♪ >>> IT'S A SMALL TOWN. IT'S RURAL AMERICA IN EVERY WAY. THIS IS THE FAMILY NEXT DOOR.
>> VERY CONNECTED, VERY LOVING, VERY BONDED. THEY SPENT A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER.
>> THE HAPPY AMERICAN COUPLE. >> ERIC RAN A SUCCESSFUL CONTRACTING BUSINESS. HE WAS INVOLVED IN HIS BOYS'
SPORTS ACTIVITIES. >> HE WAS VERY GOOD TO THE BOYS, AND HE TAUGHT THOSE BOYS SO MUCH.
>> KOURI WAS A REAL ESTATE AGENT THAT ALSO WOULD BUY AND FIX UP AND FLIP HOMES. SHE WAS SMART.
SHE WAS SAVVY. SHE KNEW HOW TO CONNECT. SHE WAS ABSOLUTELY IN LOVE WITH ERIC AND ABSOLUTELY IN LOVE WITH
HER BOYS. >> ERIC AND KOURI WERE PROBABLY AT THE BEST PLACE THEY'VE EVER BEEN IN THEIR MARRIAGE AND
SEEMED GENUINELY HAPPY WITH EACH OTHER. >> THEY HAD IT ALL. I MEAN, IT WAS ONE HAPPY FAMILY.
>> AT 3:00 IN THE MORNING, I GOT A PHONE CALL, AND IT WAS KOURI, AND SHE SAID, GET UP HERE. SOMETHING'S HAPPENED TO ERIC.
HE WENT TO SLEEP AND NEVER WOKE UP. >> SHE IS A COMPLETE WRECK. SHE'S JUST SITTING ON THE COUCH.
SHE'S JUST BAWLING. >> WERE THEY GIVING YOU A SENSE OF HOW HE MAY HAVE PASSED? >> SO THE PARAMEDICS SAID
ANEURYSM, SO WE WERE ALL BELIEVING ANEURYSM. >> I HAD SAW HIM THE DAY BEFORE. HE LOOKED HORRIBLE.
HE SAID, MY CHEST HURTS. >> SO THE LAST TIME YOU'RE SEEING HIM ALIVE, YOU DON'T THINK HE LOOKED VERY GOOD?
>> RIGHT. >> THE LEAD DETECTIVE AND ANOTHER OFFICER CAME TO HER HOUSE AND SAID THEY WERE GOING
TO CLOSE THE CASE. THEY'RE DONE. IT'S AN ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSE. >> THEY COMMUNICATED THAT ERIC
HAD DIED OF A FENTANYL OVERDOSE. >> IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS AFTER ERIC'S PASSING, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE KOURI, HER STATE OF
MIND EMOTIONALLY? HOW WAS SHE HANDLING THINGS? >> IT PROBABLY TOOK HER TWO MONTHS TO GO BACK IN HER OWN
BEDROOM. IT WAS DEVASTATING TO HER. >> SHE WRITES A CHILDREN'S BOOK. SHE DID THIS TO HELP HER WORK
THROUGH THE FEELINGS WITH HER CHILDREN. >> THE BOOK, I THINK, WAS A HUNDRED PERCENT BENEFICIAL TO
THE BOYS. THEN YOU CAN TAKE A SIGH OF RELIEF, IT'S OVER, WE'RE DONE. WE CAN START LIVING AGAIN.
AND THEN I GOT A PHONE CALL, KOURI WAS JUST ARRESTED IN SALT LAKE. >> A SUMMIT COUNTY
WOMAN WHO WROTE A CHILDREN'S BOOK ABOUT COPING WITH GRIEF FOLLOWING HER HUSBAND'S DEATH THAT ACTUALLY KILLED HIM.
>> I THINK SHE FELT THAT THIS WOULD BE TREATED AS AN ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSE, AND NOBODY WAS GOING TO BE THE WISER.
HE TOLD HIS FAMILY, IF I DIE, YOU NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT HER BECAUSE I THINK SHE'S TRYING TO KILL ME.
>> THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PROVE THAT SHE GOT THE DRUGS AND THAT SHE SOMEHOW GAVE THEM TO HIM.
AND UNLESS THEY CAN CONNECT THOSE DOTS, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME PROVING MURDER IN THIS CASE.
♪
>> IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF MARCH 4, 2022, LISA DARDEN WAS ATTEMPTING TO CONSOLE HER DAUGHTER, 31-YEAR-OLD KOURI
RICHINS. >> SHE WAS SPREAD OUT ON THE FLOOR, JUST SOBBING. >> KOURI HAD JUST LEARNED FROM
EMERGENCY PERSONNEL THAT HER HUSBAND ERIC WAS DEAD. >> SHE WAS TORE UP. >> HER BROTHERS RONNEY AND DJ
WERE ALSO THERE. >> SHE IS A COMPLETE WRECK. >> I JUST STARTED CRYING. >> ACCORDING TO LISA, THAT NIGHT
KOURI HAD POURED ERIC A DRINK TO CELEBRATE A NEW OPPORTUNITY AT HER REAL ESTATE BUSINESS, THE PURCHASE OF THIS MANSION.
>> SHE TOLD ME SHE MADE HIM A MOSCOW MULE. >> THAT'S A DRINK MADE WITH VODKA AND GINGER BEER.
>> SHE SAID THEY WENT TO BED ABOUT 9:00, 9:15, SHE WENT AND LAID WITH ASH. ASHTON, THE 9-YEAR-OLD, HAS
ALWAYS HAD MAJOR NIGHTMARES. AND WHEN SHE WENT BACK TO GET IN HER BED, HE WAS COLD. SHE WENT TO PUSH ON HIM, AND HE
DIDN'T RESPOND. >> IT WAS AFTER 3:00 A.M., AND LISA SAYS KOURI IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911, AND AT THE
DISPATCHER'S INSTRUCTIONS PERFORMED CPR. WHEN FIRST RESPONDERS ARRIVED, THEY STARTED WORKING ON ERIC.
BUT IT WAS TOO LATE. >> IT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE. YOU'RE -- YOU'RE IN SHOCK THAT SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW,
COULD HAPPEN. >> IT WAS THOSE FIRST RESPONDERS WHO INITIALLY SUSPECTED ERIC HAD DIED OF AN ANEURYSM.
THE FATHER OF THREE YOUNG SONS WAS JUST 39. >> HOW WERE THE BOYS? DID THE BOYS KNOW WHAT WAS
HAPPENING? >> THEY KNEW SOMETHING WAS HAPPENING, AND THEY COULD SEE THE AMBULANCES AND COPS COMING
IN, VERY DISTRAUGHT. >> THEY ALL JUST SAT THERE ON THE COUCH AND JUST CRIED TOGETHER.
>> THE SAD SCENE WAS A FAR CRY FROM THE HAPPY FAMILY THEY ONCE WERE. >> KOURI AND ERIC MET IN 2009 AT
A LOCAL HOME DEPOT. BACK THEN, KOURI WAS A CASHIER. ERIC WORKED IN CONSTRUCTION AND WAS A FREQUENT CUSTOMER.
>> I HEARD THAT HE WANTED HER NUMBER FOR A LONG TIME, IS KIND OF AFRAID TO GO GET IT. SO HE HAD TO HAVE A FRIEND RUN
IN AND GO GET IT FROM HER. >> ERIC ASKED HER OUT, AND THEY HIT IT OFF. >> WHEN KOURI SAID, I'M DATING
THIS GUY, WHAT DID YOU THINK? >> KOURI WAS TERRIFIED OF ME MEETING HIM. >> OH, REALLY?
>> YEAH. >> WHY? >> BECAUSE I'M THE BIG BROTHER, AND --
>> TOUGH. >> YEAH. YEAH. >> BUT DJ AND RONNEY SAID ERIC
FIT RIGHT IN. >> I THOUGHT HE WAS A GREAT GUY. >> IN 2013, KOURI AND ERIC GOT MARRIED AND HAD THE BOYS, FIRST
CARTER, THEN ASHTON, AND FINALLY WESTON. LISA SAYS FATHERHOOD CAME EASILY TO ERIC.
>> HE TAUGHT THOSE BOYS SO MUCH. THEY IDOLIZED THEIR FATHER, AND HE IDOLIZED THE BOYS AS WELL. >> KOURI'S FAMILY GOT TO KNOW
THE RICHINS, INCLUDING ERIC'S TWO SISTERS, KATIE AND AMY. >> THEY'D COME UP FOR BIRTHDAYS HERE AND THERE, AND WE WERE ALL
VERY FRIENDLY. >> EVENTUALLY ERIC STARTED A STONE MASONRY BUSINESS, AND KOURI STARTED HER OWN REAL
ESTATE COMPANY, BUYING HOUSES, FIXING THEM UP, AND SELLING THEM FOR PROFIT. GREG HALL WAS HER MARKETING
DIRECTOR AND GOOD FRIEND. >> KOURI HAD SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T. A LOT OF TIMES YOU FIND AN
INDIVIDUAL THAT IS INTELLIGENT, BUT NO COMMON SENSE, OR COMMON SENSE AND NO INTELLIGENCE. SHE HAD BOTH.
SHE WAS A BRILLIANT YOUNG LADY. >> HOW MANY HOUSES WOULD SHE HAVE ON AVERAGE THAT SHE WAS WORKING ON TRYING TO FLIP?
>> AT ONE TIME? >> YEAH. >> I WOULD SAY ON AVERAGE, THREE.
>> SO IT WAS KIND OF A CONSTANT ROTATION? >> YES. >> OF BUYING A HOME, FIXING IT
UP, SELLING IT? >> YES. >> AND ERIC'S BUSINESS CONTINUED TO FLOURISH.
>> THEY BOTH LIVED VERY WELL, AND THEY BOTH BOUGHT AND SPENT WHAT THEY WANTED. >> IN THEIR SPARE TIME, ERIC
LOVED TO HUNT, AND TOGETHER THEY TRAVELED THE WORLD. >> IT SOUNDS LIKE ON THE SURFACE, ERIC AND KOURI SEEM TO
HAVE IT ALL. WOULD YOU SAY THAT WAS SO, LISA? >> I WOULD SAY THAT, YES. >> I DON'T KNOW THAT I CAN EVEN
BEGIN TO OVERSTATE HOW CLOSE THIS FAMILY WAS. THIS WAS A HUGE LOSS. >> GREG SKORDAS IS THE SPOKESMAN
FOR ERIC'S FAMILY. >> HE WAS THIS BEAUTIFUL SON AND -- AND BROTHER, AND TO HAVE THAT TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU, I -- I
CAN'T IMAGINE MUCH WORSE THAN THAT. >> NOT LONG AFTER ERIC'S FUNERAL, AN AUTOPSY REVEALED THE
CAUSE OF HIS DEATH. IT WASN'T AN ANEURYSM. IT WAS A LETHAL DOSE OF FENTANYL.
>> FENTANYL IS MANY, MANY TIMES MORE POTENT THAN OXYS, AND THE OTHER PAIN MEDICATIONS THAT WE TYPICALLY USE.
IT'S A VERY DANGEROUS DRUG. >> BUT HOW DID FENTANYL GET INTO ERIC'S SYSTEM? KOURI'S FAMILY BELIEVES HIS
RECREATIONAL DRUG USE COULD BE TO BLAME. NEARLY EVERY DAY, THEY SAY, ERIC WOULD TAKE A GUMMY WITH THC, THE
PSYCHOACTIVE INGREDIENT IN MARIJUANA. >> IT WAS ALWAYS JUST -- JUST TO RELAX AT THE END OF THE DAY.
>> AND ACCORDING TO RONNEY, ERIC DID NOT ALWAYS GET THE GUMMIES FROM REPUTABLE SOURCES. >> JUST ABOUT EVERY TRIP THAT I
HAD BEEN ON WITH HIM, HE'D BUY JUST FROM SOMEONE OFF THE STREET. >> LISA SAYS ERIC ALSO SOMETIMES
TOOK PAIN PILLS. >> HEY, DO YOU HAVE ANY PAIN PILLS? HEY, CAN YOU CALL AND GET -- OR
HOOK ME UP? >> HE CERTAINLY WASN'T AN OPIOID OR AN ILLEGAL DRUG USER. >> KOURI'S FAMILY THINKS ERIC
HAD TAKEN SOMETHING HE DIDN'T KNOW WAS LACED WITH FENTANYL AND THAT HIS DEATH WAS A TRAGIC ACCIDENT.
ERIC'S FAMILY STRONGLY DISPUTES THIS CLAIM. >> HE DIDN'T DIE OF A SELF-INFLICTED DRUG OVERDOSE.
>> ERIC'S FAMILY WONDERED IF KOURI MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED. >> THEY SAID THIS DOESN'T SMELL RIGHT.
NO QUESTION THE FAMILY THOUGHT THAT RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING.
>>> IN THE MONTHS FOLLOWING HER HUSBAND'S TRAGIC DEATH, KOURI RICHINS STRUGGLED TO FIND HER FOOTING ON HER OWN AND TO
NAVIGATE LIFE AS A SINGLE MOM. >> KOURI WAS STILL COMPLETELY DISTRAUGHT, EVEN NOW, SHE'S NEVER HAD TIME TO GRIEVE.
SHE'S DOING HER BEST TO MOVE ON. SHE DIDN'T KNOW OF A WAY OF DOING THAT. >> KOURI'S BROTHER RONNEY SAYS
IT WAS ALSO HARD FOR THE COUPLES' THREE YOUNG SONS. >> THE BOYS, IT'S SO HARD FOR THEM.
THEY LASHED OUT A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS GOING ON. THEY NEEDED SOME HELP AND KOURI
NEEDED SOME HELP. >> EVENTUALLY KOURI FOUND A WAY TO TURN HER GRIEF INTO ACTION. >> IN MARCH 2023, ONE YEAR AFTER
ERIC'S DEATH, KOURI CAME UP WITH THE IDEA TO WRITE THAT CHILDREN'S BOOK ABOUT COPING WITH LOSS.
"ARE YOU WITH ME?" SHE PROMOTED IT ON A LOCAL TV SHOW, "GOOD THINGS UTAH." >> I JUST WANTED SOME STORY TO
READ TO MY KIDS AT NIGHT. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I WAS LIKE, LET'S JUST WRITE ONE. >> THE SELF-PUBLISHED BOOK
FOLLOWS THE STORY OF A CHILD WHO LOST HIS FATHER BUT IS REMINDED HIS PRESENCE STILL EXISTS ALL AROUND.
IN THE BOOK, ERIC IS PORTRAYED AS AN ANGEL WHO IS ALWAYS CLOSE BY. "YES, I AM WITH YOU ON
CHRISTMAS," KOURI WRITES, "YOU CAN'T SEE MY SMILE, BUT IT'S THERE. I'M HERE.
AND WE'RE TOGETHER." >> LIKE DAD IS STILL HERE, IT'S JUST IN A DIFFERENT WAY. >> KOURI'S MOTHER, LISA, SAYS
WRITING THE BOOK WAS THERAPEUTIC. >> I THINK THE BOOK WAS A GREAT THING.
>> IT HELPED THEM. >> IT HELPED THEM ALL. >> HER FAMILY SAYS IT FINALLY SEEMED AS THOUGH KOURI AND THE
BOYS WOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD. >> IT SEEMED TO MAKE THE BOYS REALLY HAPPY.
>> WHILE THE FAMILY WAS WORKING TO GET BACK ON TRACK, POLICE HAD BEEN INVESTIGATING ERIC'S DEATH. AND JUST WEEKS AFTER KOURI'S
APPEARANCE ON TV TO PROMOTE HER BOOK. >> NEWS AT 10:00. THIS HAS BEEN A TALKER ALL DAY
TODAY, A SUMMIT COUNTY WOMAN WHO WROTE A CHILDREN'S BOOK ABOUT COPING WITH GRIEF FOLLOWING HER HUSBAND'S DEATH NOW ACCUSED OF
BEING THE ONE THAT ACTUALLY KILLED HIM. >> ON MAY 8, 2023, KOURI, THE GRIEVING WIFE --
>> THIS IS THE HOME WHERE POLICE FOUND ERIC RICHINS DEAD. >> -- WAS NOW THE PRIME SUSPECT IN HER HUSBAND'S DEATH.
>> YOU MUST HAVE BEEN IN A PANIC. >> I WAS SHOCKED. SHE CAN'T BE ARRESTED.
> A UTAH MOTHER HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH MURDER. >> KOURI WAS CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED MURDER AND TAKEN INTO
CUSTODY. COURT DOCUMENTS ALLEGE SHE "COMMITTED HOMICIDE" BY THE" ADMINISTRATION OF A POISON."
GREG SKORDAS, THE SPOKESMAN FOR ERIC'S FAMILY, SUSPECTS KOURI PUT A LETHAL DOSE OF FENTANYL IN THE DRINK SHE MADE ERIC THAT
NIGHT, THE MOSCOW MULE. >> THE DOSAGE THAT HE WAS GIVEN THAT NIGHT WAS OF SUCH A HIGH LEVEL THAT NO PERSON COULD HAVE
SURVIVED IT. >> SKYE LAZARO IS HER ATTORNEY. >> DID POLICE EVER TEST THE GLASS THAT SHE GAVE ERIC THIS
COCKTAIL IN? >> THEY SEIZED A NUMBER OF ITEMS FROM THE HOME, AND THERE WAS NO FENTANYL THAT WAS FOUND ON ANY
GLASSWARE. >> KOURI'S FAMILY SAYS THEY STRUGGLED TO MAKE SENSE OF THE CHARGES.
KOURI DENIES ANY INVOLVEMENT IN HER HUSBAND'S DEATH. >> FOR ANYBODY WHO KNOWS KOURI JUST KNOWS SHE COULD NOT HAVE
DONE THIS. SHE'D NEVER DO THIS. >> LISA SAYS HER DAUGHTER AND SON-IN-LAW HAD A GREAT
RELATIONSHIP. >> NOBODY'S PERFECT, BUT THEY'RE PRETTY CLOSE. >> AND LIKE MANY COUPLES THAT
HAVE DISAGREEMENTS, THEY WERE ABLE TO OVERCOME THEIR DIFFERENCES. >> HE DIDN'T WANT KOURI TO WORK.
HE WANTED HER TO BE A STAY-AT-HOME MOM, AND SHE'S VERY INDEPENDENT, AND THAT WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN.
>> ANOTHER ISSUE, SAYS KOURI'S BROTHER, RONNEY, WAS THE AMOUNT OF TIME ERIC SPENT AWAY ON HUNTING TRIPS, SOMETIMES FOUR OR
FIVE MONTHS A YEAR. >> IT JUST KIND OF IRKED HER. BECAUSE THAT -- HIS BIGGEST PASSION IN LIFE IS HUNTING, AND
SHE MIGHT WANT HIM HOME A LITTLE BIT MORE. AND SO, YOU KNOW, THEY MIGHT GET IN A FIGHT ABOUT THAT.
>> AND THEN, ACCORDING TO KOURI'S MOTHER LISA, THERE WAS ALLEGED INFIDELITY ON ERIC'S PART.
SHE SAYS SHE HEARD ABOUT IT FIRST FROM KOURI AND THEN FROM ERIC. >> IT WAS A TEXT ABOUT TRUST,
HOW I TRUSTED HIM AS A SON-IN-LAW, AS A FATHER, AS A HUSBAND, AND HOW COULD HE DO THIS?
>> KOURI'S FAMILY SAYS THE COUPLE WENT TO COUNSELING, DETERMINED TO WORK THROUGH THEIR ISSUES.
SKORDAS, WHO DENIES ERIC EVER CHEATED ON KOURI, SAYS ERIC HAD A DIFFERENT REASON FOR WANTING TO MAKE HIS MARRIAGE WORK.
>> HE WAS GOING TO DO WHATEVER HE COULD TO MAKE IT WORK BECAUSE HE -- HE LIVED FOR THOSE BOYS. HE WOULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING FOR
THOSE BOYS. LET'S -- LET'S GO TO COUNSELING, LET'S TRY TO KEEP THE FAMILY TOGETHER.
>> SKORDAS SAYS AT ONE POINT ERIC HAD CONSIDERED DIVORCE, BUT ULTIMATELY DECIDED AGAINST IT. HE SAYS TO PROTECT THE BOYS IN
CASE THE RELATIONSHIP DIDN'T WORK OUT, ERIC PUT HIS ESTATE INTO A SECRET TRUST, WITHOUT TELLING KOURI, AND NAMED HIS
SISTER KATIE IN CHARGE. BUT IN THE MONTHS LEADING UP TO ERIC'S DEATH, RONNEY SAYS THE COUPLE SEEMED BETTER THAN EVER.
>> HOW WERE THEY DOING AS A COUPLE, AS A FAMILY? >> YEAH, FANTASTIC. THEY WERE PROBABLY ONE OF THE
BEST SPOTS I'VE EVER SEEN THEM IN QUITE SOME TIME. EVERYONE IS HAVING FUN, LAUGHING, JOKING.
YOU KNOW, IT'S -- IT SEEMED REALLY GREAT TO ME. >> SO WHY WOULD KOURI WANT ERIC DEAD?
COURT DOCUMENTS ALLEGE A LIFE INSURANCE PAYOUT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A MOTIVE. SKORDAS SAYS ERIC'S FAMILY
AGREES. >> THIS IS COLD-HEARTED GREED. >> AT THE TIME OF ERIC'S DEATH THERE WERE AT LEAST SIX LIFE
INSURANCE POLICIES ON HIM, TOTALING NEARLY $3 MILLION. COURT DOCUMENTS ALLEGE THAT IN JANUARY 2022, TWO MONTHS BEFORE
ERIC DIED, KOURI "FORGED ERIC'S SIGNATURE," TO GET YET ANOTHER POLICY WORTH AN ADDITIONAL $100,000.
KOURI IS ALSO ACCUSED IN COURT DOCUMENTS OF STEALING FROM ERIC'S PERSONAL ACCOUNTS AND "MISAPPROPRIATING MONEYS
DISTRIBUTED FROM ERIC RICHINS' BUSINESS" DATING BACK YEARS. ACCORDING TO SKORDAS, KOURI DIDN'T JUST WANT THE MONEY, SHE
DESPERATELY NEEDED IT. COURT DOCUMENTS ALLEGE HER HOUSE FLIPPING BUSINESS WAS DROWNING IN NEARLY $2 MILLION OF DEBT.
>> SHE WAS IN WAY OVER HER HEAD. SHE NEEDED SOME MONEY IN A HURRY, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY.
>> SKORDAS SAYS A PREMARITAL AGREEMENT STIPULATED KOURI HAD GIVEN UP CLAIM TO ERIC'S BUSINESS ASSETS, EXCEPT THAT IF
HUSBAND SHOULD DIE PRIOR TO WIFE WHILE THE TWO ARE LAWFULLY MARRIED. >> HE WAS WORTH MUCH MORE TO HER
DEAD THAN DIVORCED. SHE FELT THAT THERE WAS EASY MONEY AND FAST MONEY TO BE MADE BY NOT HAVING HER HUSBAND AROUND
ANYMORE. >> KOURI'S ATTORNEY, SKYE LAZARO, STRONGLY DISPUTES ANY ALLEGATIONS HER CLIENT FORGED
ERIC'S SIGNATURE, MISHANDLED FINANCES OR STOLE FROM ERIC. AS FOR THE CLAIM KOURI WAS IN DEBT AND NEEDED THE MONEY, SHE
SAYS THAT'S SIMPLY NOT TRUE. >> SHE WAS IN THE BUSINESS OF FLIPPING HOUSES. THIS IS WHAT THEY DID.
>> LAZARO SAYS TAKING ON DEBT FROM LINES OF CREDIT WAS PART OF HOW THE BUSINESS OF FLIPPING HOUSES WORKED, AND THE MONEY
WOULD BE PAID BACK WHEN A HOME SOLD. >> IT'S NOT AS IF SHE HAD ALL THESE CONVENTIONAL LOANS THAT
SHE OWED PEOPLE MONEY ON IT. SURE, IT LOOKS LIKE A LARGE NUMBER, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS WITH
PEOPLE WHO SHE DID BUSINESS WITH. >> ERIC AND KOURI SAT DOWN EVERY MONTH AND DID THE BILLS
TOGETHER. AT ALL TIMES ERIC KNEW WHAT WAS GOING IN AND WHAT WAS COMING OUT.
>> LISA SAYS ERIC NOT ONLY KNEW ABOUT THE FINANCES, BUT HE WAS ALSO VERY SUPPORTIVE OF KOURI'S NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES, LIKE
THE PURCHASE OF THE MANSION THEY WERE CELEBRATING THE NIGHT HE DIED. >> ERIC SAYING, LET'S HAVE A
SHOT. COME ON, LET'S CELEBRATE KOURI. >> IT WAS THAT NIGHT, SKORDAS SAYS, ERIC'S FAMILY BELIEVES
KOURI GAVE HIM THE MOSCOW MULE LACED WITH FENTANYL. AND, HE SAYS, ERIC'S FAMILY BELIEVES IT WASN'T THE FIRST
TIME KOURI HAD TRIED TO POISON HER HUSBAND. >> THE TIME HE DIED WASN'T THE FIRST TIME WE BELIEVED THAT SHE
TRIED TO KILL HIM.
>>> JUST OUTSIDE SALT LAKE CITY, IN THE SHADOW OF UTAH'S WASATCH MOUNTAINS, HOME TO FAMED SKI RESORTS, INCLUDING PARK CITY, IS
THE PROPERTY THAT KOURI RICHINS WAS PLANNING ON FLIPPING, THE DEAL SHE AND ERIC WERE CELEBRATING THE NIGHT HE DIED,
SAYS HER ATTORNEY, SKYE LAZARO. >> IT'S A DECENTLY GOOD SIZED HOME. >> LAZARO SHOWED US THE NEARLY
10-ACRE ESTATE. >> WHERE ARE WE? GIVE US A SENSE OF WHY THIS IS SIGNIFICANT REAL ESTATE.
>> SO THIS IS THE HEBER VALLEY. RIGHT OVER THE HILL IS PARK CITY. ALL THE MAJOR SKI AREAS.
AND THEN TO THE RIGHT IS DEER CREEK RESERVOIR. SO THIS REALLY SITS BETWEEN MAJOR RECREATIONAL AREAS.
>> IT LOOKS GINORMOUS. >> IT'S MASSIVE. >> THE 20,000 SQUARE FOOT MANSION AND ITS 4,000 SQUARE
FOOT GUEST HOUSE WERE ORIGINALLY BUILT IN 2017, BUT NEVER FINISHED. THE PROJECT WAS ABANDONED FOR
TWO YEARS UNTIL KOURI DISCOVERED IT. >> I THINK THIS WAS KIND OF HER DREAM WHEN SHE GOT INTO THIS
IDEA OF FLIPPING HOUSES WAS TO BE ABLE TO DO PROPERTIES LIKE THIS. >> LAZARO SAYS KOURI USED
FINANCING FROM A GROUP OF INVESTORS TO MAKE AN OFFER ON THE HOUSE FOR $3.9 MILLION. >> THE PLAN WAS TO DEVELOP THIS,
TURN IT INTO A RECREATIONAL HOT SPOT, GIVEN THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES IN THE WORLD AND HOPEFULLY SELL IT
AT A PROFIT. >> HOW MUCH DID SHE THINK SHE COULD MAKE OFF OF THIS HOUSE? >> HER AND ERIC SAT DOWN WITH AN
ACCOUNTANT ONE TIME, AND HE SAID, IF YOU CAN GET IT DONE AND STAY UNDER BUDGET, YOU COULD WALK AWAY WITH $12 MILLION.
>> WOW. THAT'S A -- THAT'S A BIG TURN. >> YES. >> FROM 3.9 TO $12 MILLION.
>> YES. >> THERE WAS A LOT OF EXCITEMENT. I REMEMBER HOW EXCITED SHE WAS.
>> GREG HALL WORKED WITH KOURI. HE SAYS IT WAS A SOLID INVESTMENT. >> IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A REAL
EASY FLIP. THEY WOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO -- TO SIT ON THAT FOR LONG. >> AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, ERIC WAS
ON BOARD WITH THIS PLAN? >> OH, A HUNDRED PERCENT. >> BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT ERIC'S FAMILY REMEMBERS, SAYS THEIR
SPOKESMAN, GREG SKORDAS. >> I DON'T THINK HE WAS EVER IN FAVOR OF THAT. HE WAS ON BOARD WITH SUPPORTING
HIS WIFE. THAT DOESN'T MEAN HE AGREED WITH IT. >> IN FACT, THE HOUSE IS
MENTIONED IN THIS LEGAL FILING, CONTAINING NOTES FROM AN INVESTIGATOR WHO INTERVIEWED ERIC'S FAMILY AFTER HIS DEATH.
THEY SAID, "ERIC AND HIS WIFE WERE ARGUING" ABOUT BUYING THE PROPERTY. >> AND THAT WASN'T ALL ERIC'S
FAMILY TOLD INVESTIGATORS. ACCORDING TO THAT SAME FILING, THEY MADE NUMEROUS ALLEGATIONS AGAINST KOURI, INCLUDING THAT
THEY SUSPECTED "HIS WIFE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH HIS DEATH. THEY ADVISED HE WARNED THEM THAT IF ANYTHING HAPPENED TO HIM, SHE
WAS TO BLAME." THEY ALSO TOLD INVESTIGATORS THEY BELIEVED KOURI HAD TRIED TO POISON ERIC BEFORE, ON TWO
SEPARATE OCCASIONS. >> ACCORDING TO THE FILING, ERIC'S FAMILY SAID THE FIRST ATTEMPTED POISONING WAS IN 2019
WHEN ERIC AND KOURI AND SIX FRIENDS WERE ON VACATION IN GREECE. THEY SAID ERIC BECAME "VIOLENTLY
ILL" AFTER KOURI GAVE HIM A DRINK. RONNEY SAYS HE HEARD IT WAS ALL A MISUNDERSTANDING.
>> ERIC WAS ON MEDICATION, AND THAT MEDICATION, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO DRINK ON. HE ASKED THE WAITRESS TO BRING A
VIRGIN DRINK, A DRINK WITHOUT ALCOHOL. SHE DIDN'T DO IT AND MADE HIM VERY, VERY SICK.
KOURI CALLED HIS DOCTOR, FIGURED OUT WHAT TO DO, AND LATER THAT NIGHT, HE WAS BACK AND -- AND FINE.
EVERYONE THAT WAS THERE WILL TELL YOU THE EXACT SAME THING. >> ACCORDING TO THAT SAME FILING, THE SECOND TIME ERIC'S
FAMILY SAID KOURI TRIED TO POISON ERIC WAS THE MONTH BEFORE ERIC DIED, ON VALENTINE'S DAY 2022.
THEY SAID "HIS WIFE BROUGHT HIM A SANDWICH, WHICH AFTER ONE BITE, ERIC BROKE INTO HIVES AND COULDN'T BREATHE."
KOURI'S FAMILY DENIES SHE EVER TRIED TO POISON HIM. >> THEY ORDERED A SANDWICH, AND THE SANDWICH WAS BAD.
>> HE WENT AND TOOK A NAP, AND THEN WENT AND COACHED ONE OF HIS CHILD'S GAMES. >> ASIDE FROM AN ASSERTION BY
THE FAMILY, THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANYTHING ELSE OUT THERE THAT SUPPORTS THAT. >> ERIC'S FAMILY ALSO CALLED
INTO QUESTION KOURI'S BEHAVIOR FOLLOWING HER HUSBAND'S DEATH. ACCORDING TO COURT DOCUMENTS, ERIC'S FAMILY TOLD INVESTIGATORS
TWO DAYS AFTER ERIC DIED, KOURI PUNCHED ERIC'S SISTER AMY IN THE NECK AND FACE WHEN AMI TRIED TO STOP HER FROM OPENING A
SAFE THEY SAID CONTAINED BETWEEN $125,000 AND $165,000 CASH. >> THERE WAS AN ARGUMENT THAT BROKE OUT, AND ERIC'S SISTER
SAID THAT SHE OWNS THE HOUSE. EVERYTHING IS PUT INTO A TRUST AND SHE OWNS THE HOUSE. >> REMEMBER, ERIC HAD CREATED
THAT TRUST AND KEPT IT SECRET FROM KOURI WHEN THEY WERE GOING THROUGH THOSE MARITAL PROBLEMS. UNTIL ERIC'S DEATH, KOURI KNEW
NOTHING ABOUT THE TRUST, ACCORDING TO COURT DOCUMENTS. >> IF ERIC HAD ANY SORT OF DOCUMENTS, HE'D HAVE THEM IN THE
SAFE. SO SHE WENT IN TO GO SEE WHAT WAS IN THERE. AMY CAME AFTER KOURI, AND THEN,
YOU KNOW, KOURI DEFENDED HERSELF. >> THE TWO OF THEM STARTED PUSHING, AND I WAS STANDING IN
THE MIDDLE OF THEM. ALL THEY DID WAS PUSH. BOTH OF THEM WERE TRYING TO SWING OVER THE TOP OF ME.
SO THE NARRATIVE THAT'S BEEN PUSHED THAT IT WAS -- POOR AMY GOT ASSAULTED WAS NONSENSE. >> THE BROTHERS SAY AMY STORMED
OFF AND CALLED THE POLICE. A MONTH LATER, KOURI WAS CHARGED WITH ASSAULT AND LATER PLEADED NO CONTEST.
>> HER HUSBAND'S JUST PASSED AWAY. SHE'S HIGHLY EMOTIONAL. EVERYBODY IS --
>> MM-HMM. >> -- HIGHLY EMOTIONAL. THINGS GOT A LITTLE HEATED BETWEEN THEM.
>> TWO FAMILIES. TWO VERY DIFFERENT STORIES ABOUT WHAT THEY BELIEVE HAPPENED TO ERIC, BUT WITH ACCUSATIONS
FLYING BACK AND FORTH, WHAT DID THE EVIDENCE SHOW? >> THE STATE HAS TO PROVE THAT SHE DID THIS, THAT SHE GOT THE
DRUGS AND THAT SHE SOMEHOW GAVE THEM TO HIM. >> SHE HAD APPARENTLY CONTACTED A DRUG DEALER, A KNOWN DRUG
DEALER IN THAT AREA, AND PURCHASED FENTANYL AND HAD DONE IT ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION.
>> ALL RISE. >> HAVE A SEAT, PLEASE. >> IN JUNE 2023, KOURI RICHINS APPEARED IN COURT BEFORE RICHARD
MRAZIK FOR A BOND HEARING. >> THE ISSUE BEFORE THE COURT IS WHETHER DEFENDANT KOURI RICHINS SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE HELD
WITHOUT BAIL DURING THE PRE-TRIAL PERIOD. >> IT WAS THE FIRST TIME SINCE RICHINS HAD BEEN CHARGED IN HER
HUSBAND'S DEATH THAT THE PUBLIC GOT TO SEE HER, AND FOR THE ENTIRE FOUR-HOUR HEARING, SHE SAT IN HANDCUFFS NEXT TO HER
ATTORNEY, SKYE LAZARO. >> I CANNOT IMAGINE HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS FOR KOURI TO SIT THERE AND LISTEN TO
EVERYTHING THAT WAS TALKED ABOUT AT THAT HEARING. >> TO CONVINCE THE JUDGE WHY RICHINS SHOULD NOT BE RELEASED,
PROSECUTORS PATRICIA CASSELL, BRAD BLOODWORTH, AND JOSEPH HILL PRESENTED EVIDENCE AND CALLED WITNESSES TO MAKE THEIR CASE
RICHINS HAD POISONED HER HUSBAND. IT HAD ALL THE ELEMENTS OF A MINI TRIAL.
>> IN ORDER FOR THE JUDGE TO MAKE A DETERMINATION TO DETAIN SOMEONE AT A BAIL HEARING, THE STATE HAS TO PROVE SUBSTANTIAL
EVIDENCE. >> PROSECUTOR JOSEPH HILL CALLED TO THE STAND CELL PHONE EXPERT
CHRIS KOTODRIMOS. >> SIR, IF YOU'D STEP IN FRONT, BRITTANY WILL GET YOU SWORN IN. >> HE ASKED HIM ABOUT GOOGLE
SEARCHES HE SAYS RICHINS MADE ON HER PHONE. >> WERE YOU ABLE TO OBSERVE INTERNET SEARCHES ON THAT PHONE?
>> YES. >> THOSE SEARCHES, WHICH WERE DETAILED IN COURT DOCUMENTS, INCLUDED, CAN DELETED TEXT
MESSAGES BE RETRIEVED FROM AN iPHONE? CAN FBI FIND DELETED MESSAGES? WHAT IS A LETHAL DOSE OF
FENTANYL? >> I DON'T KNOW THAT THESE SEARCHES MEAN AS MUCH WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TIMING OF WHEN
THEY'RE DONE. >> LAZARO SAYS THERE'S AN INNOCENT EXPLANATION, THOSE SEARCHES WERE CONDUCTED AFTER
ERIC'S DEATH. >> I THINK IT'S MORE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS RELATING TO WHAT SHE WAS BEING ACCUSED OF.
>> THE STATE ALSO CALLED TO THE STAND THE LEAD INVESTIGATORS ON THE CASE, DETECTIVE JEFF O'DRISCOLL.
>> I WAS ASSIGNED TO BE THE LEAD -- THE LEAD DETECTIVE IN THIS CASE IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR. >> PROSECUTOR BLOODWORTH
QUESTIONED DETECTIVE O'DRISCOLL ABOUT WHERE RICHINS MAY HAVE GOTTEN FENTANYL. HE SPECIFICALLY ASKED ABOUT AN
INTERVIEW THE DETECTIVE CONDUCTED WITH CARMEN LAUBER, WHO SAID SHE WORKED FOR RICHINS. SHE'S REFERRED TO AS C.L.
>> C.L. IS AN ASSOCIATE OF THE DEFENDANT. SHE CLEANED HOUSES FOR THE DEFENDANT'S BUSINESS, AS WELL AS
HER PERSONAL HOME AT TIMES. DETECTIVE O'DRISCOLL SAID C.L. HAD A CRIMINAL HISTORY WITH DRUGS.
AT THE TIME OF THEIR INTERVIEW, SHE WAS ON PROBATION FOR MULTIPLE DRUG DISTRIBUTION CHARGES, ACCORDING TO COURT
RECORDS. SHE HAS NOT BEEN CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH ERIC'S DEATH. >> IN OUR INTERVIEW, C.L. TOLD
US THAT IN EARLY 2022, THE DEFENDANT REACHED OUT TO HER EITHER BY PHONE CALL OR TEXT MESSAGE REQUESTING THAT SHE
PROCURE FENTANYL FOR WHAT THE DEFENDANT REPORTED WAS A INVESTOR WHO HAD A BACK INJURY. >> DETECTIVE O'DRISCOLL
TESTIFIED THAT C.L. TOLD HIM SHE PURCHASED 15 TO 30 FENTANYL PILLS AND THEN SOLD THEM TO RICHINS.
>> C.L. TOLD US THAT AFTER PURCHASING THE PILLS, SHE RETURNED HOME. SHE SAID THAT EITHER LATER THAT
NIGHT OR THE NEXT DAY, THE DEFENDANT MET HER AND DID A HAND-TO-HAND EXCHANGE OF PILLS FOR CASH.
>> THAT TRANSACTION, SAYS DETECTIVE O'DRISCOLL, TOOK PLACE ON FEBRUARY 11th, 2022, THREE DAYS BEFORE VALENTINE'S DAY
WHEN, ACCORDING TO COURT DOCUMENTS, ERIC'S FAMILY SAID RICHINS HAD TRIED AND FAILED TO POISON ERIC WITH THAT SANDWICH.
BUT THERE WAS MORE. >> WE'RE GOING TO NOW SHIFT TO A SECOND DRUG BUY. >> DETECTIVE O'DRISCOLL SAID
C.L. TOLD HIM RICHINS CONTACT ED HER AGAIN APPROXIMATELY A WEEK LATER. >> THE DEFENDANT REACHED OUT TO
HER AGAIN BY TEXT OR CALL AND SAID THAT SHE WANTED SOME MORE FENTANYL THAT WAS STRONGER THAN THE PREVIOUS BATCH.
>> THIS TIME, DETECTIVE O'DRISCOLL SAID, C.L. TOLD HIM RICHINS PAID BY CHECK. >> THE DEFENDANT CAME TO THE
DOOR AND WROTE HER A CHECK FROM HER BUSINESS, FROM THE DEFENDANT'S BUSINESS, FOR $1,300 FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE
FENTANYL. >> JUST A WEEK LATER, ERIC WAS DEAD. >> WE DISPUTE ALL OF THOSE
ALLEGATIONS. >> IN HER CROSS-EXAMINATION, LAZARO ASKED DETECTIVE O'DRISCOLL IF THERE COULD HAVE
BEEN ANOTHER REASON FOR THAT $1,300 CHECK. >> IT COULD VERY WELL BE THAT KOURI WAS PAYING FOR HER
CLEANING HOUSES, CORRECT? >> I DON'T WANT TO SPECULATE, BUT -- >> IT COULD BE?
>> IT'S POSSIBLE. >> DESPITE WHAT C.L. SAID? CORRECT? OKAY.
>> LAZARO SAYS BECAUSE CARMEN LAUBER IS A CONVICTED FELON, SHE'S NOT CREDIBLE. >> SHE WAS ON PROBATION AT THE
TIME. I THINK ANYTIME YOU HAVE AN INFORMANT-TYPE SITUATION, IT CAN CALL INTO QUESTION THE VERACITY
OF THEIR STATEMENTS OR THE MOTIVE FOR WHAT THEY'RE SAYING. >> IN HER CROSS-EXAMINATION OF DETECTIVE O'DRISCOLL, LAZARO
ATTEMPTED TO SHOW HOW C.L. MIGHT HAVE FELT PRESSURE TO TELL INVESTIGATORS WHAT THEY WANTED TO HEAR.
>> YOU BEGIN THE INTERVIEW BY EXPLAINING TO C.L. ESSENTIALLY HOW DIRE OF A SITUATION SHE'S IN, CORRECT?
>> I DON'T HAVE THE INTERVIEW MEMORIZED, BUT I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THAT, YES. >> OKAY.
WELL, YOU TOLD HER THAT SHE WAS ON PROBATION TO DRUG COURT FOR FOUR FIRST-DEGREE FELONIES, CORRECT?
>> CORRECT. >> YOU ESSENTIALLY TELL HER THAT SHE HAS THE POTENTIAL OF DOING A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF STATE AND
FEDERAL PRISON TIME, POTENTIALLY? >> YES. THIS IS A COMMON TACTIC IN LAW
ENFORCEMENT TO BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE CHARGES FOR INFORMATION. >> LAZARO ALSO ASKED THE
DETECTIVE WHAT EVIDENCE THERE WAS TO BACK UP C.L.'S CLAIMS THAT SHE HAD SOLD FENTANYL TO RICHINS.
>> BECAUSE C.L.'S WORKING FOR THE DEFENDANT, THERE'S COMMUNICATION, CORRECT? >> CORRECT.
>> BUT DETECTIVE O'DRISCOLL SAID HE SAW NO TEXT MESSAGES WHERE RICHINS ALLEGEDLY ASKS C.L. FOR DRUGS.
>> WE DIDN'T FIND ANY. >> WAS ANYONE WITH HER THAT COULD CORROBORATE THAT SHE SAW C.L. HAND KOURI DRUGS?
>> NOT THAT I KNOW OF. >> 48 HOURS ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT C.L. FOR COMMENT. WE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE.
>> THEY HAVE TO PROVE THAT SHE OBTAINED DRUGS AND GAVE THEM TO HER HUSBAND. >> AND UNLESS THEY CAN CONNECT
THOSE DOTS, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME PROVING MURDER IN THIS CASE. >>> WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF
>>> AS KOURI RICHINS' BOND HEARING CAME TO A CLOSE, HER ATTORNEY, SKYE LAZARO, WAS HOPEFUL HER CLIENT WOULD BE
GRANTED BAIL. >> THIS IS A CASE IN WHICH THERE DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE ANY SMOKING GUN.
THESE CASES ARE GENERALLY MORE FAVORABLE TO THE DEFENSE. >> THE PROSECUTION CLOSED ITS CASE TO DENY RICHINS BAIL WITH A
VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENT FROM ERIC'S SISTER AMY. >> I'M HERE TODAY TO REPRESENT MY BROTHER, ERIC EUGENE RICHINS.
ERIC IS GONE, AND I AM BROKENHEARTED. NONE OF OUR LIVES WILL EVER BE THE SAME.
ERIC DIED UNDER HORRENDOUS CIRCUMSTANCES. I AM TORMENTED AT THE THOUGHT OF WHAT HE ENDURED.
PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW KOURI TO HURT ERIC'S MEMORY, OUR FAMILY, FRIENDS AND COMMUNITY ANYMORE. WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH ENOUGH.
>> JUDGE RICHARD MRAZIK SPENT VERY LITTLE TIME MAKING HIS DECISION, RICHINS WOULD REMAIN IN CUSTODY.
>> THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS CASE WEIGH SOUNDLY AGAINST GRANTING PRE-TRIAL RELEASE OF ANY KIND.
>> RICHINS' FAMILY WAS DISAPPOINTED. THEY SAY HER TIME IN JAIL WHILE WAITING FOR HER TRIAL HAS TAKEN
ITS TOLL. >> I HEAR HER ON THE PHONE. I HEAR HER SOBBING. >> IN SEPTEMBER 2023, RICHINS'
FAMILY SAYS SHE HAD A MEDICAL EMERGENCY IN CUSTODY WHILE TAKING PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS AND NEEDED TO BE RUSHED TO THE
HOSPITAL. >> WHAT DID SHE SAY HAPPENED TO HER? >> THAT THEY GAVE HER THE WRONG
MEDICINE AND IT CAUSED A SEIZURE. >> RICHINS MADE A FULL RECOVERY, BUT WHILE SHE WAS AWAY, JAIL
OFFICIALS SAY THEY FOUND THIS HANDWRITTEN LETTER IN HER CELL THAT WAS NEVER SENT. THE DOCUMENT LATER FILED IN THE
COURT RECORD HAS BECOME KNOWN FOR THE WORDS SCRAWLED AT TOP OF THE PAGE, WALK THE DOG. PROSECUTORS SAY IT'S FROM
RICHINS TO HER MOTHER. >> I TAKE CARE OF HER 16-YEAR-OLD DOG. >> MM-HMM.
>> AND HER THING IS, BE SURE YOU WALK HAR. SHE'S SO WORRIED ABOUT THIS DOG. >> IN NOVEMBER 2023, PROSECUTORS
FILED THIS MOTION ASKING THE COURT FOR A NO CONTACT ORDER TO DENY RICHINS ACCESS TO HER MOTHER AND BROTHER.
IN THE MOTION, THEY SAY THE LETTER IS EVIDENCE OF WITNESS TAMPERING. THEY SAY RICHINS GIVES HER
MOTHER INSTRUCTIONS ON WHAT HER BROTHER, RONNEY, SHOULD SAY IN COURT. THE LETTER INSTRUCTS LISA DARDEN
TO INDUCE THE DEFENDANT'S BROTHER, RONALD DARDEN TO TESTIFY FALSELY, THE MOTION STATES.
>> TO ME, THIS LETTER IS AN ATTEMPT TO GET A WITNESS TO TESTIFY TO SOMETHING THAT ISN'T TRUE BY SPOON FEEDING THE
WITNESS THE TESTIMONY THAT HE'S SUPPOSED TO GIVE. >> IN THE LETTER, RICHINS WRITES THAT HER DEFENSE WILL NEED TO
ESTABLISH THAT ERIC BOUGHT DRUGS WHILE TRAVELING ABROAD. WE NEED SOME KIND OF CONNECTION. HERE IS WHAT I'M THINKING, BUT
YOU HAVE TO TALK TO RONNEY. HE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO TESTIFY TO THIS. >> IN THE LETTER, IT APPEARS
THAT SHE'S LAYING OUT A LITTLE BIT OF HER DEFENSE, FOR EXAMPLE, YOUR NAME IS BROUGHT UP. ERIC TOLD RONNEY HE GETS PAIN
PILLS AND FENTANYL FROM MEXICO, ALMOST LIKE SHE'S LYING OUT A CASE. >> MM-HMM.
>> SAYING TELL RONNEY. >> RICHINS GOES ON TO WRITE, RONNEY SHOULD HAVE TEXTS FROM ERIC TALKING ABOUT GETTING HIGH
AS WELL. REWORD THIS HOWEVER HE NEEDS TO TO MAKE THE POINT, JUST INCLUDE IT ALL.
THE CONNECTION HAS TO BE MADE WITH MEXICO AND DRUGS. >> IS SHE GIVING YOU INSTRUCTION IN THIS LETTER?
>> I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. >> MOST OF THAT, UNFORTUNATELY, I CAN'T SPEAK ABOUT.
>> THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THE LETTER ARE TRUE THINGS, AND EVERYBODY WHO'S IN HER CIRCLE ALREADY KNEW THIS.
>> BUT KOURI HAS A DIFFERENT EXPLANATION. SHE SAYS THE LETTER IS FICTION. IN SEPARATE PHONE CALLS FROM
JAIL THAT WERE RECORDED AND LATER ENTERED INTO THE COURT RECORD, SHE TOLD HER MOTHER AND RONNEY THAT THE LETTER WAS PART
OF A BOOK SHE'S BEEN WRITING AND THAT IT'S PRIVATE. THE JUDGE DENIED THE MOTION FOR NO CONTACT SAYING THE STATE HAD
FAILED TO PROVE WITNESS TAMPERING. >> IT ISN'T WITNESS TAMPERING BECAUSE IT DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE.
AND IT WAS NEVER COMMUNICATED TO ANYONE. >> AS THE FAMILIES WAIT FOR THE TRIAL, THEY SAY THEIR FOCUS IS
ON ERIC AND KOURI'S THREE SONS. >> THE FAMILY IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE BOYS. >> THAT'S THE MAIN FOCUS.
THE BOYS. THAT'S WHO'S IMPORTANT HERE RIGHT NOW. >> BOTH FAMILIES SAY THEY HOPE
TO GAIN CUSTODY. THE BOYS ARE CURRENTLY LIVING WITH A MEMBER OF ERIC'S FAMILY. LISA SAYS THEY'RE ONLY ALLOWED
TO SPEAK TO THEIR MOTHER TWICE A WEEK ON A VIDEO CALL. >> IT'S JUST HEART WRENCHING AS TO WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH.
>> LISA, RONNEY, AND DJ HAVE BEEN DENIED PRIVATE VISITS WITH THE KIDS. BUT LISA SAYS SHE DOES WHAT SHE
CAN TO SUPPORT THEM, AND ATTENDS ALL THEIR SPORTS PRACTICES. >> AND THE REASON I CAN DO THAT, IT'S A PUBLIC PLACE.
I CAN'T BE STOPPED FROM GOING THERE. I STILL GET TO SEE THEM. I STILL GET A HUG AND KISS, AND
THAT KEEPS ME GOING. >> BESIDES THE CRIMINAL CASE, WHICH COULD CARRY A SENTENCE OF 25 YEARS TO LIFE, THERE ARE
MULTIPLE ONGOING CIVIL CASES REGARDING THE FATE OF ERIC'S ESTATE. BOTH SIDES BELIEVE THE OTHER IS
AFTER THE MONEY. >> BOTH FAMILIES ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE BOYS. >> YOU COULD SAY.
YOU COULD SAY THAT. I WOULDN'T. WE BELIEVE THAT THE DEFENDANT'S FAMILY'S CONCERNED ABOUT THE
MONEY THAT THEY CAN GET. >> WHOEVER ENDS UP WITH THE BOYS ENDS UP WITH THE MONEY. THAT'S ALL THEY WANT.
IT'S NOT RIGHT. >> UNTIL THAT'S RESOLVED, BOTH FAMILIES ARE WAITING FOR THE TRIAL TO START AND ARE HOPING
FOR A VERDICT THAT DELIVERS THEIR VERSION OF JUSTICE. >> AND WHAT IS THE FAMILY DOING TO STAY STRONG NOW?
>> YOU KNOW, THE FAMILY HAS THE FAMILY. THEY HAVE EACH OTHER. THEY FEEL LIKE THE STATE HAS PUT
TOGETHER A GOOD CASE, AND THEY'RE GOING TO STAY UNITED AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS IN THIS CASE.
>> SHE'S INNOCENT. SHE'S BEEN THROWN IN JAIL OVER SOMETHING SHE HASN'T COMMITTED. >> ARE YOU BOTH CONFIDENT THAT
KOURI WILL BE FOUND NOT, LISA? >> I AM, 100%. >> 100%, SHE'LL BE OUT.