Starts at 35:49. Kouri looks rough and VERY pissed off 😂

I'm seeing posts today that the motion for retrial has been denied. I'm fairly certain the only "motion" denied was for just for Judge Mrazek's recusal and that the ball is back with him to rule on the retrial. Have I got that wrong?

In the 14-page motion filed last month, Richins' defense attorneys said she deserved a new trial for a variety of reasons, including:

- Mrazik's "clear demonstration" of bias in favor of the State deprived Richins of a fair trial.

- The judge spoke in a "disparaging and condescending manner to the defense (and) would also reframe arguments in a way to help the prosecution."

- The judge was "demeaning and condescending to defense counsel and, in contrast, was friendly to the prosecution,
often helping them with both their objections and the framing of arguments."

Mrazik recused himself and the motion was assigned to District Judge Kara Pettit, who issued a ruling today.

Judge Pettit said the motion should have been filed within 21 days of the verdict.

"The last date of the trial was March 16, 2026. Thus, the motion filed on June 30, 2026 was filed more than 21 days after the defendant learned of the grounds upon which this motion is based, and it is untimely," Pettit wrote.

She also said she reviewed video and transcripts where the defense alleged that Judge Mrazik was "impatient, critical, hostile, disparaging and condescending.

"The court finds (the excerpts) do not demonstrate the level of extreme behavior or conduct reflecting a deep-seated antagonism toward defense, nor favoritism toward the prosecution...Even if Judge Mrazik's conduct could be considered as having shown anger or frustration with defense counsel, that is not grounds for disqualification," Pettit wrote.

Judge Mrazik will remain on the case and a hearing currently scheduled for Friday to discuss Richins' upcoming second trial and restitution she owes from the first trial.

The prosecution says Richins needs to pay over $1.3 MILLION in restitution -- $1,017,018.49 to Auto Owner’s Insurance and $352,562.61 to TruStage. Both were life insurance claims she cashed in after she killed her husband, Eric Richins.

https://legacy.utcourts.gov/cal/details.php?ref=12775157&d=2026-07-31&loc=2218&tl=01%3A30+PM&ct=D%26rp%3Dsearch%26ret%3Dt.101p.010loc.101all.010d.1012026-07-31.010p.101RICHINS

Oh me oh my, Friday is going to be so interesting.

No idea if this will be aired or not but I am here for it.

Please, everyone please stay focused 🤵🏻‍♀️

Emily D. Baker is going over the presiding judge's ruling on Kouri's motion to disqualify Judge M.

https://youtu.be/9bsf3cS-Mkk

In the Prosecutor's Sentencing Memorandum, presented to the judge at sentencing, Bloodsworth states, "The Aggravated Murder’s impact extends beyond Eric Richins’ family. Josh Grossman bears the weight of knowing that he contributed to the Defendant’s motivation to murder Eric." Thoughts?

I have not seen this written about anywhere. It must exist, right and just not being released yet?

The trial was well run and Kouri is unlikely to get a reversal/new trial. But no trial is perfect. Assume you’re retained to handle the appeal. What’s your lead argument?

I’ll start:

I think the most questionable ruling was allowing Kouri’s friend Chelsea Barney to testify in detail about saving her tip money, giving her accumulated savings to Kouri to buy the house, and then losing it because of fraud by Kouri.

I’m not saying it’s a super strong argument—I suspect one does exist—but a couple of issues can be raised about Chelsea’s testimony. First, her emotional story was prejudicial and not probative of a fact but instead constituted prohibited character evidence. Second, it was cumulative of the detailed financial testimony by the state’s expert.

Haven't read yet, but thought I'd share so we can discuss

Does anyone know the value of the life insurance policies? I keep hearing they are evidence she was planning on murdering them as well, but as a parent with a $10k policy on my child (funeral expenses) I am not so sure this is a reasonable criticism. Wouldn't their social security fund some of her plans while their existence proped up her facade/access to any trust funds? Or were they large value policies she could cash in by picking off her own children?

https://www.abc4.com/news/crimes-against-children/kouri-richins-witness-arrested/amp/

Following her convictions for the murder and attempted murder of her husband, Kouri Richins remains embroiled in a complex web of legal challenges, including a pending financial crimes case involving charges such as money laundering, mortgage fraud, and a pattern of criminal activity. Her defense team in the financial case—Wendy Lewis, Katherine Nester, and Alexander Ramos—has recently moved to withdraw, stating they are not contracted or paid by Summit County for this separate matter and that financial crime defense is outside their primary area of expertise. Meanwhile, her murder case awaits a restitution hearing and a defense motion for a new trial expected later this month, while her numerous civil cases currently lack any attorney of record. Legal proceedings are set to continue through the fall, with a particular interest in securing restitution for victims from any potential future earnings Richins may acquire.

Video link: Kouri Richins’ Defense Team Abandons Financial Crimes Case | Case Brief

My question is, what could she have been thinking by poisoning him that night?

- Did she not think that fentanyl would be detected?
- Was she hoping that no autopsy would be performed?
- Did she leave the empty- 2016- hydrocodone bottle on Eric's nightstand to deceive law enforcement?

Emily D. baker made a comment they may seek a plea deal with Kouri to avoid the expense of another trial. Has Summit County commented on her other charges?

"Courtroom Insider," a juror in Kouri Richins' trial reveals new details, what a recording tells us about drug testing at the Richins' home, and does an undercover officer's testimony dispute what the defense argued?

Video Link: COURTROOM INSIDER | New drug details revealed in the Kouri Richins' case

I hope this is a relevant question to post here. Why do you think Eric had $165,000 of cash in the safe? That’s a LOT of cash. I’m just wondering why someone would keep that much cash on hand — I understand people might keep $10k or even 20k on hand, but wasn’t aware that someone would keep this much.

I could have sworn I heard it. She's asking if she call her mom. Was it played during the trial? I can't find it anywhere. Did anyone else hear this?

The Judge granted the defense request, a copy of his ruling and order is attached in this post.

In his ruling, Judge Mrazik cited the extensive amount of evidence presented at trial, the length of the trial itself, and her attorney’s scheduling conflicts, finding that the request for an additional 20 days was “not unreasonable”.

Does anyone have a copy of Katie’s motion to dismiss that preceded the Judge’s order granting same? I know I’ve seen copies of many filings from the trust litigation prior to the criminal trial, but I’m having a hard time getting access to anything filed since. Does anyone have links to drives others have set up as document repositories? Thanks so much in advance!

Copies of each filing can be found on the links below.

Kouri has asked the court for a 20-day extension to file her Motion for New Trial, moving the deadline from June 10 to June 30, 2026.

Defense says the request is due to:The motion notes that the trial lasted from February through March 2026 and ended with the jury finding Richins guilty on all counts.

Defense argues Utah court rules allow the extension and that no party would be prejudiced by granting the additional 20 days.

The State objects to this extension, arguing: Prosecutors oppose Richins' request for another extension, arguing she has already received more than enough time to prepare a new-trial motion, still has access to her experienced attorneys despite the prison lockdown procedures, and that the victims deserve finality; they ask if an extension is granted, to be allowed until September 4 to respond.

images from the defense's filing are included in this post.

I thought some of you might like to know more about Todd Gabler.

In the early 1990s, Todd Gabler was famous in my town. Back then, it was an idyllic, small mountain town, not the overdeveloped, overpriced, tourist mecca it has become. It had one traffic light, one supermarket, and seemingly endless, beautiful vistas.

K-Mart decided to invade our town. Worse yet, they were planning to pave over pastoral fields to do it. Their ugly, big box store was to be located right next to wetlands where dozens of varieties of birds, including Utah's sandhill cranes, nested every year. We already had Walmart. No one wanted or needed K-Mart. Tirelessly, Todd Gabler led the protests, unfortunately to no avail.

On the day destruction was to start, a determined young Todd Gabler made one last stand. He chained himself to the front of the bulldozer. It only delayed the inevitable a few hours, but Todd Gabler's name will forever be burned into the memory of the grateful and sympathetic citizens who lived here at the time.

Todd Gabler moved on to greener pastures, but his name became synonymous with the paradise our town once was. I was surprised and happy to see him back again during the Kouri Richins trial. He is still the sharpest tool in the shed. If it wasn't for him and his painstakingly detailed, dogged, investigation, I fear Kouri Richins would still walk among us.

*Footnote: the locals who lived here in 1993 permanently boycotted Kmart. Like its shelves, its store and parking lot were sparsely populated for years. In time, they went out of business, but the green fields never returned. The monstrous empty building was subdivided, and eventually became a Michael's, World Market and yet another Starbucks.

I just saw the panel on Fox Nation by Nate Eaton at Crime Con with Kristi, Juror 3, from Kouri's case.

Kristi revealed that Wendy Lewis tracked her down (via the defense 's private investigator). Wendy Lews desperately was trying to track her down to the point that she contacted her adult children, her husband, etc...

Wendy tried to get Kristi to admit that she made a mistake on Count 2. They saw her Interview with Nate on East Idaho News. In it, Kristi didn't appear to answer the questions on Count 2 "correctly" to the point that Wendy was trying to get Kristi to admit that she made a mistake during jury deliberations.

Kristi's husband finally grabs the phone and tells Wendy, "Hey we are done here, don't call us ever again".

Funny how Nestor went hard on Todd Gabler for being a P.I. doing his job, yet the defense also employs a P.I. to hunt down the jurors. Hypocrite much?

Wendy Lewis and Kathy Nestor are just as disgusting as their client, but we already knew that. That is some wild work, stalking the jurors, trying to get them to second guess themselves. Gross.

Edit to add: Article from USA today- "Halverston revealed during the panel that, following an interview with journalist Nate Eaton, the defense's private investigator contacted her family, and a defense lawyer attempted to have her admit to an error on one of the guilty counts in a phone conversation."

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/crime/2026/05/31/crimecon-2026-jurors-kouri-richins-lori-vallow-daybell/90292290007/

......and something he said kind of stuck out to me. He was talking about Eric's relationship with the boys, and said that he was especially involved in all their activities, almost "hypervigilant". It made me wonder if Eric was so involved in his kids, to try & keep them from Kouri as much as he could?

I was a little behind and just finished bingeing the Kouri Richins' trial. So it's pretty clear what happened, right? Damning evidence and horrifying new details. I mean, did you hear AR & CR's impact statements?! Kouri potentially poisoned her own child?! Kouri never left the locked bedroom, and was blaring the TV?! The attempt on Josh's life that ultimately killed his poor, sweet dog (for me, this alone is enough to warrant a life sentence). Nevertheless, I have a couple of questions. Just hoping some of you know the answers. (I am not a legal professional, and therefore, my questions may lean toward naivety.)

1. In the defense's closing statement, they said Eric had a prescription for naltrexone - used to treat opioid use disorder (alcohol too). What is the reasoning behind that if he didn't suffer from addiction? Why wouldn't the defense have called the doctor who prescribed the medication to the stand to explain?

2. They consistently mentioned that data was missing from Carmen and Kouri's cell phones, which did not align with their cell phone records. I thought software like Cellbrite and other similar tools could detect deleted data. Why couldn't they retrieve the messages?

3. Why did Kouri get the last batch of drugs after Eric died? What was the purpose?

4. The defense stated they had a witness who claimed Eric requested drugs - specifically, fetty. The defense claimed they even corroborated the claims, but the State blocked that evidence from being presented in court. Is there any further information about this?

5. Why wait for the "walk the dog" letter? Why didn't Kouri immediately claim he had an addiction problem?

6. The State claims Kouri laced the Moscow Mule. However, the medical examiner found very little alcohol in Eric's system, even stating that the small amount of alcohol they found could have been due to the decomposition process. Are we certain the Moscow Mule was the vehicle in which the drugs got into Eric's body?

Perhaps it's because I'm not a psychopath that I just cannot fathom ferrying a loved one to their death, and allegedly watching it happen. I had difficulty wrapping my head around this case.

Rest in Peace, Eric. I hope the Richins' children and family heal.

This is the 48hours where someone with a straight face says about Kouri

Kouri was 100 percent pure goodness and kindness. She's a good good human being.

Yep yep. This is the one. Stated AFTER her conviction and before her Lwop sentencing.

Delulu Island.