Kouri Richins: Utah author's promise of a new life to lover after husband's death ends in eviction

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

LAYTON, UTAH: As per a recent court document, prosecutors discovered that Kouri Richins, currently facing charges for allegedly causing her husband's death with a fatal drug dose, was romantically involved with handyman Robert Grossmann, aged 41.

Their relationship commenced months before her husband, Eric Richins, died in 2022. 

Despite Eric's death, their romantic association persisted for several months until Kouri ultimately evicted Grossman from her premises.

Subsequently, Grossman found himself homeless, residing in a black Ford F150 pickup truck in Layton, Utah, and has encountered legal issues since then.

Kouri Richins texted Robert Grossman before Eric Richins’ death

According to DailyMail, Kouri Richins, a 34-year-old mother of three, developed feelings for handyman Robert Grossman, aged 41, after he was contracted to work on homes she was renovating.

In February 2022, Kouri Richins posed a question to Grossman, asking, "If I were divorced right now and asked you to marry me tomorrow, would you?" 

She expressed a desire to spend quality time with him, stating, "I just want to lay on the couch and cuddle you. Watch a murder documentary and snuggle!"

Two weeks later, she reached out to him again, expressing her intentions to change their lives, promising, "Life is going to be different, I promise." 

She empathized with his tough days and expressed a desire to support him, asking for patience until Friday.

Then, on March 3, the night she purportedly poisoned her husband, she sent her boyfriend a photo of two people kissing with the caption "Love you."

Kouri Richins and Robert Grossman ended their relationship 8 months after Eric Richins' death

According to a search warrant affidavit, Grossman's cell phones in May 2023, revealed that their clandestine romance came to an end eight months following Eric's death. 

Kouri, who owned a real estate company, terminated their relationship by evicting Grossman from one of her condominiums.

Subsequently, the handyman found himself without a home, residing in a black Ford F150 pickup truck in Layton, Utah. It has been reported that Grossman asserted Kouri had gifted him the vehicle.

Since then, Grossman has encountered numerous encounters with law enforcement, including an arrest for trespassing and for the theft of a $14,000 trailer and a scissor lift he rented from Home Depot in Salt Lake but neglected to return, as indicated by police and court records.

Layton police found Robert Grossmann sleeping in truck

In February 2023, Layton, Utah police discovered Robert Grossmann asleep in the truck, parked on a residential street, its engine still running. 

Upon inspection, they found a case of beer with several open cans and issued a citation for an open container violation. Two days later, he was arrested for trespassing in another part of town. 

Detectives working on the murder case uncovered Grossmann's connection with Kouri through interviews with acquaintances. 

Further investigation into the Layton incident involved reviewing police dashcam footage where Grossmann identified the F150 as belonging to Kouri Richins, whom he referred to as his 'girlfriend'. 

Grossmann possessed multiple phones, some provided by Kouri, used for communication around the time of her husband's death.

During recorded interviews, Grossmann admitted to a more intimate relationship beyond being Kouri's handyman. The affidavit indicated that he was Kouri's extramarital partner before and after her husband's demise.

However, their relationship soured, leading to Grossmann's eviction from Kouri's Saratoga Springs condo in November 2022, rendering him homeless. Sources close to Kouri allege his eviction stemmed from alleged methamphetamine use.