Grief Author Murder Trial: Prosecution’s Closing Claims Kouri Richins Wanted to Leave Eric, Not His Money.

Summary

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Podcast Summary:

Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes Present – Grief Author Murder Trial: Prosecution’s Closing Claims Kouri (Corey) Richins Wanted to Leave Eric, Not His Money
Date: March 16, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this gripping episode, Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes dive into the prosecution’s closing arguments in the high-profile murder trial of Kouri (“Corey”) Richins, dubbed the “grief author murder trial.” The prosecution alleges Corey killed her husband, Eric Richins, with fentanyl-laced drinks to avoid leaving his wealth behind. The hosts analyze the closing statements, key evidence, and courtroom dynamics, offering real-time reactions in their trademark candid and analytical style. The episode is essential listening for true crime followers interested in legal strategy, circumstantial evidence, and the emotional impact of high-stakes trials.

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Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. The Prosecution’s Narrative and Strategy

• Theme: Corey Richins wanted a new life but intended to keep her husband’s money, not leave it.
• “She wanted to leave her husband, but she didn’t want to leave her husband’s money so she had to kill him. That is the crux of the argument…” —TJ Holmes [02:59]
• The prosecution characterized Corey as methodical, not emotional or theatrical, focusing on logic and evidence rather than drama.
• "He has been very methodical, and he has finished his closing argument… I thought he was almost professorial. He had slides, and he said, I am going to walk you through this case." —TJ Holmes [05:22]

2. Circumstantial Evidence and the Appeal to ‘Common Sense’

• The case is mostly circumstantial, lacking a “smoking gun,” but built on logical inconsistencies and Corey’s own words and actions.
• Notable quote: “I’m not a big circumstantial evidence kind of a guy. It’s hard for me to understand putting somebody in prison the rest of their lives without a smoking gun…but I get it. This guy said a couple of things in closing that made complete sense…” —TJ Holmes [04:21]
• The prosecution systematically addressed every element for conviction with detailed slides and recap of weeks of complex testimony (42 witnesses).

3. The 911 Call: A Centerpiece of the Prosecution

• Topic: Prosecutor played the 911 call and matched it to Corey’s actions, contrasting her declarations of attempting CPR with her inaction.
• The DA put a timer on the 911 call to highlight a 6-minute delay before Corey began chest compressions after prompting.
  • "It took six minutes…from the moment the 911 operator said to her, ma'am, I need you to start CPR…the first action she took that was CPR-ish, was six minutes later." —TJ Holmes [09:42]
• Hosts found Corey’s descriptions (“I can’t move it. It’s just dead weight.”) haunting and dehumanizing.
  • "That sent chills up and down my spine when I heard that." —Amy Robach [12:29]
• Both hosts underscore the powerful emotional impact this had on the jury and victim’s family, observing the victim’s father breaking down in court.

4. Key Prosecution Evidence & “Aha” Moments

• Google Searches: Corey searched “If somebody is poisoned, what does it go down on the death certificate as?”
  • “This might be the thing that put me over the top.” —TJ Holmes [15:10]
  • Amy points out use of the active verb poisoned indicates intent, not accident.
    • “To poison someone is to murder someone.” —Amy Robach [15:10]
• Requesting Drugs: She asked others for “the Michael Jackson drug,” indicating intent to procure powerful, potentially fatal substances.
• Sequence of Events: On a police form, Corey starts her recap of the night at the exact moment the poisoned drink was served.
  • “Why would her story start right there? Because for her, that’s when the event started, when he had a drink. Why does she know that? Because she’s the one that poisoned him…” —TJ Holmes [13:40]
• Unusual Conversations with Lover: After Eric’s death, Corey asked her boyfriend (a military veteran) if he’d ever killed someone and how it felt.
  • “She was working through…her own feelings about killing him. And she was trying to relate or connect or see how he got through killing someone.” —Amy Robach [16:52]

5. Courtroom Dynamics

• High Interest: The judge limited public access due to the trial’s high profile; only family, friends, and media were present.
• Family’s Emotional Reactions: Close-ups showing Eric’s father’s heartbreak, press attention heightened the emotional atmosphere.
• Objections and Mistrial Motion:
  • Defense moved for a mistrial, claiming dehumanization (use of “black widow”) and improper commentary on Corey’s facial expressions. Judge promptly denied the objection but re-instructed the jury out of caution.
  • Memorable exchange:
    • “He called her a black widow. So she said he called her a spider, judge. I mean, that almost became laughable…” —Amy Robach [24:39]
    • “The judge didn’t even give them time to get it out before he said, sit your butt down. Stay here.” —TJ Holmes [18:14]

6. Closing Quotes and Essential Lines

• The prosecutor’s simplicity and logic resonated:
  • “When people make up stories, they are inconsistent in the retelling. It’s that simple.” —prosecutor, recapped by T.J. Holmes [28:07]
• Ambitious motives were emphasized:
  • “They went into great detail about how many millions and millions of dollars she was in debt and how she was completely in over her head.” —Amy Robach [27:17]

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Timestamps: Major Segments

• [02:59] – Episode premise and summary of prosecution's argument
• [03:29–06:43] – Prosecution closing structure and approach
• [07:35–10:49] – The 911 call: emotional impact, evidence, and significance
• [12:09–13:15] – Quotes from the 911 call, “dead weight,” and what they implied
• [13:40–15:46] – Google searches, “Michael Jackson drug,” timeline inconsistencies, and evidence breakdown
• [16:16–17:36] – The post-murder conversation with boyfriend; implications on guilt
• [18:14–18:38] – Objection in court during closing argument; judge's reaction
• [23:15–26:40] – Defense motions for mistrial; courtroom humor and judge’s conduct
• [27:07–28:51] – Closing lines: “When people make up stories, they are inconsistent in the retelling.”
• [29:17–End] – Wrap-up and tease for defense closing coverage in the next episode

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• “That is the crux of the argument in the closing argument for the prosecution in the so called grief author murder trial…” —TJ Holmes [02:59]
• “He was almost professorial…” —TJ Holmes [05:22]
• “It took six minutes…from the moment the 911 operator said to her… the first action she took that was CPR-ish, was six minutes later.” —TJ Holmes [09:42]
• “I can’t move it. It’s just dead weight.” —Corey Richins (quoted) [12:09], with Amy Robach calling it “chilling” [12:29]
• “She googled a criminal act [‘poisoned’] versus an accidental overdose…” —Amy Robach [15:10]
• “When people make up stories, they are inconsistent in the retelling.” —prosecutor, via T.J. Holmes [28:07]
• Humorous courtroom moment: “He called her a black widow. So she said he called her a spider, judge. I mean, that almost became laughable in a moment.” —Amy Robach [24:39]

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Tone, Language, and Style

• Conversational, incisive, and accessible, Amy and TJ remain analytical but empathetic, balancing legal insight with emotional resonance. They frequently put themselves in the jurors’ shoes, ask “common sense” questions, and highlight the compelling or strange features of both evidence and courtroom proceedings.

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Summary Conclusion

This episode provides a detailed walkthrough of the prosecution’s closing argument against Corey Richins. The discussion centers on how circumstantial evidence, behavioral inconsistencies, digital footprints, and courtroom dynamics create a compelling narrative of guilt, despite the absence of a direct confession or “smoking gun.” Amy and TJ’s commentary, supported by powerful quotes and live analysis, offers listeners a deep understanding of both the emotional and strategic dimensions of a dramatic murder trial nearing its conclusion.

Stay tuned for the next episode, where Amy and TJ will break down the defense’s closing arguments and the prosecution’s rebuttal.

Transcript

[Amy Robach]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.

[Betrayal Podcast Narrator]

In the middle of the night, Saskia awoke in a haze. Her husband Mike was on his laptop. What was on his screen would change Saskia's life forever.

[Amy Robach]

I said, I need you to tell me exactly what you're doing. And immediately the mask came off.

[TJ Holmes]

You're supposed to be safe.

[Nancy Glass]

That's your home.

[TJ Holmes]

That's your husband.

[Betrayal Podcast Narrator]

Listen to Betrayal Season 5 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Nancy Glass]

I'm Nancy Glass, host of the Burden of Guilt season two podcast. This is a story about a horrendous lie that destroyed two families. Late one night, Bobby Gumpright became the victim of a random crime. The perpetrator was sentenced to 99 years until a confession changed everything.

[Amy Robach]

I was a monster.

[Nancy Glass]

Listen to Burden of guilt season two on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Peace to the planet Charlemagne. Tha God here.

[TJ Holmes]

And listen.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

We are back. The Black Effect Podcast festival is back in Atlanta on April 25th at Pullman Yard. Yeah, and the full lineup is nuts. We got the Grits and Age podcast, Deontay Kyle and Big Ice Cup Cat. We got Club 520 with Jeff Teague and the gang. Don't call me White girl. Mona White will be there. Keep it positive, sweetie. With Crystal Renee. We got Reality with the King with Carlos King. And yes, drink champs will be in the building.

[TJ Holmes]

Okay.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Plus, you know we're gonna have a lot of guests, so you need to join us. And we got the Black Effect Marketplace, the picture podcast, and everything you expect from the Black Effect Podcast Festival. Tickets are on sale right now. Go get [e-mail] podcast festival. Don't play yourself. Okay, pull up.

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Come check this.

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Plus TikTok's most influential creators all in one place. Search for iHeartikTok radio. Make it a preset Instagram. Stay connected all day.

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It's the new me and it's the old them. This woman's history month. The podcast, if you knew better with Amber Grimes, spotlights women who turn missteps into momentum and lessons into power.

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My, like, tunnel vision of, like, I gotta achieve this was off the strengths of like I wanna make a better life for us.

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If youf Knew Better brings real talk from women who've lived it, unpacking, career pivots, relationship lessons, and the mindset shifts that changed everything. Listen to if youf Knew Better with Amber grimes on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podc.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Hey there folks.

[TJ Holmes]

It is Monday, March 16th, and she wanted to leave her husband, but she didn't want to leave her husband's money so she had to kill him. That is the crux of the argument in the closing argument for the prosecution in the so called grief author murder trial. With that welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ Said Grief Author murder Trial. Some call it the poison husband murder trial. But at this point, I guess folks know what we're talking about.

[Amy Robach]

Roach yes, if you have been following our feed, you are, or at least I'm assuming you are up to speed on 35 year old Corey Richards, whose life is at stake, whose freedom is at stake. She is charged with aggravated murder, attempted murder, a bunch of other financial crimes because prosecutors say she poisoned. Poisoned first she tried to poison her husband and then successfully poisoned her husband with fentanyl spiking his Moscow mule. These are the closing statements from the prosecution and they paint a pretty nasty picture. You've been back and forth about a potential hung jury or one juror who might feel like the defense did a good job poking some holes in some of the defense's key witnesses. But after you heard that closing argument by the district attorney, you were singing a different tune.

[TJ Holmes]

Yeah. And then when I hear the defense closing argument, I'll be back on the other side. It's just how it goes. It's what lawyering does and that's what this is, what they're supposed to do. But I heard a couple of things from him. I'm not a big circumstantial evidence kind of a guy. It's hard for me to understand putting somebody in prison the rest of their lives without a smoking gun, if you will. But I get it. This guy said a couple of things in closing that made complete sense to where I'm like, well, duh, you think I'm stupid. Well, obviously he put a case together that you and I were, you know, given. He's not a very animated guy, Not a fiery guy.

[Amy Robach]

No. He's not a theatrical performer. We see a lot of defense attorneys, even more so than prosecutors, defense attorneys, oftentimes, especially in high profile cases like this, where there is someone's life on the line. You tend to get more animated theatrical types of attorneys that are trying to capture the jury's attention and sell their client story. That wasn't the case with this prosecutor.

[TJ Holmes]

No, this pros. So you and I were wondering, like, wow, I mean, the other side with a little more personality, are they going to, you know, out duel him in a closing argument? He has been very methodical, and he has finished his closing argument. He'll get a rebuttal at the end. Right now, as we are recording this, the defense is doing their closing argument. But robes he put together, and I thought he was almost professorial. He had slides, and he said, I am going to walk you through this case. And every single point that you need to check off when you're deciding guilt or innocence. I'm going to go through each one of those points and explain to you why. Yep, we have met our burden. And at first I thought, oh, this is going to be long and boring. But he built a compelling case.

[Amy Robach]

I thought I would agree. And the jury had a lot to process. They had 42 witnesses. That is how many witnesses the prosecution brought to the stand over these past three weeks. And so, yes, the DA did an excellent job. I thought of creating a logical outline where you could follow. And that's so helpful, I would imagine, as a juror who has processed so much. Yes, they can take some notes, but this is something where it's incredibly helpful to have the person now wrap up all that evidence you just got and bring it home. And that is what the D. A did today.

[TJ Holmes]

Like you said, appeal to logic. I like that you do. Some of the stuff just doesn't make sense. Go through a few of the things the prosecutor did talk about in closing. First of all, we should set the scene in here. Ropes. The judge did change the rule. He essentially kicked the public out. Not necessarily, but he. He was trying to make more room for family and friends of the defense and of the victim. And so it's a packed house, but it's mostly just people associated with the defense and with the victim.

[Amy Robach]

Yeah, it's members of the media. They've allowed press to be in there and the pool cameras, but short of that, there are no members of the public. There just wasn't enough room. The judge gave each side, I believe, 24 wristbands and said, knock yourselves out. You each get to bring 24 people into the courtroom other than the media. That's it. That was just the level of interest on both sides, on the victim side and on Corey Richen's side.

[TJ Holmes]

That was one point. And again, there were close ups today of family members holding hands at one point. But they showed a close up of Eric Richards dad had his head down while they were playing a 911 call about his son who was dead or dying. And the wife dragging her feet and giving him CPR and help the dad put his head down. We're going to talk about that 911 call. But that was a. That was a tough moment in the. In the courtroom.

[Amy Robach]

It was. It was pretty damning just to hear it. The coldness and it almost felt like callousness. It was as if he were transported into that room. And yes, as a person who loved Eric Richards, that had to be so difficult to listen to.

[TJ Holmes]

You know, since we're there, let's go ahead and do that. That was part of what the prosecutor did. Ropes. He played the 911 call. But the point he was trying to make, he was very effective in doing something. He was trying to make the point that this. Does this sound like a woman who is desperate to save her husband's life? So to set the scene, robes, she calls 91 1. The 911 operator is trying to get a couple answers. Is he breathing? And trying to help her help him. And the prosecutor did a very effective thing by putting Robes a clock up While playing the 911 call just to

[Amy Robach]

see how long she was dragging her feet. Where you've got the 911 operator much more concerned and urgent about her getting c. And Cory Richards is about actually starting it. And then I thought which was so effective from the 911 call to even the body cam video he would take, the DA would take what Corey Richards testified to or told police, as in, I just threw up. I was frantically saying, live, baby, live, as I was doing cpr. So what she said she did versus what she actually did, or more importantly, didn't do. And so he was able to basically disprove what she claimed happened in journal entries and what she said to other people versus what actually happened on recorded conversations and recorded video.

[TJ Holmes]

And this call, at least a 911 call that's plagued, which was a dramatic playing. It took six minutes because they started the clock from the moment the 911 operator said to her, ma', am, I need you to start cpr. The first action she took that was cpr, ish, was six minutes later. Now Robes, as if you haven't heard it, you'd be sitting here wondering, wait a minute. Your husband is not responding. He's cold. You can help him until the ambulance gets here. You would be frantic. You would think to save your spouse. Help me. Help me. What can I do? That is the position she was in. Robes. How did six minutes go by?

[Amy Robach]

She just was crying, saying how shocked she was, how she didn't understand how it happened. It was almost like she was in defense mode to the 911 operator and crying and incapable of actually doing anything helpful. And certainly not anything that was life saving. I mean, that was obvious.

[TJ Holmes]

Robes. It was. I don't even know how. Think of how long six minutes is. You're sitting here with your loved one who's not responding. How do I help? Why does it take six minutes? Ro, that 911 call was baffling. And this is where circumstantial evidence and this is where common sense comes into play. Give me a break.

[Amy Robach]

Exactly. And look, this is often what each attorney is pleading with or at least appealing to on the juror side. If you don't have the smoking gun, you're going to try to appeal to their common sen. And every juror when they're hearing this 911 call, when they're hearing what prosecutors say she didn't do and what you don't hear her say or do, you're putting yourself in that position and you're imagining it's your spouse and you're thinking, no way would I not be doing chest compressions right now. Even if I don't know exactly how to do it, I'm gonna try. I got a basic idea. I think everyone knows the beat of staying alive. I just. There are some basic things that people understand. And if you're desperate to try and save someone's life, you go into action.

[TJ Holmes]

There was. It was bizarre to hear. What did you think about the it Reference she referred to that was so bad?

[Amy Robach]

Like the body. She d. So it's. We'll get into the what? The defense said that the d. A. Was dehumanizing their client. In that moment, she dehumanized her husband.

[TJ Holmes]

The quote was, I can't move it. It's just dead weight. And that was how she was referring to her husband at the time. I can't move him. No, no, no. She said, I can't move it. And say, he's just dead weight. She said, quote, it's just dead weight. He was making a point of it. I mean, is that a. It seemed effective.

[Amy Robach]

Oh, it. It landed. It landed. Without a doubt, it landed. That sent chills up and down my spine when I Heard that.

[TJ Holmes]

A couple of points. Other points that could have landed for him. And again, he feels to your common sense here, Robes, the defense has made a big whoop Dee Doo about she didn't know it was fentanyl. She never specifically said fentanyl. That was only until the police got involved. They put fentanyl in these other people's heads and blah, blah, blah, blah. They were trying to make a point here that they do have evidence that she asked two people for, quote, the Michael Jackson drug. I thought this was a common sense. And no matter how much the fence has been in your head about this drug and this and that, what does that suggest to you, Robes, if I'm looking for the Michael Jackson drug, what do we know about that drug?

[Amy Robach]

We're looking for the drug that killed. Killed Michael Jackson. So yes. And something that would have been used to help somebody sleep or maybe somebody who's in pain or somebody who you could perhaps say wanted it because we see other people having died by ingesting it willingly. So she's thinking, aha, I got something that I know will kill my husband, but it could also look like a drug that he would have taken on his own for whatever reason.

[TJ Holmes]

Another duh moment that they pointed out. Again, common sense they're appealing to. There was a form she filled out. Police after the incident essentially gave her a standard form saying, write down what happened, everything about your evening. Right. Trying to figure out what happened to him. She started her story with at 9 o', clock. We had a drink. And I didn't think much of that necessarily during testimony. But Robes, he made a point. Why would her story start right there? Because for her, that's when the event started, when he had a drink. Why does she know that? Because she's the one that poisoned him is the point that's being made. And I. It was like an aha moment for me.

[Amy Robach]

It's one of those things when you don't realize you're actually giving yourself away without realizing your brain is going somewhere. And that speaks to his next point about her search. Because maybe she didn't even realize how she was actually pointing the finger right at herself.

[TJ Holmes]

These are implicit admissions of guilt. She is admitting guilt. The search, I never would have thought anything of it. All right, they say this was one of her searches, Internet searches. If somebody is poisoned, what does it go down on the death certificate as? Okay, I've heard about that search. He pointed something out about one word in that search that I, I swear to you, if I was on the Jury. This might be the thing that put me over the top.

[Amy Robach]

This is what you said to me. Clicked. Why use the word poison? Why wouldn't you say if somebody overdosed on unknown medication? What do you. You know? No, she used the word poisoned, as in a verb, as in a criminal act, as in murder. To poison someone is to murder someone. So she. She googled a criminal act versus an accidental overdose. Or what could someone take? What if an unknown drug was taken? What would the autopsy say? If any of those had been the searches, that would be a completely different scenario.

[TJ Holmes]

Help me with poisoned. What. How can you get around that one? Like, as a comp. Just. It's common sense and reasonable doubt.

[Amy Robach]

I can't.

[TJ Holmes]

How can you tell me that you know what you just, in the moment, wrote googled the wrong thing.

[Amy Robach]

If I knew I was the one who gave him the drink poison, I sure as hell wouldn't be thinking he was poisoned. I would think, what could have been in there that I didn't realize? What could he have accidentally overdosed on? Could he have put something in the drink? I wouldn't have used the word poison. That implies premeditation and intent to kill.

[TJ Holmes]

Another point here. We heard this Robes. I'll admit I heard them bring this up several times during testimony, but I never harped on it that much. But he brought it home today. She was. She asked her the guy she was dating, the boyfriend that she was dating outside of her husband, asked him at one point. He's a former military guy, served in Iraq. Served in Iraq. Asked him at one point if he had ever killed anyone, and then asked him how that made him feel. Okay. I heard it during the testimony, but it never really was explained. He landed the plane for me today.

[Amy Robach]

Yeah, he said she was actually. By asking him. Now, it had been, what, a couple weeks since Eric Richards had died. She was working through, according to the prosecution, her own feelings about killing him. And she was trying to relate or connect or see how he got through killing someone. She wouldn't have known. Why would she have all of a sudden asked him? They'd been together for years. They'd been friends for many, many years. She knew he served in the military. She knew he served in Iraq. Why then would she ask him that question? That made a lot of sense to me.

[TJ Holmes]

It was a matter of the word again. Killed. You would have asked, hey, how did you feel when you saw a dead body? How did it feel? Did you ever walk in and were surprised by a dead body?

[Amy Robach]

Did you see dead?

[TJ Holmes]

Yeah, that was what you ask, you don't ask. The kill again. This landed today. He made sense of it in a common sense way that I think this is reasonable doubt. Is it reasonable for me to look at that? Is it reasonable to put these things together and say, well, maybe she meant something else? It's not reasonable.

[Amy Robach]

Exactly. Yes, you can have some doubts because they don't have the smoking gun, because it is a circumstantial case, because you are relying on testimony from somebody who has proven not to be credible. So, yes, you do come down to common sense. And he landed his plane.

[TJ Holmes]

All right, but stay here. There was a moment during the closing argument, a moment you don't often see during closing arguments. Objection. And the judge didn't even give them time to get it out before he said, sit your butt down. Stay here.

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[Betrayal Podcast Narrator]

In the middle of the night, Saskia awoke in a haze. Her husband, Mike, was on his laptop. What was on his screen would change Saskia's life forever.

[Amy Robach]

I said, I need you to tell me exactly what you're doing. And immediately the mask came off.

[TJ Holmes]

You're supposed to be safe.

[Nancy Glass]

That's your home.

[TJ Holmes]

That's your husband.

[Betrayal Podcast Narrator]

To keep this secret for so many

[Amy Robach]

years, he's like a seasoned pro.

[Betrayal Podcast Narrator]

This is a story about the end of a marriage, but it's also the story of one woman who was done living in the dark.

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You're a dangerous person who preys on vulnerable and trusting people. You're a creditor. Michael Levengood.

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Listen to Betrayal, Season 5 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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I'm Nancy Glass, host of the Burden of Guilt season two podcast. This is a story about a horrendous lie that destroyed two families. Late one night, Bobby Gumprite became the victim of a random cr.

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Pulls the gun, tells me to lie

[TJ Holmes]

down on the ground.

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He identified Jermaine Hudson as the perpetrator. Jermaine was sentenced to 99 years.

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I'm like, lord, this can't be real. I thought it was a mistaken identity.

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The best lie is partial truth.

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For 22 years, only two people knew the truth. Until a confession changed everything.

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I was a monster.

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Listen to Burden of guilt Season 2 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Amy Robach]

An ambitious, well intentioned, ferocious and wealthy mother looks like in the black community

[Keep It Positive Sweetie Host]

this Women's History Month. The podcast Keep It Posit Sweetie celebrates the power of women, choosing healing, purpose and faith. Even when life gets messy, love is not a destination.

[TJ Holmes]

You have to work on it every day.

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to hear this and more. Listen to Keep it Positive sweetie on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever

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you get your podcast.

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This Woman's History Month. The podcast if you Knew Better with Amber Grimes spotlights women who turn missteps into momentum and lessons into power.

[Keep It Positive Sweetie Host]

I think coming out of where I came from, I'm from the Bronx. I think I grew up really poor. I didn't know that then because I very much use my creativity to romanticize life and I'm like, my mom did a really good job of like, you step back and you're like, whoa. We. I don't know how we made it. So a lot of my life was, like, built out of, like, survival to get to the next place. Like, my drive, my, like, tunnel vision of, like, I gotta be better, I gotta achieve this was off the strengths of, like, I wanna make a better life for us.

[Amber Grimes]

If youf Knew Better brings real talk from women who've lived it, unpacking career pivots, relationship lessons, and the mindset shifts that changed everything. Listen to if you Knew Better with Amber grimes on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

[TJ Holmes]

Continuing here on Amy and tj, closing arguments are underway as we speak in The Corey Richards poisoned husband murder trial, or the grief author murder trial as it's being called. But as we are recording this, defense closing arguments are underway. The prosecution wrapped up its closing argument a short time ago and rose something that we do often see. The defense also often takes its. Takes its shot when it gets a chance. But often when the prosecution rests its case, they'll ask for mistrial. And today, after they gave their closing argument, the prosecution, the defense got up before giving a closing, asked for another mistrial. And some of the reasons you certainly found interesting.

[Amy Robach]

Yeah, well, they jumped out at me because, look, I know it's common for the defense to try and get every opportunity they can to ask for a mistrial. And I'm always, always curious to hear the reasons why. Corey Richards attorney had two of them. One of them was that she said the defense attorney dehumanized Corey Richards. And she cited some law and I thought dehumanized her in what way? And then she said he called her a black widow. So she said he called her a spider judge. I mean, that almost became laughable in a moment. And so then the d. A had to stand up and say, I wasn't referring to the insect. That wasn't what I was referring to. I was referring to what we all know, a black widow.

[TJ Holmes]

This was ridiculous.

[Amy Robach]

A wife who kills her husband.

[TJ Holmes]

But it was.

[Amy Robach]

That was almost became a comical moment at one point. And then she also was upset again, saying that the d. A. Was referencing the facial expressions of Corey Richards. And she. She was so adamant that this was worthy of a mistrial that the judge actually took a beat and said out of. Came back and said, out of an abundance of caution, I will now instruct the jury again, you can consider your own impressions of Cory richards, but you cannot consider the prosecutor's impressions of Corey Richens facial expressions. So she did at least get an instruction to be reiterated to the jury before she began her.

[TJ Holmes]

The judge, even when he overrules, he's trying to accommodate everybody the best he can. This is as fair of. Of a referee I have seen in sports or in the judicial system. He has been fantastic.

[Amy Robach]

He's been an incredible and incredible judge. And that moment in which there was actually an objection in the middle, don't

[TJ Holmes]

get that a lot.

[Amy Robach]

I don't think I've ever seen that in the middle of a closing argument.

[TJ Holmes]

You could tell he was immediately annoyed, like, how dare you shouldn't be. This is their chance to talk. Shut up. She got up and she tried to have an objection Robes. She could not get it out fully. It was clear he did not want. He was not interested in hearing and then ruling. He said, overruled. Please have a seat in the sternest and straight of voices. Sit down and shut up.

[Amy Robach]

Yeah. It has been a contentious relationship between those two, but he has kept it so incredibly civil.

[TJ Holmes]

Only one sided. Yes. He's been as civil as anything. He has never taken any of this stuff personally. And you. And I said, wow, he's. I would have been. I would have clapped back.

[Amy Robach]

My. My feathers would have been a little ruffled a couple of times, I will say that. And he has done an incredible job. I like the way you put it of not taking anything personally.

[TJ Holmes]

This was a line we loved. As we wrap up here, Robes, the. The judge, excuse me, the prosecutor. And once again brought it home. It was a simple line about people making up stories. It was a simple line that we said, oh, yeah, ain't that true? And so when you have any question about why is Corey Ridgeon's story not lining up, or why is it different? Why has it changed? He brought it all back home and he appealed Robes to our common sense today.

[Amy Robach]

Corey Richards is very ambitious.

[TJ Holmes]

He used that line several times. I liked. I loved that. What do you think? How you think that brought home?

[Amy Robach]

I think that he is painting a picture. He called again. He called her a black widow. Said she's very ambitious. They went into great detail about how many millions and millions of dollars she was in debt and how she was completely in over her head. That she was a desperate woman, that she cared so much what other people thought about her and that she didn't want to be married, but she wanted to have the means. She wanted the life she was living. She just wanted to switch out men and take care of all of her financial problems. And the way she did that was by poisoning.

[TJ Holmes]

Eric Richards, you know, I don't remember hearing it at the beginning of the trial, them talking about her upbringing, her background. But he started out talking about her coming up with her mom and having to clean homes of more affluent folks. And they painted this picture of a little girl who grew up desperate for a life she didn't have.

[Amy Robach]

I'm gonna live in one of these

[TJ Holmes]

homes one day, man. That was like, wow. He did. He kind of. It was a story he did weave, but rogue's common sense as well. His line, when people make up stories, what was that line? Where is it in front of me? I have it here. I have it here. Because you and I both looked at it like, wow, that's. That's when people make up stories, there are. They are inconsistent in the retelling. It's that simple. When people make up stories, they are inconsistent in the retelling. We all know that when you lie, you can't keep your story straight. That's all he was saying, and that's

[Amy Robach]

why he was saying she would write down one thing, say she said another. And then when you actually look at what happened, it doesn't line up because it wasn't true.

[TJ Holmes]

So this is wrapping up again as we speak. Closing arguments are underway. The defense giving its closing. We do believe the prosecution, which does get an opportunity for a short rebuttal, will take that opportunity. So when we get the defense closing statement, we'll hop back on and let you know how they did. But as always, we appreciate you sticking with us. I'm TJ Holmes. On behalf of my dear Amy Robot, we will talk to you soon.

[Betrayal Podcast Narrator]

In the middle of the night, Saskia awoke in a haze. Her husband Mike was on his laptop. What was on his screen would change Saskia's life forever.

[Amy Robach]

I said, I need you to tell me exactly what you're doing. And immediately the mask came off.

[TJ Holmes]

You're supposed to be safe.

[Nancy Glass]

That's your home.

[TJ Holmes]

That's your husband.

[Betrayal Podcast Narrator]

Listen to Betrayal Season 5 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Nancy Glass]

I'm Nancy Glass, host of the Burden of Guilt season two podcast. This is a story about a horrendous lie that destroyed two families. Late one night, Bobby Gumpright became the victim of a random crime. The perpetrator was sentenced to 99 years until a confession changed everything.

[Amy Robach]

I was a monster.

[Nancy Glass]

Listen to Burden of guilt Season 2 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Peace to the planet Charlemagne Tha God here.

[TJ Holmes]

And listen.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

We are back. The Black Effect Podcast festival is back in Atlanta on April 25th at Pullman Yard. Yeah, and the full lineup is nuts. We got the Grits and Age podcast, Deontay Kyle and Big Ice Cup Cat. We got Club 520 with Jeff Teague and the gang. Don't call me White Girl. Mona will be there. Keep it positive, sweetie. With Crystal Renee. We got reality with the King with Carlos King. And yes, drink champs will be in the building. Plus, you know we gonna have a lot of guests, so you need to join us. And we got the Black Effect Marketplace, the picture podcast and everything you expect from the Black Effect Podcast Festival. Tickets are on sale right now. Go get [e-mail] podcast festival. Don't play yourself. Okay, pull up.

[iHeart TikTok Radio Host]

Come check this iheart and TikTok have come together to create something new.

[Amy Robach]

I love it.

[iHeart TikTok Radio Host]

Where the world of TikTok meets your playlist.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Three words that will change your life.

[iHeart TikTok Radio Host]

IHeart TikTok Radio the biggest hits across iHeartRadio. What's trending for you on TikTok?

[Betrayal Podcast Narrator]

Only a sound that's better than this.

[iHeart TikTok Radio Host]

IHeart, TikTok Radio plus TikTok's most influential creators all in one place. Search for iHeartikTok Radio, make it a preset and stay connected all day.

[Amber Grimes]

It's the new me and it's the old them. This woman's History Month the podcast if youf Knew Better with Amber Grimes spotlights women who turn missteps into momentum and lessons into power.

[Keep It Positive Sweetie Host]

My, like, tunnel vision of like, I gotta achieve this was off the strengths of like, I want to make a better life for us.

[Amber Grimes]

If you knew Better brings real talk from women who've lived it, unpacking career pivots, relationship lessons, and the mindset shifts that changed everything. Listen to if you knew Better with Amber grimes on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Amy Robach]

This is an I heart podcast. Guaranteed human.