PM
Summit County prosecutors filed a motion to dismiss two charges against Kouri Darden Richins, a Kamas woman facing trial for the murder of her husband, as attorneys prepare for a pre-trial hearing on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, Pool)
(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, Pool)
PARK CITY — Prosecutors filed a motion on Friday to dismiss two charges against Kouri Darden Richins, a Kamas woman facing trial for the murder of her husband.
The filing asked the court to dismiss the charges without prejudice, meaning prosecutors would like to have the option to file charges against her again.
The motion comes before a hearing Tuesday morning where attorneys are expected to debate multiple other motions — including requests from Kouri Richins’ attorneys to split the charges into separate trials, to have 12 rather than eight jurors and to reconsider whether she can be released on bail.
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Kouri Richins is charged with aggravated murder and attempted criminal homicide, both first-degree felonies; two counts of distributing a controlled substance — which will now likely be dismissed by the judge; two counts of insurance fraud and two counts of filing a fraudulent insurance claim, all second-degree felonies; and three counts of forgery, a third-degree felony.
She is a real estate agent and mother of three who wrote a children’s book about coping with grief before being accused of fatally poisoning her husband, Eric Richins, over a year after his death. Kouri Richins pleaded not guilty to each of the charges.
Third District Judge Richard Mrazik ruled in June 2023 that Kouri Richins should not be released on bail, saying there is substantial evidence for the charges against her.
