Inside the Case Against Kouri Richins: Nate Eaton on the Evidence Behind the Guilty Verdict

After weeks of testimony and a defense case that ended without a single witness, the jury in the Kouri Richins trial returned a guilty verdict in the death of Eric Richins. In this week’s episode of Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum talks with investigative reporter Nate Eaton, who has been in court following the testimony, key witnesses, and the evidence surrounding Eric's death. Together, they discuss the prosecution's theory of motive, the evidence tied to money and deception, the Valentine's Day attempted-poisoning allegation, and the courtroom testimony that steadily tightened the case. Sheryl then provides a final trial update after the verdict, focusing on what the defense did not address and what the guilty verdict implies about the case. Guest Bio Nate Eaton is an award-winning journalist, Dateline NBC contributor, and co-founder of EastIdahoNews.com. He is known for his investigative reporting, courtroom coverage, and years of experience covering major criminal cases and breaking news. About the Host  Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a Metro Atlanta Police Department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than 4 decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing. Her work on high-profile cases include, in part, The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, and Tupac Shakur. Her work on the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching led to her Emmy Award for "CSI: Atlanta" and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023. Social Links: Email: [email protected] X: @zone7squad Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum Instagram: @officialzone7podcast Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire. Preorder Sheryl’s upcoming book, "Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Lessons in Life, Justice, and Joy from a Forensic Scientist," releasing May 2026 from Simon and Schuster. ​ Highlights: (0:00) Sheryl McCollum welcomes Nate Eaton for a courtroom-level look at the Kouri Richins trial (2:30) Why Robert Josh Grossman’s testimony stood out as one of the strangest and most revealing moments in court (4:00) Eric Richins’ death, the 911 call, and autopsy findings pointing toward fentanyl poisoning (5:00) Life insurance questions, trust issues, and millions in debt (7:15) The children’s grief book and why it still leaves people feeling unsettled (9:15) How testimony from the alleged dealer and the house cleaner helped prosecutors build their fentanyl theory (10:45) The Valentine's Day sandwich allegation and why prosecutors pointed to it as an earlier attempted poisoning (13:45) Internet searches about fentanyl, prison, and life insurance payouts add to the prosecution’s theory on intent (15:00) A forged $250,000 HELOC, hidden financial decisions, and contact with a divorce attorney show a marriage in decline (21:00) The scope of Kouri’s financial collapse and apparent lack of remorse (27:45) Money-themed memes found on Kouri’s phone just hours after Eric's death (30:45) Final update: Sheryl reacts to the finals days of the trial and the guilty verdict  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.