Kouri Richins: Psychologist Explains Why She Allegedly Chose Murder Over Divorce

Divorce was always an option. Separation was legal. Walking away cost nothing but pride. So why did Kouri Richins allegedly decide that poisoning her husband Eric with fentanyl was the better path?

That's the question this episode confronts head-on. Prosecutors allege Kouri made multiple attempts to poison Eric before the one that killed him. She allegedly stood to collect nearly two million in life insurance. She was allegedly having an affair. But those facts—damning as they are—don't fully explain the psychology of someone who chooses murder over leaving.

Psychotherapist Shavaun Scott provides expert analysis on the internal logic of partners who allegedly decide to kill. With over thirty years working with violent offenders, Scott breaks down what makes this choice feel rational to the person making it.

We analyze the language Kouri allegedly used—describing herself as "stuck" and "trapped," expressing that it would be "better if Eric died." What does that framing reveal about how she perceived her marriage, her options, and her husband's value?

We examine the method. Poisoning isn't rage or impulse—it's sustained calculation. It requires planning, patience, and the ability to watch suffering unfold without stopping it. Multiple alleged attempts means multiple deliberate decisions to continue.

And we look at the performance that allegedly followed: the children's book about grief, the television appearances as a mourning mother, the public role of grieving widow. How does someone perform sorrow for a death they allegedly caused?

Part 1 of a two-part series. Part 2 examines Eric's perspective—what it's like to suspect the person you love might be trying to kill you.

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This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.

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