Episode Details

Why murder instead of divorce? That's the question the Kouri Richins case forces us to confront.

Prosecutors allege Kouri Richins poisoned her husband Eric with fentanyl, that she made multiple attempts before the one that killed him, and that she stood to gain nearly two million dollars in life insurance while carrying on an affair. But financial motive doesn't explain the psychology. Plenty of people want out of marriages with money at stake. What makes someone decide killing is the answer?

Psychotherapist Shavaun Scott examines the internal logic of partners who allegedly choose murder over leaving. With over three decades working with both victims and perpetrators of violence, Scott breaks down what makes this choice feel rational to the person making it.

We analyze the language prosecutors allege Kouri used—feeling "stuck" and "trapped," believing it would be "better if Eric died." We examine what that framing reveals about how someone in this mindset perceives their options and their spouse.

We look at the method. Poisoning requires sustained deception, repeated attempts, watching suffering without intervening. It's not impulsive—it's calculated. Forensic experts call this "proactive staging" where the murder method becomes the alibi. What type of personality chooses this approach?

And we examine the alleged performance that followed. Writing a children's book about grief. Appearing on television as a mourning mother. Performing widowhood publicly while allegedly knowing the truth. How does someone compartmentalize at that level?

Part 1 of a two-part series on the psychology of partner homicide. Part 2 shifts perspective to the victim's experience.

Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/

Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/

Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod

X Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePod

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.

#KouriRichins #EricRichins #KouriRichinsTrial #FentanylPoisoning #PartnerMurder #ShavaunScott #HiddenKillers #CriminalPsychology #SpouseKiller #TrueCrime