Kouri Richins sentenced for the murder of her husband

This is breaking news from KSL.

Thanks for joining us.We interrupt your programming for breaking news out of Summit County where a judge is about to sentence Corey Richens.Richens was found guilty in March of aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, fraud, and forgery in the 2022 death of her husband, Eric Richens.We're gonna go ahead and listen in.Corey Richens just finished her sentencing speech.

In addition, the court has considered each of the factors set forth in Utah Code 76 -3 -201, subsection 2B, and has prioritized those factors as required by section 201, 2C.Having considered the gravity and circumstances of the offenses for which Ms. Richens has been convicted, the number of victims, and available information regarding the history, character, and rehabilitative needs of the defendant.The court hereby orders that the sentences on counts two through five shall run consecutively to each other and to the sentence imposed on count one.Moreover, the court exercises its discretion and chooses to impose no fines related to any sentence in this case.The court addresses the five counts on which Ms. Richens was convicted in reverse order.Ms. Richens, based on your conviction on count five, third degree felony forgery, the court hereby sentences you to an indeterminate prison term not to exceed five years.

Based on your conviction on count four, second degree felony insurance fraud, the court hereby sentences you to an indeterminate prison term of not less than one and not more than 15 years.Based on your convictionon count three, second degree felony insurance fraud, the court hereby sentences you to an indeterminate prison term of not less than one and not more than 15 years.Based on your conviction on count two, first degree felony attempted aggravated murder, the court hereby sentences you to an indeterminate prison term of not less than five years, and that may be for life.Which brings us to the final issue.the appropriate sentence for count one.

Under Utah Code 76 -3 -207 .7, there are only two options, an indeterminate prison term of not less than 25 years, and that may be for life, or life in prison without parole.And the law requires that the court consider each option.Under a sentence of 25 to life, and considering the effect of the four consecutive sentences, the time that Ms. Richins has spent in custody, and the current practices of the Board of Pardons and Parole, Ms. Richins would likely serve approximately 30 years in the Utah State Prison before receiving her first parole hearing.By that time, she would be 66 years old.Under a sentence of life in prison without parole, Ms. Richins would be in prison for the rest of her natural life, unless the Board of Pardons and Parole determines by clear and convincing evidence at some future point that she is permanently incapable of being a threat to the safety of society, at which time the board would have the authority to release her.Under either scenario, Ms. Richens will be incapacitated, meaning structurally prevented from harming anyone outside the Utah State prison system.

for at least the next three decades, and perhaps much longer.But the potential impact on the survivors of the tragedy created by Cory Richens, most importantly, Eric Richens' three sons, is more difficult to predict.On one hand, if the court sentences Ms. Richens to life without parole, One or more of those young men may come to resent that the court eliminated any opportunity they might have in the future, decades into the future, to express an opinion as adults with substantial life experience about whether their mother should, for example, be allowed to die with dignity.On the other hand, if the court sentences Ms. Richens to 25 to life, One or more of those young men may spend the next 30 years questioning why the court failed to protect them from the prospect of the person who murdered their father being released from prison at some time in the distant future, perhaps when they have families and children of their own.The court's contemplation of how those young men may come to feel about today's decision some 30 years from now comes from a place of genuine concern for them and humility.regarding the court's inability to predict the future.

Sitting here today, it is simply not possible for anyone, not even those young men, to know how their view of this case may evolve over the next several decades.My hope is that every person affected by Eric Richman's death willover time, find their way to a state of peace.As for today, the court's duty is to make a decision, a weighty, long -lasting decision based on the best information available today.And the bottom line is this.Cory Richman was convicted unanimously and beyond a reasonable doubt.

of attempting to murder Eric Richens, her husband, and the father of their three children.And then, having failed in her first effort of spending the next 17 days not changing course, but doubling down, preparing to try again, and ultimately completing the act through the administration of poison.And for what?All for pecuniary gain.A person convicted of committing that sequence of acts in that way, and for that reason, and who causes the absolute tragedy that has befallen Eric Richen's sons and family.The person convicted of those things is simply too dangerous to ever be free.

Accordingly, Ms. Richens, based on your conviction on count one, first degree felony aggravated murder, court hereby sentences you to life without parole.You have the right to an appeal.You must file a notice of appeal within 30 days.You have the right to be represented by counsel on appeal.Mr. Bloodworth, anything further?No, Your Honor.

Ms. Lewis, Ms. Nestor.

All right, you were just listening to the sentencing of Cori Richens.Cori was found guilty in March of aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, fraud, and forgery in the 2022 death of her husband, Eric Richens.Judge Richard Marcik, with the Third District Court, just sentenced her to life in prison without parole.parole.Now that was for the most serious of the counts of which she was convicted.The other counts, she also faced several years in prison.

Those included forgery up to five years, insurance fraud, one to 15, two counts of that.And then first degree aggravated murder, which he sentenced her to five years to life.But he said that the job of the court today was to make that very weighty decision on what should happen here and what the damage is and who was hurt in this case.And he said that a lot of that contemplation came when it came to the damage done to her three sons.He talked about how Corey attempted to murder her husband two and a half weeks before.She actually succeeded when she killed him, convicted of killing him with that drink that was laced with fentanyl 17 days later.

So he said that instead of her thinking about what she was doing and not going through with it after that attempted murder, she did the opposite.She doubled down until she killed her husband.Judge Marzek said that it was done for one reason, and that was for money, for financial gain.So she does have the option to appeal, We heard him sentence her immediately following what was a very lengthy speech that she gave to the court, including marriage advice to her boys and again denying her involvement in what happened with her.husband's death.By the way, the sentencing comes on what would have been eric rich's 44th birthday.

Now, if you want to watch today's hearing, we have the entirety on our KSL youtube channel.Shelby Lofton was also in the courtroom for today's sentencing.She will have more on this breaking news coming up in about an hour and a half on KSL five news at four o 'clock.We'll see you then.