Kouri Richins ordered to pay $1.3 million in restitution

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) — Kouri Richins, the woman convicted of killing her husband in 2022 who then wrote a children’s book about grief, has been ordered to pay over a million dollars in restitution in the murder trial.

On Friday afternoon, Richins appeared virtually in court for a final determination on restitution, with the court approving the prosecution’s previously filed motion for restitution.

Richins, who offered no objection to the amount, has now been ordered to pay the amount of $1,017.018.49 to Auto Owner’s Insurance and the amount of $352,562.61 to TruStage, her husband’s life insurance beneficiaries.

“But for the Defendant murdering Eric Richins, Auto Owners Insurance and TruStage would not have paid on the life insurance policies,” the prosecution’s motion stated. “Their payment was not only foreseeable but also the Defendant’s motive for murdering Eric Richins.”

While Richins’ defense team did not oppose the ordered amount, Richins previously submitted an appeal asking for a new trial. Her attorney asked to stay the restitution payments pending the decision in that appeal.

However, Judge Richard Mrazik said he is required to issue a determination and to send the information to the Utah Office of State Debt Collection. He respectfully denied the request.

Richins is also still facing trial for alleged mortgage fraud, forgery, and money laundering, and she is set to appear in court for a scheduling conference regarding that case on October 9.