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PARK CITY, Utah (BFMG) — The murder trial of Kouri Richins entered its second week Monday with detailed testimony from a medical examiner, a recorded interview tied to a fentanyl death investigation and witnesses describing the Richins’ finances and digital footprints.
Dr. Erik Christensen, a medical examiner, explained to jurors how Utah classifies deaths by manner — natural, accident, suicide, homicide or undetermined — and said “undetermined” is often used when there is not enough information to decide between those categories, particularly in overdose cases where intent is unclear. He outlined how fentanyl can be taken in different ways, how it is metabolized in the body and how it can cause lethal respiratory and central nervous system depression. Christensen also told the court that toxicology reports have limits, especially when it comes to pinpointing how a drug entered the body or whether use was chronic or a single event, and said additional testing can sometimes shed more light on drug use patterns.
Jurors next watched a May 2023 video of an interview with Robert Crosier as part of an investigation into a drug transaction that investigators said resulted in a death. In the recording, investigators told Crosier they were not trying to intimidate him but had already gathered extensive digital and other records, and urged him to fill in gaps in their timeline. They also warned him about the potential federal charges he could face if he was caught dealing, underscoring the seriousness of the case.
The state then called Allison Wright, a staff member at C&E Stone Masonry and business partner of Kouri Richins’ husband, Eric. Wright testified about a 2019 vacation with the Richins family, during which she said Kouri expressed dissatisfaction in her marriage and mentioned a prenuptial agreement. After argument over its relevance, the judge allowed the testimony, ruling it was admissible to show Kouri’s financial concerns. Wright also described her role in CME’s bookkeeping and her observations of the Richins family’s dynamics after Eric’s death.
Later, digital forensics expert Chris Kotrodimos took the stand and was qualified as an expert in the field. He testified about his analysis of phone downloads and call detail records for several people connected to the case, including Eric and Kouri Richins. Kotrodimos outlined findings such as mass deletions on devices, specific text message exchanges, location data and notable gaps in activity, including a period of missing activity on Eric’s phone on March 3, 2022. He also pointed to web searches and site visits involving how to remotely wipe an iPhone as part of his overall analysis of the digital evidence.
