@meghannmcuniff: Kouri Richins’ defense in her murder trial in Utah is that her husband was a secret drug user whose fentanyl overdose was self inflicted and his family pressured police to focus on her. One problem is Richins’ housekeeper, Carmen Lauber, who testified about obtaining pills for Richins that prosecutors say contain the fentanyl that killed Eric Richins. To try to discredit Lauber, Richins’ lawyers have focused on how detectives pressured her during recorded interviews played for the jury. To counter that, Prosecutor Brad Bloodworth questioned Detective Jeff O’Driscoll about he and Detective Eric Mainard of the Summit County Sheriff’s Office telling Lauber their goal was to convict Richins of aggravated murder, and that Lauber could get a “get out of jail free card” for assisting. Defense attorneys highlight that O’Driscoll said “you needed details to ensure that Kouri Richins will get … convicted of murder, and shortly thereafter, Carmen Lauber asked for blueprints. What was the context of that discussion?” Bloodworth asked on Wednesday (March 11, day 12). “So, as I said before, when we were discussing with Carmen, it was very slow moving at first, and we were trying to emphasize to her the level of detail that we needed to be able to offer her something from the prosecution's office for her cooperation,” O’Driscoll answered. “And part of that emphasis was trying to describe to her the level of detail that would be needed in a courtroom.” “And it was probably poor choice of words in hindsight, but that was what we were stressing, is the type of information that is acceptable to be used in a court,” the detective continued. “Defense counsel also picked the words, ‘get out of jail free card’ that Detective Mainard uttered. What was the context of ‘get out of jail free card’?” Bloodworth asked. “So the comment that Detective Mainard made was coupling her referencing whatever prosecution would offer her in exchange for her testimony, coupled with the fact that there was now a family that didn't have a brother that didn't have a son, and the importance of the investigation into Eric's death, as opposed to any subsequent drug investigations that Ms. Lauber was involved in,” O’Driscoll answered. “Defense counsel also picked the words from Carmen Lauber, ‘Can you guys write it down and I will sign it?’ What was that context?” Bloodworth asked. “We were trying to get Carmen to complete a written statement to go along with the scattered information that we had been receiving through our interview process, so that we could establish a more chronology, chronological timeline. And she was expressing concerns about not wanting to be writing things down in front of other inmates in the cell block, so she wanted us to write it down instead,” O’Driscoll answered. “And what did you say?” Bloodworth asked. “We said, ‘No, that's not the way it works,’” O’Driscoll answered. Jurors have heard all testimony after Richins declined to testify on Thursday. Attorneys and Judge Richard Mrazik are to meet at 1 p.m. MST today to finalize jury instructions. Jurors are to report to the Silver Summit Justice near Park City on Monday at 8:30 a.m. for closing arguments. #law #crime #police #lawyer

Meghann Cuniff

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Friday 13 March 2026 18:05:24 GMT