Overview of Talking Dateline: Book of Lies
In this episode of Talking Dateline, Blaine Alexander speaks with Andrea Canning about Dateline’s Book of Lies, the case of Kouri Richins and the death of her husband, Eric Richins. The discussion centers on how Eric’s sudden death in the middle of the night unraveled into a murder investigation, how Kouri later published a children’s book about grief, and how that public appearance became a major part of the story. The episode also explores key witness interviews, the role of a private investigator, and the emotional impact on Eric’s family and the couple’s children.
Case Summary
What happened to Eric Richins
- Kouri called 911 after finding Eric cold to the touch in bed.
- First responders attempted CPR, but Eric, only 39, died suddenly.
- Prosecutors later alleged that Kouri poisoned him with fentanyl, including lethal quantities found in his system.
- The state’s theory was that she poisoned drinks the couple had while celebrating a business deal.
The book and public appearance
- After Eric’s death, Kouri wrote a children’s book about grief.
- She appeared on a local Utah lifestyle show to talk about the book and her loss.
- That appearance later drew intense scrutiny after an anonymous tip suggested she may have killed her husband.
- Andrea notes that the book’s publication added a disturbing layer to the case because it portrayed Kouri as a grieving widow while prosecutors alleged she had caused the death.
Key Themes and Takeaways
A murder case hidden in plain sight
- One of the most striking elements is that the case surfaced through a local lifestyle TV segment normally associated with lighter content.
- The interviewee on the show had no idea she was speaking with someone who would later be accused of murder.
- Andrea and Blaine discuss how surreal it was that a case like this emerged from a segment about grief, parenting, and a children’s book.
The towns, homes, and everyday people involved
- The episode spends time in the community around Park City, Utah, including:
- Gabe’s diner, which gave the story a sense of place and local texture.
- The home Kouri had flipped and later sold, which became part of the investigation.
- The story also includes people who unknowingly crossed paths with the couple:
- a local TV co-host,
- the diner owner,
- a Home Depot worker who helped introduce Eric and Kouri,
- and the new homeowner of the flipped house.
Tension within the family
- Andrea says the relationship between Kouri and Eric’s family became openly strained after Eric’s death.
- One especially notable detail: Eric had quietly changed his will before dying.
- The discussion also highlights the reported prenup signed just before the wedding, which Andrea and Blaine both describe as a major red flag.
Private Investigator Angle
Why the family hired an investigator
- Eric’s family brought in private investigator Todd Gabler.
- He was initially involved because of estate and financial concerns, but he also began investigating whether Eric’s death had been a homicide.
- He worked with a forensic accountant and shared findings with law enforcement.
His approach
- Gabler describes himself as a professional investigator, not someone trying to confirm a theory.
- His point was that he was there to find the truth, even if it didn’t match what the family hoped to hear.
- Andrea emphasizes that this approach is a hallmark of a credible investigator.
The Josh Grossman clip
- The episode includes extra audio about Josh Grossman, Kouri’s secret lover.
- Gabler says he revealed to Grossman that Kouri was under investigation, and Grossman’s response was telling:
- he had apparently prepared a “wallet will” naming Kouri as responsible if anything happened to him.
- The exchange became another important piece of evidence in understanding the web of relationships around the case.
Trial and Jury Reaction
Josh Grossman’s testimony
- Blaine and Andrea discuss Grossman’s odd courtroom moment when he asked what “the whole truth” meant after being sworn in.
- The exchange immediately affected how credible he seemed to the jury.
- Andrea says jurors later told Dateline they felt sympathy for him, noting how difficult it must have been to testify in such a high-profile case.
The jury’s dilemma
- The jurors reportedly found the evidence convincing, but they also struggled with the emotional reality of taking a mother away from her children.
- Andrea notes that the loss is devastating for the boys, who went from a stable family life to the chaos of emergency responders, searches, and an arrest.
Social Media Questions and Viewer Notes
The book
- Viewers asked who published Kouri’s book; Andrea explains it was self-published and written with the help of a ghostwriter.
- She also mentions testimony suggesting Kouri saw the book as a “test run” before writing something bigger.
Communication while jailed
- Another question focused on how Kouri could allegedly spend so much time on the phone with a friend named Greg.
- Andrea explains that local jail communication rules can differ from prison, and that Kouri also had access to a tablet-style device for messages and email.
Sentencing and future coverage
- The sentencing date mentioned in the episode is May 13, which is Eric Richins’ birthday.
- Andrea says she could imagine the case becoming a Lifetime-style movie because of its many twists and turns.
Bottom Line
Book of Lies is presented as a deeply unsettling case about deception, grief, family tension, and financial conflict, with the added shock of a supposed mourning widow publicly discussing a children’s book while prosecutors were building a murder case. The episode stands out for its mix of investigative detail, small-town atmosphere, and the bizarre public-facing elements that helped make the story infamous.