Kouri Richins Speaks From Jail: 'This Means War'

The Utah mom who wrote a children's book about dealing with the grief of losing loved ones, only to then be arrested for allegedly killing her husband by spiking his drink with fentanyl, has issued her first set of public comments on the case. Kouri Richins recorded her thoughts from jail, where she is being held without bail ahead of trial in the March 4, 2022, death of Eric Richins. They were obtained exclusively by Dateline, reports NBC News, which has this excerpt:

• "I've been silent for a year, locked away from my kids, my family, my life, living with the media telling the world who they think I am, what they think I've done or how they think I've lived. And it's time to start speaking up.
  You took an innocent mom away from her babies. And this means war."

Richins also addresses a big development: Her private attorneys have withdrawn from the case. In their Friday request to do so, they referenced an "irreconcilable and nonwaivable situation" without elaboration. Their request was granted Monday. The AP notes progress in the case could slow as a result; no new representation for Richins has been named. Richins weighed in, saying:

• "My defense team has been forced to withdraw from my case. Represented or not, we all know and should understand there's only so much I can say. But what I will say is this withdrawal was not my choice. And it was not a personal choice of any counsel on my defense team. ... Although I am extremely disappointed where we're at right now with this case, I'm anxious. I'm anxious to prove my innocence. I'm anxious to get to trial."

(More Kouri Richins stories.)