The defense in the Kouri Richins murder trial has built its case around one central argument: Eric Richins had a history of substance use, and his death was a tragic accident. On the tenth day of testimony, a private investigator hired by Eric's own family took the stand and systematically dismantled that theory from every angle.

Todd Gabler spent roughly a year investigating Eric's death independently before Kouri was arrested. Operating under rules that gave him access law enforcement couldn't get without a warrant, he pulled phone billing records and found that Carmen Lauber — the housekeeper prosecutors say sourced the fentanyl — was Kouri's third most frequent contact in the months surrounding Eric's death. He flagged Lauber's criminal history and drug court violations to the Sheriff's Office before detectives had identified her as a key figure. He placed GPS trackers on Kouri's car and her mother's vehicle. He conducted nearly 50 interviews. He handed over two hard drives of evidence. And when the defense asked whether other fentanyl sources in Summit County could explain Eric's death, Gabler said he looked into it and found no connection to this case.

The defense noted he is not law enforcement. He agreed. He also made clear he doesn't need to be.

That testimony came on a day when the jury also watched video of Kouri celebrating the day after Eric died, heard a forensic examiner say Eric's signature on a life insurance application was likely forged, listened to the full 911 call in which Kouri describes her husband as cold and dead weight, and heard a detective testify that Eric's sister flagged Kouri's potential involvement from the moment she arrived at the scene.

The prosecution is nearly done. One witness remains.

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