The Kouri Richins Trial: Week 1 Courtroom Recap

Kouri Richins Found Guilty, Savanah Soto Trial Begins & Other Courtroom Updates

This week on The Crime Docket, we’re breaking down the biggest courtroom developments in true crime from March 16–20, 2026. A Utah jury reaches a verdict in the highly publicized Kouri Richins murder trial, the case involving a mother who wrote a children’s book about grief after allegedly poisoning her husband with fentanyl. Meanwhile in Texas, a capital murder trial begins in the killings of Savanah Soto, her unborn child, and Matthew Guerra, a case that shocked San Antonio when the victims were found shot inside a vehicle in 2023. We’ll also cover a major appellate ruling in the Mackenzie Shirilla crash case, where a court has denied her request for a new trial, along with new developments in other criminal cases making headlines this week. Plus, smaller but important courtroom updates in the Natalie McNally murder trial and the ongoing competency proceedings tied to the Anaconda bar shooting case in Montana. If you want to stay up to date on the latest true crime trials, verdicts, and court proceedings, this weekly roundup brings you the most important developments happening inside courtrooms across the country. Cases Covered This Episode: * Kouri Richins murder verdict * Capital murder trial in the Savanah Soto case * Mackenzie Shirilla appeal denied * Natalie McNally murder trial update * Montana Anaconda bar shooting court proceedings The Crime Docket is a weekly true crime courtroom recap hosted by Courtney Fretwell, creator of the Forensic Tales & Find My Killer podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

The Kouri Richins Trial: Week 3 Recap & Both Sides Rest

Week 3 Recap: Investigators, the “Walk the Dog” Letter, and the Defense Rests Without Calling a Single Witness In this episode of The Crime Docket, we break down the major developments from Week 3 of the Kouri Richins murder trial. Jurors heard testimony from investigators and a private investigator who analyzed digital evidence connected to the case. The courtroom also focused heavily on the controversial “Walk the Dog” letter, which prosecutors say shows an attempt to influence testimony. Detectives walked jurors through text messages, phone records, surveillance of Carmen Lauber, and handwritten notes allegedly written by Richins after Eric Richins’ death. By the end of the week, the prosecution rested its case. Then, in a surprising move, the defense rested without calling a single witness, and Kouri Richins chose not to testify. Now the trial heads into its final stage. Closing arguments begin Monday, and the jury will soon begin deliberating. In this episode, we break down the key testimony, evidence presented in court, and what could happen next in one of Utah’s most closely watched murder trials. Follow The Crime Docket for continuing updates and full trial coverage. The Crime Docket is a Rockefeller Audio production. The show is written & produced by Courtney Fretwell, the host and creator of the Forensic Tales podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

The Kouri Richins Trial: Week 2 Testimony and Evidence

The Kouri Richins trial continued in Utah as jurors heard a second week of testimony in the murder case against the children's book author accused of poisoning her husband with fentanyl. During Week 2 of the trial, jurors heard from investigators, forensic experts, a financial analyst, and Kouri Richins’ boyfriend, Josh Grossman. Testimony focused on the prosecution’s theory of motive, including Richins’ financial troubles, her relationship outside the marriage, and digital evidence recovered from her phone. In this episode of The Crime Docket, we break down the key testimony and courtroom moments from the second week of the Kouri Richins murder trial. If you’re new to the case, listen to the previous episodes for a full timeline of the investigation and the Week 1 trial recap. Kouri Richins trial | Eric Richins death | Utah murder trial The Crime Docket is a Rockefeller Audio production. The show is written & produced by Courtney Fretwell, the host of the weekly podcast, Forensic Tales. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

The Kouri Richins Trial: Week 1 Courtroom Recap

The Kouri Richins trial began last week in Utah, as prosecutors and defense attorneys delivered opening statements and the jury began hearing testimony in the murder case against the children's book author accused of poisoning her husband. During the first week of trial, jurors saw bodycam footage from the morning Eric Richins was found dead, heard emotional testimony from members of his family, and listened to investigators and forensic experts describe the evidence surrounding his death. In this episode of The Crime Docket, we break down the key testimony, forensic findings, and courtroom moments from Week 1 of the Kouri Richins murder trial. If you’re new to the case, be sure to listen to the previous episode for a full overview of the investigation that led to these charges. The Crime Docket is a Rockefeller Audio production. The show is written & hosted by Courtney, the host of the Forensic Tales podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

The Kouri Richins Case: Husband’s Death, Fentanyl, and a Children’s Book

In this first episode of The Crime Docket, we break down the case that led to the murder trial of Kouri Richins - a Utah mother and children’s book author accused of poisoning her husband with a fatal dose of fentanyl. What began as the sudden death of Eric Richins in March of 2022 would eventually lead investigators down a path involving alleged drug purchases, financial disputes, life insurance policies, and a series of events prosecutors say point to a calculated plan. In this episode, we walk through the timeline of the case from the couple’s marriage and growing financial tensions to the night Eric Richins died and the investigation that followed. We also look at the unusual twist that brought national attention to the case: the publication of a children’s book about grief written by Kouri Richins just months after her husband’s death. Next episode: We’ll examine what has happened inside the courtroom during the first weeks of the Kouri Richins trial. 🎧 Hosted by Courtney Fretwell, creator of the Forensic Tales podcast. The Crime Docket is a Rockefeller Audio production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]