Boyfriend Testifies Texts Show Alleged Premeditation in Kouri Richins Case

Robert Josh Grossman told the Third District Court in Park City that text messages he exchanged with Kouri Richins included planning and longing that prosecutors say support their allegation she plotted to kill her husband for life insurance money. Grossman verified the messages under oath and watched them appear on courtroom screens as jurors and a gallery viewed private exchanges tied to the prosecution’s theory of an alleged fentanyl poisoning.

The texts read into evidence contained specific lines that map to a tight timeline around Eric Richins’ death. After the death, a message from Richins to Grossman said, "No words. Turning phone off. Eric passed away last night." Days later she wrote, "They think an aneurysm." Roughly one month after Eric’s death she sent, "I think I want you to be my husband one day." Less than a month before the death she posed hypothetically, "If I was divorced right now and ask you to marry me tomorrow, you would?" to which Grossman replied, "Yes. In Love with Y O U! Of course I would." A short time before the death she wrote, "If he could just go away and you could just be here! Life would be so perfect!!!"

Grossman described the courtroom presentation as emotional as the messages were displayed. He put his head down and wiped tears at times while confirming the messages were between him and Richins. He testified he and Richins had a "heavy conversation" just days after Eric’s death and quoted her asking him directly: "She asked if I had ever killed anybody … She asked me how it made me feel or something along those lines. And then I answered her."

Prosecutors have told the jury their case centers on an allegation that Eric Richins was poisoned with a lethal dose of fentanyl and that his death was motivated by life insurance proceeds. The prosecution’s exhibits included numerous screenshots of text threads the state introduced to establish motive and intent; Grossman read many of those messages aloud in court to verify authorship.

Jurors also heard testimony from other witnesses about statements attributed to Richins. Becky Lloyd testified that Richins "basically said that 'it would be better if he (Eric) were dead.'" The defense says witness statements and recently disclosed communications cast doubt on some testimony.

During Grossman’s testimony, defense attorney Wendy Lewis moved for a mistrial, the second mistrial request in the case, arguing that texts between witness Carmen Lauber and her supervisor were disclosed to the defense only recently and that "What’s in these text messages should have been available; I could have used this on cross examination. It’s different than what she testified to." Third District Court Judge Richard Mrazik asked counsel to submit a written motion on the matter.

The testimony took place during Day 8 of the trial and was captured on a live courtroom feed. An original report snippet provided to this newsroom also notes a separate alleged text in which Richins predicted calling 911 after finding her husband’s body; that specific message has not been transcribed in court exhibits presented so far. The trial remains ongoing as Judge Mrazik reviews the mistrial paperwork and the jury hears further evidence.