It has been nearly four years since Eric Richins died on the floor of his bedroom in Kamas, Utah. You probably know the story by now. His wife, Kouri Richins, becomes a local figure of sympathy, writes a children's book about grieving called Are You With Me?, and then—in a twist that feels too scripted for a Netflix docuseries—gets arrested for his murder.
People are getting restless. The public interest is high, the 12 terabytes of discovery are massive, and the legal maneuvers have been constant. But the big question remains: When is this actually going to happen?
If you are looking for the kouri richins trial date, the short answer is that the calendar is finally set, but you’ll have to wait until late winter. After months of delays, appeals over jury pools, and back-and-forth about whether the trial should even stay in Summit County, the court has locked in February 23, 2026, as the official start of the murder trial.
The Long Road to February 2026
Honestly, this case has been a logistical nightmare for the 3rd District Court. We’re talking about a trial that was originally supposed to happen much sooner. So, why the delay?
Basically, Kouri’s defense team, led by Kathy Nester, wanted to move the trial out of Summit County. Their argument was pretty simple: everyone in Park City and Kamas already has an opinion. They pushed for a change of venue or at least a jury pool that included people from Salt Lake County. They figured a bigger pool meant a better chance at a fair shake.
The Utah Supreme Court eventually shut that down in mid-2025. Once that appeal was settled, Judge Richard Mrazik was able to clear the deck and set the timeline we’re looking at now.
- February 2, 2026: A final hearing to address any lingering "motions in limine" (that's just legal speak for what evidence can actually be shown to the jury).
- February 10, 2026: Jury selection begins. This is going to be a massive undertaking. The court is sending out 2,000 questionnaires to local residents.
- February 23, 2026: The official trial begins.
- Late March 2026: The trial is expected to wrap up after roughly five weeks of testimony.
What’s Actually Happening Right Now?
We just moved past some pretty heavy evidentiary hearings in early January 2026. If you think the trial is just about the "grief book," you’re missing the bigger picture. The court is currently wrestling with "junk science" and expert witnesses.
Just a few days ago, Judge Mrazik made some big calls. He’s limiting a "pathway to violence" expert. The prosecution wanted this expert to explain how someone might plan a murder over several weeks. The defense called it "pure theory" disconnected from data. For now, the judge says they can only use that expert if the defense "opens the door" by making specific claims.
Then there’s the handwriting expert. That guy is allowed. He’s going to talk about signatures on financial documents because, let’s not forget, Kouri is also facing a mountain of financial crime charges. While those are being handled separately from the murder trial to keep things "clean," the motive—money—is still very much on the table for the February date.
The Evidence: Fentanyl and "Walk the Dog"
The core of the state's case is a cocktail. Specifically, a Moscow Mule that prosecutors say was spiked with five times the lethal dose of fentanyl.
Kouri maintains her innocence. Her team is going after the witnesses hard. They’ve recently alleged that Eric’s sister paid witnesses to testify against Kouri. It’s messy. They are also trying to suppress the now-infamous "Walk the Dog" letter found in Kouri's jail cell, which prosecutors claim is a set of instructions for her brother to give false testimony.
It’s worth noting that Kouri has been denied bail three separate times. The most recent denial was in November 2025. Even with claims that a key witness recanted, the judge hasn't budged. She’s staying in the Summit County Jail until the trial concludes.
Why This Trial Is Different
Most true crime cases follow a pattern, but the Richins case is weird because of the children's book. Writing a book about "comforting" your kids after their dad's "accidental" death while—allegedly—being the one who caused it is a level of perceived coldness that has kept this in the national spotlight.
But in the courtroom, that book is almost secondary. The trial is going to come down to:
- Digital footprint: What was she searching for?
- Financials: Was she deep in debt? (The state says yes, to the tune of millions).
- The Housekeeper: The person who allegedly sold her the pills.
The defense is banking on the idea that Eric had his own issues and that the state's timeline doesn't hold water. They’ve even suggested he may have obtained the drugs himself.
Actionable Steps for Following the Case
If you’re planning to track the kouri richins trial date and the subsequent proceedings, here is how to stay updated without getting lost in the noise:
- Monitor the 3rd District Court Calendar: Check the Summit County, Utah court portal in early February for specific daily start times.
- Watch for the February 2nd Ruling: This is the "last stop" before the trial. The judge will finalize exactly which witnesses and which pieces of the "Walk the Dog" letter the jury gets to see.
- Follow Local Journalists: Reporters from KSL and TownLift are in the room for these hearings. They often get the details on rulings that aren't immediately posted in public documents.
- Clear Your Schedule for late February: Since this is a five-week trial, the most explosive testimony—likely the housekeeper and the financial experts—will probably happen in early March.
The wait has been long, but the legal system in Summit County is finally moving toward a resolution. Whether it's a conviction or an acquittal, the 2026 trial will likely be one of the most-watched legal events in Utah history.
Source References:
- State of Utah v. Kouri Richins, 3rd District Court, Summit County.
- Utah Supreme Court Case No. 20241329 (Venue Appeal).
- Court TV Evidentiary Hearing Reports (January 2026).
Keep an eye on the official court dockets as we approach the February 10th jury selection to see if any last-minute delays arise from new discovery filings.