Utah Woman Convicted of Murdering Husband

A woman from Utah, who published a children’s book entitled “Are You With Me?” in 2023, has been found guilty of murdering her husband. The book follows a child who is comforted by the idea that his deceased father remains with him in spirit. It was presented as being “written by a loving mother” who had navigated the painful experience of loss.

The author, Cori Richens, 35, was convicted of killing her husband, Eric Richens, who was also the father of their three sons. A jury unanimously reached a guilty verdict in an aggravated murder trial held in March 2022. The prosecution claimed that Richens had poisoned her husband for financial benefits.

Richens faced charges including aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder, with possible sentences ranging from 25 years to life in prison without the chance of parole. Additionally, she was accused of two counts of insurance fraud and forgery.

During the trial, witnesses described Richens as a manipulative individual who was in significant debt and involved in a troubled real estate business. The prosecution suggested she had fantasized about her husband’s death in order to gain access to his life insurance policies, which were worth over $2 million.

“She needed to eliminate Eric to improve her financial situation,” stated prosecutor Brad Bloodworth in his closing arguments. He characterized her as ambitious and desperate.

According to prosecutors, Richens had added fentanyl to a drink she prepared for Eric, and toxicology results showed he had a lethal level of the drug in his system at the time of death. The jury learned that Richens had even searched for information about death benefits and methods to delete messages from her phone.

In the courtroom, testimonies revealed that Richens allegedly asked her house cleaner for illegal pills shortly before the murder. Evidence also surfaced regarding romantic messages between Richens and her boyfriend that suggested plans for their future together.

The sons of Eric Richens will remain with their family, who expressed relief after the verdict. Eric was remembered as a devoted family man, focused on being a caring father to his children.

Richens is set to be sentenced on May 13. She also faces separate charges related to mortgage fraud and money laundering, among others.