Kouri Richins requests new attorney in fraud case, citing relationships
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Emily Ashcraft, KSL
PARK CITY, Utah (KSL) — Kouri Richins is asking for a new attorney after learning her attorney, Amy Fowler, had represented a key witness from Richins’ murder trial in the past. She also cited her attorney’s relationships with the judge and a prosecutor, as well as the attorney’s disciplinary history.
In a letter she sent to the judge, which was filed with the court on Thursday, Richins said she does not think the relationship with her attorney can be repaired. She said she needs to be able to trust and speak freely with her attorney.
The 36-year-old Kamas mom and former real estate agent, who published a children’s book about grief, was convicted of killing her husband, Eric Richins, and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole by 3rd District Judge Richard Mrazik. Now, Richins is facing 26 second- and third-degree felony charges primarily for fraud, forgery and money laundering.
The witness referred to in the letter, Carmen Lauber, helped Richins clean homes and testified in the earlier trial about obtaining illicit drugs for Richins at times that lined up with the poisoning and death of Eric Richins.
In the letter, Kouri Richins said Fowler did not tell her about her relationship with Lauber and, when asked about it, said it was not a problem. Richins said she disagrees with that.
“While Ms. Lauber may not be a witness in my fraud case, she played a central role in securing my murder conviction. I believe I was entitled to know that my court-appointed attorney had previously represented her and to receive a proper explanation of whether that relationship could affect my representation,” the letter reads.
Richins also requested a new attorney because she says Fowler “maintains close personal relationships” with Mrazik and deputy Summit County attorney Margaret Olsen, who is prosecuting the case. Richins said she finds this “deeply troubling.”
“I understand that people working in the same legal community will know one another and sometimes become friends. But given everything that has happened in my case, these relationships are not something I can simply overlook,” she said.
In the letter, Richins said she maintains her innocence. She cited that two individuals have been charged with obstruction of justice and accused of interfering with her murder prosecution, and she said the full extent of that is still not known. She said she is not accusing Mrazik, Olsen or Fowler of participation, but said it leads her to be unable to ignore these relationships.
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Finally, Richins cited that Fowler pleaded guilty to impaired driving, a class B misdemeanor, in 2024, and in 2025 was found to have violated the Utah Rules of Professional Conduct because that incident caused her to miss a hearing scheduled for one of her clients. Fowler was apparently traveling to the hearing when she got pulled over.
“I have told Ms. Fowler directly that I do not trust her and do not want her to continue representing me. Yet she continues to insist on remaining my attorney. I find that difficult to understand. Why is she so determined to represent someone who has made it clear that she no longer trusts her?” Richins asks in the letter.
Richens expressed that she understands she can’t choose her attorney, but said her concerns are more significant than personal preference or a strategy disagreement.
Richins is scheduled for a hearing in the case on Monday, where the request will likely be discussed.
She is charged with five counts of mortgage fraud, seven counts of money laundering, three counts of issuing a bad check or draft, communications fraud, and pattern of unlawful activity, all second-degree felonies; as well as five counts of forgery and four additional counts of issuing a bad check or draft, third-degree felonies.
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