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Crime Stories with Nancy Grace
KOURI RICHINS' CHILDREN ADDRESS MOM | Crime Alert Recap Saturday 05.16.26
00:20:37
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- [00:01]
News Anchor
Crime Alert Hourly Update Breaking crime news now.
- [00:04]
Sydney Silvani
I'm Sydney Silvani. The search for justice in a case that captivated the nation has reached a definitive conclusion in a Utah courtroom. Corey Richards, the children's book author who rose to infamy for allegedly writing about grief while masking her own role in creating it, has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The sentencing, handed down Wednesday by Judge Richard Mrozik marks the final chapter in a saga defined by what prosecutors called a lethal cocktail of greed and deception. Richards was convicted of murdering her husband, Eric Richards, by spiking his drink with a fatal dose of fentanyl, five times the lethal limit. In a courtroom thick with tension, Judge Mrozic was blunt about the necessity of the sentence, stating that Richins is simply too dangerous to ever be free. He noted that even under a lesser sentence, she wouldn't have seen a parole board until her mid-60s. But the severity of her actions and the terror she instilled in her own children demanded the maximum penalty. The most heartbreaking testimony came not from investigators but from the couple's three sons. In statements read to the court, her boys expressed a profound fear of their mother, even asking the judge to keep her behind bars for life.
- [01:16]
Corey Richards' Son
You took away my dad for no reason other than greed, and you only cared about yourself and your stupid boyfriends. Now my dad can't be my coach anymore, can't be at any of my games. He won't be at my birthdays.
- [01:29]
Courtroom Participant
He.
- [01:30]
Corey Richards' Son
He can't teach me how to drive. He won't be at my graduation, and he can't take me camping or fishing. You made me paranoid about sleeping on my dad's side of the bed by saying I might die or get harmed when I was just trying to be close to my dad. After you killed him, you took away everything from me and my brothers. I don't want you out of jail because I will not feel safe if you are out.
- [01:52]
Sydney Silvani
The defense attempted to paint a different picture, presenting letters of leniency and highlighting Richen's participation in jail programs. When it was her turn to speak, Corey Richens turned her attention to her sons, maintaining her innocence in a statement that investigators might call one last manipulation. My sweet baby boys, I know that
- [02:12]
Corey Richards' Son
today you don't want to speak to
- [02:13]
Sydney Silvani
me, have a relationship with me, or you may think you hate me, and that's okay. I will never be angry at you for your feelings, but I need you boys to know that I have been desperately trying to get in contact with you any way that I can for years. I did not abandon you. I did not just walk out of your lives one day to never return, to never call, to never show up. Regardless of what anyone tells you. I would never ever leave you boys. She went further claiming the idea that she murdered their father was an absolute lie and absurd. However, the evidence presented at trial told a story of a woman drowning in $7.5 million of debt who closed on a $2.9 million mans day. Her husband died and immediately began spending insurance proceeds. Eric's sister, Katie Richins Benson, stood before the court on what would have been Eric's 44th birthday to remind everyone who the real victim was. Corey used the boys as bargaining chips with my dad. She repeatedly threatened not to let him see his grandsons unless he could convince me as Eric's trustee to capitulate to her legal demands and give her all the trust assets. Richens legal team has already signaled their intent to appeal, with her brother issuing a statement to Fox News claiming the system has lost its way. For now. Corey Richards remains behind bars, a mother whose story of grief has been permanently rewritten as a story of cold blooded murder. More crime and justice news after this.
- [03:47]
Sponsor/Advertiser
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- [04:52]
Sydney Silvani
In a stunning unanimous ruling issued this Wednesday, the South Carolina Supreme Court has officially overturned the murder convictions and life sentence of Alex Murdaugh, the 57 year old former scion of a Legal Dynasty was found guilty in early 2023 for the brutal 2021 shooting deaths of his wife Maggie and son Paul at their Moselle estate. However, the state's highest court determined the integrity of that trial was compromised. The reversal doesn't stem from a lack of evidence or a procedural error, but from the conduct of the very person sworn to oversee the administration of the courtroom, Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill. According to the ruling, Hill improperly influenced the jury by suggesting Murdaugh was guilty and that his testimony could not be trusted. But Alex Murdaugh isn't going anywhere. Despite this legal victory, the reality for Murdaugh remains one of long term incarceration. He is a disgraced figure, a self admitted thief and liar who is currently serving substantial time for a staggering array of financial crimes. Murdaugh admitted to schemes in which he stole roughly $12 million from his own law firm and clients, many of whom were in desperate, vulnerable situations. He is currently serving both federal and state sentences for those admissions.
- [06:07]
News Anchor
Alec Murdaugh is currently serving a 27 year sentence for the financial crimes that he has admitted to. He received a concurrent 40 year sentence in addition to the state's charges. So Alec Murdaugh will not be getting out of prison for several decades.
- [06:22]
Sydney Silvani
However, Murdaugh's now vacated murder charges remain the focal point of the nation's attention because the stakes are so high, the prosecution is not backing down. While the state has a brief window to appeal, the Attorney General's office is already signaling its intent to move forward with a new trial. They are aiming for a speedy retrial, likely before the end of the year. Allen Wilson made it clear that while he respects the High Court's decision, he believes the pursuit of justice for Maggie and Paul Murdaugh requires a return to the courtroom.
- [06:52]
News Anchor
The state has 15 days to ask the State Supreme Court to reconsider its decision and we have 90 days to appeal to the US Supreme Court. However, it is currently my intention to seek a speedy retrial in the case against Alec Murdoch.
- [07:07]
Sydney Silvani
Murdaugh's defense team, led by Dick Harpoutlian and Jim Griffin, is viewing this ruling as a massive validation. They have maintained from day one that while their client is a thief, liar and insurance cheat, he is not a murderer. They argue that he has been consistent in his denial of killing his family since the moment he called 911 in 20. In their joint statement, the defense team noted they look forward to a new trial.
- [07:40]
News Anchor
Crime Alert Hourly Update Breaking Crime News now.
- [07:43]
Sydney Silvani
I'm Sydney Silvani this morning marks exactly 100 days since Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her Catalina foothills home. As the milestone passes without an arrest, the man commanding the investigation, Sheriff Chris Nanos, faces a Tuesday deadline to resign or face a forced removal from office. The push to oust the sheriff is not coming from the public, but from within the county government itself. At least two members of the Pima County Board of Supervisors are prepared to file a motion to vacate the sheriff's office if Nanos does not step down by tomorrow. The allegations against him are severe perjury. The supervisors allege that Sheriff Nanos lied under oath during a deposition for a lawsuit unrelated to the Guthrie case. Specifically, they point to his denial of ever being suspended during his early career as a police officer in El Paso, Texas prior to joining Pima county in the 1980s. However, internal records from the El Paso Police Department tell a different story. Those documents detail multiple suspensions for infractions that include unnecessary violence and chronic tardiness. Dr. Matt Hines, a member of the Board of Supervisors, says the disciplinary board at the time was clear about Nanos performance. In a statement regarding those decades old records, Hines noted that the board's decision was unanimous, stating simply that Nanos cannot be a cop anymore and is not upholding the necessary standards of the badge. Hines further argues that the sheriff has lost the confidence of the Pima county community and has become an embarrassment to the department. Attorneys for Sheriff Nanos have responded to the allegations in writing. They claim the sheriff did not intentionally mislead anyone, but rather misunderstood the line of questioning. They argue the questions pertain to discipline in an out of state agency not governed by the Arizona Peace Officers Bill of Rights. According to his legal team, Nanos identified the discrepancy in the transcript shortly after the deposition and notified his counsel immediately. While Supervisor Hines insists that the Guthrie investigation has not factored into the move to remove Nanos, the sheriff is simultaneously under fire for his handling of that very case. High level criticism arrived late last week from FBI Director Kash Patel. In a podcast interview with Sean Hannity, Patel alleged that the Pima County Sheriff's Department effectively blocked federal agents from the investigation during the most critical window of the abduction.
- [10:10]
Judge or Legal Official
What we the FBI do is say, hey, we're here to help. What do you need? What can we do? And for four days we were kept out of the investigation.
- [10:16]
Sydney Silvani
The Sheriff's department has issued a formal rebuttal on social media, asserting that an FBI task force member was present on the scene the night Guthrie was reported missing. They also highlighted a joint Press conference held just 48 hours later. Investigators believe Guthrie was abducted from her residence at approximately 2:30am on February February 1st. Deputies arrived nearly 10 hours later after her daughter and son in law discovered her missing and called 91 1. Dispatchers immediately communicated the gravity of the situation.
- [10:47]
Courtroom Participant
The summary of faith alert from Skyline and Campbell in Tucson occurred Yesterday's date around 12:15 hours. Nancy Guthrie Date of birth 1274284 years of age White Female 54 Over 150 Brown Upper Blue lasting wearing unknown clothing. Sever was not seen at church so family went to the residence and Sever was not at home. Personal belongings including the 1021 wallet and vehicle was still there and she was nowhere to be found. Cedric has her limited mobility and has a medication scheduled to follow that she needs daily. It's located Check welfare and contact PCs.
- [11:19]
Sydney Silvani
In the weeks following that call, federal investigators obtained nest doorbell footage via Google. That footage remains the most significant piece of visual evidence. It shows a masked man of average build armed with a holstered pistol standing on Guthrie's front steps during the time frame of the abduction. Notably, a man in similar attire was observed approaching the same door three weeks prior. On Friday, Sheriff Nano spoke briefly with Fox News Digital.
- [11:45]
Sponsor/Advertiser
It's 100 days now almost, sir.
- [11:47]
Sydney Silvani
Are you guys any closer to solving? Good. That's good to hear. Thank you sir. You have a great weekend. Thank you. Nano's characterized the latest developments as really great. Before departing in his white Corvette. One of those developments involves a hair sample discovered at the scene. A private forensic lab in Florida has transferred the sample to the FBI for advanced analysis. Forensic experts suggest that this hair could be the key to utilizing forensic genetic genealogy, the same technology that broke the Idaho Four murder case. Dr. David Mittleman, Co founder of the forensics lab Othram, explains that the speed of the DNA profile development depends entirely on the quality of the sample. If the profile is incomplete or degraded, identifying familial connections becomes exponentially more difficult, potentially leaving the suspect's identity hidden. To date, relatives and employees associated with the Guthrie home have provided voluntary DNA samples. A non match for the hair would almost certainly point to an outside suspect. For Mother's Day today, show host Savannah Guthrie renewed her plea for help in the caption of an Instagram post. Mother, daughter, sister Nonie, we miss you with every breath. We will never stop looking for you. We will never be at peace until we find you. We need help. Someone knows something that can make the difference. Please keep praying. Bring her home. The reward for information leading to the resolution of this case now stands at over 1.2 million. The Guthrie family and federal authorities are urging the public to review the footage of the masked individual and report any information to 1-800- call FBI. On Friday, a Utah judge issued a pivotal ruling regarding the trial of Tyler Robinson, a man accused of assassinating conservative firebrand Charlie Kirk, back in September. Despite intense pushback from the defense, Judge Graff has ruled that news outlets will be permitted to film, photograph and livestream the proceedings. This decision comes after weeks of legal sparring over where the line is drawn between the public's right to know and a defendant's right to a fair, unbiased trial. In his decision, Judge Graff acknowledged the defense's concerns, but ultimately found that the legal threshold for a total media blackout simply hadn't been met.
- [14:07]
Judge or Legal Official
Defendant seeks an order categorically prohibiting any electronic media coverage during the pendency of this case because defendant has not shown that a categorical ban on electronic media coverage for all proceedings in this case is allowed by Utah law, Defendant's motion is respectfully denied. Although electronic media coverage is not protected by the Constitution, neither does the Constitution ban electronic media simply because there is a danger that in some cases, prejudicial broadcast accounts of pre trial and trial events may impair the ability of jurors to decide the issue of guilt or innocence uninfluenced by extraneous matter.
- [14:53]
Sydney Silvani
Robinson's legal team had argued passionately for a closed door atmosphere, claiming that their client cannot receive a fair shake if cameras are present. They pointed specifically to the online court of public opinion, where stories and comments often depict Robinson as evil or unremorseful based on brief glimpses of his courtroom demeanor. In death penalty cases like this one, the stakes are uniquely high because a jury can eventually consider a defendant's character when deciding whether to impose the ultimate sanction. Defense attorneys are hypervigilant about bad publicity. They cited a December hearing where footage of Robinson apparently smirking while speaking to his lawyers led to a firestorm on Fox News, with pundits claiming he treated the victim like a trophy. However, they aren't just fighting the media. Prosecutors and the victim's family are also pushing for maximum transparency. Charlie Kirk's widow, Erica Kirk, has been vocal about the need for the public to see the evidence for themselves, arguing that secrecy only fuels the conspiracy theories that have swirled since the September 10th assassination. Take a listen to Kirk on Jesse Waters.
- [16:01]
Erica Kirk
There were cameras all over my husband when he was murdered. There have been cameras all over my friends and family mourning. There have been cameras all over me, analyzing my every move, analyzing my every smile, my every tear. We deserve to have cameras in there. Why not be transparent? There's nothing to hide. I know there's not because I've seen what the case is built on.
- [16:34]
Sponsor/Advertiser
Counting or not counting gang violence.
- [16:38]
Law Enforcement Official / District Attorney Marian Ryan
Oh my God.
- [16:40]
Bethany Frankel
Go. Run.
- [16:40]
Sydney Silvani
Run. Robinson is accused of lying in wait on a rooftop about 300 yards from Kirk's Prove Me Wrong booth at Utah Valley University campus and firing a single shot that struck Kirk in the neck. On September 10, Robinson allegedly admitted to what he had done in text to his partner in the minutes after the shooting, remaining in the area in hopes of retrieving his grandfather's Mouser 98 with the release of more surveillance footage from campus, family members eventually recognized Robinson and convinced the 22 year old to turn himself in.
- [17:14]
News Anchor
On the evening of September 11, a family member of Tyler Robinson reached out to a family friend who contacted the Washington County Sheriff's Office with information that Robinson had confessed to them or implied that he had committed the incident.
- [17:29]
Sydney Silvani
While Judge Graff is allowing the cameras, it won't be a free for all. He has already tightened the leash on media pools following previous violations where outlets broadcast images of Robinson's shackles and tight close ups of privileged conversations between the defendant and his counsel. To balance these interests, the judge has ordered cameras to remain at the rear of the courtroom behind the defendant, making it significantly harder for the public to scrutinize Robinson's facial expressions. Robinson's preliminary hearing has been moved back to July 6th through July 10th, and for now, the world will be watching. A terrifying scene of random violence unfolded on the streets of King Cambridge, Massachusetts Monday afternoon, leaving two innocent bystanders fighting for their lives. Just after 1pm the chaos began with reports of a man acting erratically near Memorial Drive, armed with a rifle and firing shots. Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan identified the suspect as 46 year old Tyler Brown of Boston. By the time Massachusetts State Police reached the scene, the situation had escalated into a full scale active shooter event.
- [18:37]
Law Enforcement Official / District Attorney Marian Ryan
That individual was already traveling down the middle of Memorial Drive. Cars were stopped in traffic, he was in the possession of that assault style rifle that had been described and he was actively firing in an erratic fashion at various vehicles along the road.
- [18:57]
Sydney Silvani
As Brown unleashed a hail of gunfire, two men sitting in their vehicles were struck. Both victims were rushed to a Boston hospital with life threatening injuries. While the bullets flew, witnesses and arriving officers scrambled for cover.
- [19:10]
Law Enforcement Official / District Attorney Marian Ryan
When troopers arrived, we discovered some individuals actually under their car having tried to seek a safe place.
- [19:17]
Sydney Silvani
The violence was finally brought to an end by the combined efforts of a civilian Marine veteran and a responding state trooper. They managed to subdue Brown, striking him multiple times. Brown is currently in police custody at a local hospital. Investigators later recovered the rifle on the grass near a bike path by the Charles River, a location that highlighted the potential for even more casualties.
- [19:39]
Law Enforcement Official / District Attorney Marian Ryan
We know that that weapon had the capacity to have struck people on the other side of that river.
- [19:46]
Sydney Silvani
Authorities estimate that 50 to 60 rounds were fired in a matter of minutes. Joseph Menino Rodriguez, who witnessed the shootout from his 18th floor apartment, captured terrifying audio of the engagement on his cell. Rodriguez described the moment Brown finally gave up after engaging in a direct gunfight with the police. I'm thinking they shot his leg. So he lays down, he throws the gun. So once he throws a gun, my boy is just out here just laying down. And now he got his hands up. Now he's done. As the investigation continues, a troubling picture of Tyler Brown's past is emerging. Records show he pleaded guilty in 2021 after a previous exchange of gunfire with Boston police. At the time of Monday's shooting, he was still on probation. District Attorney Ryan is using this tragedy to renew a push for stricter legislation, citing a bill which would specifically punish shooters who act with total disregard for human life.
- [20:48]
Law Enforcement Official / District Attorney Marian Ryan
And it is also important to recognize that this risk that's created by this firing of a gun where people are nearby is the subject of a bill that has been filed for the past four sessions to create an offense to punish a shooter who acts as I would suggest to you, was the case today, without regard for the risk of seriously bodily injury to another. We will be refiling that bill again this session because that is the legislation that we need to address this kind of situation.
- [21:22]
Sydney Silvani
Brown now faces two counts of armed assault with intent to murder, along with various weapons charges. For the latest crime and justice breaking news, be sure to tune in tomorrow on your favorite podcast app with this crime alert. I'm Sydney Sulbani.
- [21:38]
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- [22:08]
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- [22:44]
Law Enforcement Official / District Attorney Marian Ryan
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