KAMAS, UTAH: In a shocking new revelation in the mysterious death of businessman Eric Richins, his own wife and writer Kouri Richins has been charged with murder.
Eric Richins died last year from a fentanyl overdose, which investigators believe was administered by Kouri.
She was arrested months ago in May when the prosecutors came forward with the claims that Kouri had planned Eric's murder for financial gains while also being in possession of the drugs needed to poison him.
NBC's popular true crime show 'Dateline' is set to delve into the ongoing investigation against Kouri Richins as the final truth is yet to come out.
The episode 'Page Turner' will air on the channel on Friday, September 22, at 10 pm with more exclusive interviews.
Why is Kouri Richins accused of killing husband?
The revelation that Kouri is the one behind Eric's death is quite chilling, especially considering the fact that she had authored a children's book about the topic.
Days after the death anniversary of her husband, she released the book titled 'Are You With Me?' which is supposed to be a guide for children who are dealing with the death of a loved one.
So, why was Kouri accused?
The investigators working on the case alleged that she was the one to poison Eric with the fentanyl that was found in his system in a dosage beyond what a human body could take.
This accusation was made on the basis of records found that indicated Kouri's purchases of the drug close to the time when Eric died, according to CNN.
The dealer was identified as a person named CL who was discovered to have been involved in drug cases before as well.
Prosecutors have also uncovered evidence suggesting that Kouri may have been attempting to get her hands on millions of dollars in debt by pursuing the insurance money resulting from Eric's death.
Additional grounds for suspicions against the writer arose from the statements made by Eric's family and friends, suggesting that Kouri had allegedly made multiple attempts to poison the masonry business owner before ultimately succeeding in ending his life.
What happened to Kouri Richins after the arrest?
Kouri has remained bound to a jail cell since her arrest and is currently awaiting trial as more evidence piles in court both implicating her and supporting her.
Her primary defense in the case is that her husband was a frequent drug user, a fact that one of her friends had revealed could have resulted in an "accidental overdose", according to People.
Kouri also appears to be working on another book, drawing from her personal experience with her own case and her husband's death. This upcoming book is said to be a mystery fiction novel.
This information came to light through a letter written by Kouri and found in her possession which prosecutors have characterized as a form of "witness tampering" by the accused woman.
The letter, as shared by People, was addressed to her mother and also mentioned her brother Ronney whom she appeared to have asked to collect evidence, saying, "Ronney should have texts from Eric talking about getting high as well."
The letter remains a mystery though, as Kouri dismissed the claim that she was interfering with the case and was only writing a fictional piece based on her own story.
The supposed letter was apparently not a letter to her family members at all.
More case proceedings await Kouri as her fate is yet to be decided. She would receive imprisonment of over two decades if she is convicted in the case.
However, at present, she is preparing for the LSAT to become a defense lawyer in the future, hoping to help people who have been unjustly accused.
