Kouri Richins Trial: Jailhouse Letter Exposed — "It Has to Be Done"
Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
True Crime Today
3.3 • 910 Ratings
🗓️ 12 March 2026
⏱️ 33 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Day 12 of the Kouri Richins murder trial delivered what the prosecution has been building toward for three weeks. Lead detective Jeff O'Driscoll took the stand as the state's final witness and read aloud a six-page letter prosecutors say Richins wrote from jail — a letter titled "Walk the Dog!!" that allegedly directs her mother and brother on exactly what to say, who to contact, and what to erase.
The letter instructs her brother to tell defense attorneys that Eric Richins obtained fentanyl from Mexico through ranch workers. It tells her mother to pass this information in person only — because she believes the phones are bugged. It directs someone to erase a damaging relationship from the record. And it instructs her mother to find photos of Eric's sister's children and mail them anonymously to media to provoke a reaction. Prosecutors say every person named in that letter is real, and every instruction was operational. The defense says it's creative fiction — part of a mystery manuscript. The letter was found hidden inside a book in her cell. It was never delivered.
O'Driscoll also testified about a notebook found in the family home containing a timeline of the murder investigation written from Kouri's own perspective — and confirmed under cross that the fentanyl Lauber allegedly sold to Kouri was never collected or tested. Jurors also watched footage of O'Driscoll telling Lauber she needed details that would "ensure Kouri gets convicted of murder."
After Thursday, the prosecution rests. Then comes the decision that could define this trial.
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Transcript
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| 0:30.5 | If you're into true crime, not just the headlines, but the human stories behind them, |
| 0:35.1 | join us at Crimecom Birmingham, an intimate one-day event on April 25th, |
| 0:39.5 | featuring in-depth sessions with investigators, creators and the families impacted by crime. With just |
| 0:45.0 | 200 attendees, you'll also share breakfast and lunch with the speakers, giving you the chance to spend |
| 0:49.9 | time with the people shaping the world of true crime crimecom Birmingham is partnered by the true |
| 0:54.7 | crime channel for 10% off go to crimecon.com.com.com.com and use the code Birmingham at checkout. |
| 1:01.0 | This is Hidden Killers with Tony Brewski. Here now, Tony Bruske. |
| 1:07.9 | There is a line in a letter prosecutors say Corey Richens wrote inside a jail cell, |
| 1:14.0 | and it's the kind of line that tells you everything you need to know about who they believe she is. |
| 1:19.8 | She's writing to her mother, directing her to pass a message to her brother in person, |
| 1:26.1 | not by phone, because she suspects the phones are being |
| 1:29.6 | monitored. And the message is specific. She needs her brother to tell her defense attorney that |
| 1:37.4 | Eric Richens got pain pills in fentanyl from Mexico through workers at a ranch. She's not asking. |
| 1:44.8 | She's not suggesting the letter says the connection to Mexico and drugs, quote, has to be made. |
| 1:53.2 | It can be short and to the point, but it has to be done. |
| 1:57.1 | Has to be done. |
... |
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