The trial of Kouri Richins, a Utah mother of three and author of a children’s book on grief, has captivated public attention with revelations from the courtroom, particularly the intimate text messages exchanged between Richins and her former boyfriend, Robert Josh Grossman. These messages, presented during her ongoing murder trial in Summit County, have shed light on a possible motive behind the alleged poisoning death of her husband, Eric Richins, in March 2022.

Prosecutors argue that Richins deliberately administered a lethal dose of fentanyl to her husband by lacing his bedtime Moscow mule cocktail— a mix of vodka, ginger beer, and lime—with five times a fatal amount of the powerful synthetic opioid. This followed an earlier alleged attempt on Valentine’s Day that year, when she reportedly spiked a sandwich with fentanyl, causing Eric to suffer a severe allergic reaction with hives but survive. The state contends that Richins’s actions stemmed from a combination of financial pressures and a desire to pursue a new life with Grossman, her secret lover.

The relationship between Richins and Grossman, a handyman who had worked for her, emerged as a central element in the case. Grossman, an Iraq war veteran, took the stand in early March 2026, where he became visibly emotional—wiping tears, lowering his head, and at times struggling to compose himself—as prosecutors displayed pages of text messages between the pair. These exchanges spanned from late 2021 through months after Eric’s death, revealing a passionate affair filled with declarations of love, discussions of divorce, and fantasies about a shared future.

In one notable exchange less than a month before Eric Richins’s death, Richins reportedly texted Grossman: “If I was divorced right now and ask you to marry me tomorrow, you would?” Grossman replied affirmatively, expressing his deep affection. Days later, she wrote something to the effect of wishing her husband could simply “go away” so they could be together, describing how perfect life would be without him in the picture. Earlier messages from December 2021 showed Richins acknowledging the unsustainable nature of their “love triangle,” noting that neither deserved to wait indefinitely for a resolution and hinting at an eventual end to the situation.

The texts also included more disturbing inquiries. Around January 2022, Richins asked Grossman about his past drug use beyond marijuana and probed into his military experiences, including whether he had ever killed anyone and how it felt. Grossman later testified that he believed she might have been trying to steer the conversation away from herself or gauge something deeper. These questions have fueled speculation in court about whether Richins was exploring ways to eliminate her husband or seeking indirect involvement from her lover.

Financial motives have also been highlighted alongside the romantic ones. Prosecutors presented evidence of Richins’s mounting debts, reportedly in the millions, contrasted with Eric’s estate valued at over $4 million. She had increased life insurance policies and was involved in high-end real estate deals, including closing on a multimillion-dollar property shortly after her husband’s passing. Texts referenced plans to celebrate such closings together, and there were discussions of future trips and a life unburdened by her marriage.

After Eric’s death on March 4, 2022, the communication continued. Richins informed Grossman that her husband had passed, initially claiming authorities suspected an aneurysm, and expressed grief while maintaining contact. In one post-death message around April 2022, she expressed a desire for him to become her husband one day. When police later focused on her as a suspect, Richins reportedly sent Grossman lengthy explanations insisting on her innocence, suggesting Eric’s death might have resulted from laced THC gummies rather than any foul play on her part.

Grossman’s testimony painted a picture of a man deeply affected by the relationship. He described feeling overwhelmed with guilt and sorrow upon learning of her arrest, particularly over his role in the infidelity. He appeared heartbroken during questioning, muttering phrases like “oh boy” as messages were read aloud and needing breaks to regain composure. His emotional state underscored the personal toll of the affair and the subsequent revelations.

The defense has countered that there is no direct proof Richins poisoned her husband, arguing that witnesses cannot conclusively link her to the fentanyl or demonstrate intent. They have suggested alternative explanations for Eric’s death, including possible accidental exposure or other factors. However, the text messages have been used by the prosecution to build a narrative of premeditation: a woman entangled in debt, dreaming of escape through divorce or worse, and actively envisioning a new beginning with another man.

Richins, who published a children’s book titled “Are You With Me?” about a father watching over his family from heaven after his death, faced additional scrutiny for promoting the work on television while under investigation. The contrast between her public persona as a grief expert and the private messages yearning for her husband’s removal has intensified the case’s dramatic elements.

As the trial progresses, these disclosed texts continue to serve as key evidence in illustrating motive. They depict not just an extramarital affair but a pattern of longing for freedom from marriage—freedom that, according to prosecutors, Richins allegedly sought through murder rather than legal separation. Grossman’s reluctant recounting of the exchanges has added a human dimension, showing the lingering pain for those drawn into the orbit of the alleged crime.

The case remains ongoing, with more testimony expected to further explore the digital footprint, financial records, and circumstances surrounding Eric Richins’s final hours. The revelations from the courtroom have transformed what began as a mysterious sudden death into a stark portrait of alleged betrayal, ambition, and fatal intent driven by both money and a forbidden romance.