Before the fentanyl, prosecutors say there was fraud. Nearly half a million dollars allegedly siphoned from Eric Richins through forged signatures, unauthorized credit lines, and misdirected tax payments — all while Kouri Richins ran her own real estate business and closed multi-million-dollar deals.

Psychotherapist Shavaun Scott joins Hidden Killers to examine the psychology of financial exploitation when the "victim" narrative doesn't match the evidence. The forensic accounting shows money flowing one direction: from Eric to Kouri. Yet testimony suggests she framed herself as trapped by their prenuptial agreement.

That disconnect — between documented financial freedom and apparent perception of victimhood — is exactly what this episode unpacks.

The alleged escalation is striking: smaller transactions around 2015-2016, then a $250,000 home equity line prosecutors say was opened with a forged signature in 2019, then misdirected tax payments, credit cards maxed in Eric's name, and eventually alleged life insurance fraud.

Eric discovered the fraud in September 2020. Prosecutors say Kouri admitted it. Promised to pay it back. Allegedly never did. He talked to divorce attorneys but stayed.

What happens when a partner's decision to stay gets interpreted as permission to continue? How does accountability dissolve when consequences never arrive?

The forensic accountant painted a grim picture of Kouri's real estate business: $170,000 in revenue over five months while debt service exceeded $250,000. Prosecutors allege falsified bank statements, bad checks written to herself, and Eric's business letterhead used to secure loans.

Shavaun Scott breaks down the psychology of entitlement, self-deception, and doubling down when everything is failing.

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 #FinancialFraud #ForgedSignature #TrueCrime #HiddenKillers #UtahMurder #ForensicAccounting #TrueCrimePodcast