KAMAS, UTAH: Utah author Kouri Richins appeared on a local TV station to promote her $14.99 self-published book ‘Are You With Me?’ just days before getting arrested in connection to her husband Eric Richins’ murder. Body language expert Patti Wood noticed that the mother-of-three appeared on the show without wearing her wedding ring and flashed her hand sans the bling while talking about the book she claimed to have written to help her children deal with the loss of their father. “Writing a children's book about grief after losing your husband and promoting it without still wearing a wedding ring is an interesting choice,” said Wood.
However, she noted that every person deals with grief differently and while some widows hold on to the things that reminds them of their late spouse, others often decide to let go. “Everybody grieves differently, some widows want to hold on to the symbol of the union they can see, feel, and touch all the time, and some don't,” Wood clarified before adding that Richins' TV appearance without her ring seemingly sent the message that she was “single and available.” “Nonverbally, she is not just promoting the book, but the fact that she has processed her grief enough to advertise that she is single and available,” Wood stated, as reported The Sun.
READ MORE
When did Eric and Kouri Richins get married?
Eric and Kouri reportedly tied the knot in a garden ceremony in Utah on June 15, 2013, the Daily Mail reported. He was previously married to Julie Borgenson whom he wed in 2005. Eric and Julie parted ways just four years after their marriage. The former filed for divorce in 2009 and the separation was finalized in July. He went on to marry Kouri in 2013 and had three children with the author. Unfortunately, Eric soon sensed danger in his relationship with Kouri and believed that his wife was trying to poison him.
Eric’s family attorney and spokesperson Greg Skordas told the Daily Mail that the former even doubted that Kouri cheated on his during their marriage. “There were rumors that Kouri maintained a relationship with somebody else for pretty much the duration of the marriage,” he said. “It wasn't something the family ever discussed with Eric or anything that rose above the level of hearsay,” Skordas added. The attorney also revealed that “Eric was considering divorce at the time he died” but chose to stay in the marriage for the sake of their children.
“There are three reasons Eric stayed: one is 10 years old; one is nine, and the third is six,” Skordas mentioned. “He lived for his three boys and unfortunately he died for them too,” he said. Eric’s obituary described Kouri as the “love of his life” and mentioned that the couple were married for nearly nine years. “Eric did absolutely everything in his power to provide his family with every possible opportunity to learn, grow, and have fun,” the obituary mentioned.
However, much to the shock of friends and family Kouri was arrested in connection to Eric’s death earlier this month. She has been accused of serving him fentanyl-laced Moscow mule just days after she allegedly asked for “some of the Michael Jackson stuff” from an acquaintance and bought fentanyl pills worth more than $900. Autopsy reports later revealed Eric died from a fentanyl overdose and had five times the lethal dosage of fentanyl in his body at the time of his death.
‘Truth is stranger than fiction’
In the wake of Kouri’s arrest, a Richins family friend told the Daily Mail that the past few weeks and months were similar to “hell” for them. “They are hopeful justice will be served but, in some ways, now they have to live Eric's death all over again. As more information comes out realizing how that happened is painful,” attorney Skordas explained.
“This is one of those stories where truth is stranger than fiction,” he added. “The fact that she went on to write a book about overcoming grief is just unbelievable,” the lawyer added. Skordas also said that Eric and Kouri’s children will “in all likelihood lose both their parents.” However, he confirmed, “They are together and being looked after by a family member.” He also shared that the boys will be raised by Eric’s close and extended family “with as much love as if he had been alive to do it.”
