UT v. Kouri Richins - Trial Day 8 - Insurance, Estates and the Paramour testifies!
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖New York Life confirmed multiple beneficiary changes on a business life insurance policy, shifting between Eric and Kouri on the same day in January 2022, all from Eric's login and IP address, but with Kouri's email associated with the account.
- ❖True Stage insurance revealed Kouri applied for a new $100,000 life insurance policy on Eric in February 2022, just weeks before his death, with a transposed Social Security number and billing sent to Kouri's PO Box.
- ❖Kouri received a $250,000 payout from one True Stage policy but was denied a $50,000 accidental death rider due to fentanyl being the cause of death and not being prescribed.
- ❖Eric Richins consulted a divorce attorney in October 2020, but did not proceed, instead updating his estate plan to protect his assets for his children, a move his estate attorney described as highly unusual for a married man.
- ❖Eric's updated trust appointed his sister, Katie Richens Benson, as trustee and significantly limited Kouri's access to assets, including the marital home, which was transferred to the trust.
- ❖On the day Eric died, Kouri was "livid" when informed by Eric's estate attorney (at the request of a sheriff's deputy) that the marital home belonged to the trust, not her.
- ❖Kouri's paramour, Robert Josh Grossman, testified about their romantic relationship, which began before Eric's death, and Kouri's financial support for him, including a truck and lump sum payments.
- ❖Text messages between Kouri and Grossman revealed her desire for a future with him, including a "dream" of buying the "Midway Mansion" and running an event center together after Eric was "gone."
- ❖Kouri texted Grossman asking if he had ever "killed anybody" while serving in Iraq, and how it made him feel, a conversation Grossman re-evaluated after Kouri's arrest.
- ❖Grossman's phone, which contained the incriminating texts, was recovered in a damaged state (debris and water inside) but was successfully repaired for data extraction.
Insights
1Suspicious Life Insurance Activity and Payouts
Testimony from New York Life and True Stage insurance companies detailed several life insurance policies related to Eric Richins. A business policy saw multiple beneficiary changes between Eric and Kouri on January 2, 2022, all initiated from Eric's login but linked to Kouri's email. Kouri also applied for a new $100,000 policy on Eric in February 2022, with a transposed SSN, and received a $250,000 payout from another policy after Eric's death, but was denied an accidental death rider due to fentanyl being the cause of death.
New York Life representative Lashonda Rogers detailed beneficiary changes (, ). True Stage claims manager Ann Coats confirmed the $100,000 policy application with transposed SSN () and the $250,000 payout, but denial of the $50,000 accidental death rider (, ).
2Eric Richins' Protective Estate Planning
Eric Richins consulted a divorce attorney in October 2020, then immediately updated his estate plan with attorney Crystal Bowman Carter. This new plan established a trust, naming his sister, Katie Richens Benson, as trustee and significantly limiting Kouri's inheritance, directing most assets to his children. This arrangement was described as highly unusual for a married individual.
Divorce attorney Christina Miller testified about Eric's consultation and subsequent referral to an estate planner (). Estate attorney Crystal Bowman Carter detailed drafting Eric's trust in October 2020, appointing Katie as trustee, and carving out Kouri's augmented share (, , ).
3Kouri's "Livid" Reaction to Estate Plan Details
On the day Eric Richins died, March 4, 2022, Kouri was informed by Eric's estate attorney, at the request of a sheriff's deputy, that the marital home was held in Eric's trust and not directly owned by her. Kouri reacted with extreme anger, described as "livid," suggesting she was unaware of this aspect of Eric's estate planning.
Crystal Bowman Carter testified about receiving a call from a sheriff's deputy on March 4, 2022, asking her to explain the estate plan to Kouri. Carter stated Kouri was "livid" and said, "What is wrong with you people?" upon learning the house belonged to the trust (, ).
4Paramour's Testimony and Incriminating Texts
Robert Josh Grossman, Kouri's paramour, testified about their romantic relationship, which began before Eric's death. Recovered text messages from his phone revealed Kouri's financial support for him, her desire for a future with him (including a "dream" of buying the "Midway Mansion" and running an event center together after Eric was "gone"), and a chilling question about whether Grossman had ever "killed anybody" in Iraq. Grossman's emotional distress on the stand was notable.
Grossman described their relationship and financial arrangements (, , ). Text messages from December 2021 showed Kouri expressing a desire for Eric to "go away" () and her "love triangle" with Eric (). Texts from February 2022 detailed her "dream" of a future with Grossman (). Texts from March 2, 2022, included Kouri asking Grossman to "hang in there until then, please" (), with Eric dying overnight March 3rd-4th. Grossman testified Kouri asked him if he had "ever killed anybody" while serving in Iraq ().
Lessons
- Review and update estate plans regularly, especially during significant life changes like marriage or business partnerships, to ensure assets are distributed according to current wishes and to avoid potential disputes.
- Maintain clear and separate financial records for personal and business assets, particularly in partnerships, and ensure all parties understand the implications of prenuptial and buy-sell agreements.
- Be aware of the digital footprint left by electronic communications; text messages and emails can become evidence in legal proceedings and may be interpreted in ways unintended by the sender.
Quotes
"If they don't have to pay, they're not going to pay. They are going to look into everything. Insurance is going to find out."
"It's draining to love you and pretend to be an idiot. I don't want to avoid things with people I love, thoughts or problems. I want to communicate until we get to know each other better and solve stuff together. Not by myself, for each other. Like and love you today. I live too much through this phone though. I'm tired, babe."
"I'm telling you, I'm in love with a man that's not my husband."
"If he could just go away and you could just be here, life would be so perfect. I love you."
"Give me a few days. Hang in there until then, please."
Q&A
Recent Questions
Related Episodes
UT v. Kouri Richins - Trial Day 15 - Closing Arguments. How many objections??
"The Kouri Richins trial concludes with starkly contrasting closing arguments from the prosecution and defense, followed by a mistrial motion and jury deliberations."
UT v. Kouri Richins - Trial Day 14 - Jury Instruction Conference - Not done fighting yet it seems.
"This episode provides a deep dive into the critical, often overlooked, process of jury instruction conferences, revealing intricate legal arguments and strategic maneuvers that shape a trial's outcome, including the defense's last-minute attempt to introduce a spoilation instruction."
kouri richins gets dragged through 5000 miles of evidence
"Kouri Richins, who wrote a children's book on grief after her husband's death, was found guilty of his aggravated murder, attempted murder, insurance fraud, and forgery, with digital evidence and financial motives central to the prosecution's case."
LIVE | UT v. Kouri Richins - A Juror Speaks about the Case. Potential Sentence. Bail Hearing Review
"A juror from the Kouri Richins murder trial reveals the jury's unanimous decision and emotional struggle, while a re-evaluation of Richins' bail hearing and financial motives provides new context for her actions and sentencing possibilities."