COURT: Kouri Richins' children statements read during sentencing

[00:00:00] Jessica Black: Good morning. Good morning, Judge. Take your time. My name is Jessica Black. I'm a licensed clinical mental health therapist and a registered play therapist. Myself and my colleagues are here today to read the victim impact statements for three children. We are here as advocates on their behalf. After a developmentally appropriate process, the boys were able to decide individually how they wanted to share their statements. And this is what they chose. Our roles are to read their words exactly as they wrote. The boys want the court and the world to hear their side. This is from WR. I woke up to sirens and there were a lot of people at my house and I was definitely scared. I felt confused. I was in a bedroom with my brothers and I didn't know what was happening. At first, I was really scared because I didn't know what was happening and I had no control and I felt helpless. I felt really overwhelmed. After my dad died, Corey would put us in the basement while she was with the neighbor. I felt scared because I thought something really bad was happening again. She would take me to places that smelled really bad. Everything she did made me feel uncomfortable. When someone talks about Corey, it makes me feel hateful and ashamed. She took away my dad. It's made me have a hard time trusting people. I was scared that Corey's family would come to my school and take me. I had to go to counseling with DCFS. I had to go to counseling with DCFS and Heber and I did not like it. DCFS made me talk to Corey and I couldn't do things that I wanted to do. I felt not important to anyone. I feel a lot better about myself now than I did with Corey. I can't ever see my dad again. I want her to go to prison forever. If she got out, I would be so scared, really mad and I wouldn't want to go with her anywhere. and I wouldn't want to go with her anywhere. I'm worried that she would take me away from Katie and Clint. Once she is gone, I will feel happy and I will feel safer and relaxed and trust people more. [00:02:15] Christina Green: Thank you. Christina. Christina. Yes, Your Honor. I am Christina Green. I'm a licensed clinical social worker, registered play therapist and I will be reading for AR. You took away my dad for no reason other than greed and you only cared about yourself and your stupid boyfriends. You were not caring and watching over me and my brothers. I had to be a parent to W. C and I would walk him to the bus stop, feed him and watch him. You were not concerned about our health. When we got hurt, you didn't even care. When C got ran over by a side by side, you still made him go to the soccer game that day without taking him to the doctors first. You would lock C in his room and I would have to go to the kitchen and bring him food. You shamed us when we didn't want to eat uncooked lasagna you made. We threw it away because we couldn't eat it. Then you made us watch videos of children starving in war areas. You wanted to scare us into eating something that wasn't cooked. You wouldn't let our dog outside and then the dog would pee inside. You created this problem. Then you would smack my dog on the head as hard as you could. You wouldn't let me put my kitten in the garage for safety at night and we found it eaten by raccoons the next day. You wouldn't let us turn on and use the heater lamp for the chickens and bunnies and they froze to death. You would always argue with my dad and lock the door. You were not playing the role as a real mother does. You were doing the opposite. Now my dad can't be my coach anymore. Can't be at any of my games. He won't be at my birthdays. He can't teach me how to drive. He won't be at my graduation and he can't take me camping or fishing. You made me paranoid about sleeping on my dad's side of the bed by saying I might die or get harmed when I was just trying to be close to my dad after you killed him. You took away everything from me and my brothers. I don't want you out of jail because I will not feel safe if you are out. You have never said sorry for anything that you have done to me and my brothers. I don't want you to hurt anyone again. I know that you will need to stay in jail to fully take accountability for what you did to me C W and my dad with you in jail. I will be able to continue to feel safe and live a happy and successful life without fear of you hurting me or anyone I love. Thank you, your honor. Thank you. [00:05:12] Speaker ?: Sarah. [00:05:17] Christina Green: Sarah. [00:05:22] Sarah: Yes, my name is Sarah. I'm a licensed clinical social worker and registered play therapist and I'm going to read the victim impact statement for CR. My name and age now my name and age. I was at the time of the crime CR age 12 now 13. I was nine when my dad was murdered. What I would like to see happen if the perpetrator is convicted of the crime. I would like to see Corey get a life sentence. My thoughts regarding an appropriate sentence for the person who is accused of this crime and if they are found guilty. I think Corey should get a life sentence because what she did is very sick because it had no reason to happen and it impacted a bunch of people including me. These are some reasons why I think she should have a life sentence. The information I feel is important for the judge to be aware of in sentencing. I think the judge should know that my dad was a good person and very thoughtful and kind and helped whoever needed help. He was always taking the extra mile to help people. My physical injuries as a result of this crime are as follows. I was sleeping and then I went to get a drink of water then went back to bed. And when I woke up shaking and Bailey called the ambulance and they came and I couldn't talk for a while. I think Corey had something to do with it because she didn't call the ambulance. She called Bailey and Bailey called the ambulance. The ambulance. At the ER, Corey resisted to have my blood drawn and kids who usually have this kind of seizure is when they are a few months old to a year old. I learned later that Corey bought more fentanyl and had it in the house when this happened. I think this is what happened. She did what she did to my dad in the living room. My experienced emotional injury because of this crime is described as follows. Sad. I feel mad that I have to feel sad. I went from being scared for my life to feeling really good. I was scared for my life because I didn't eat that much. Corey was always drunk or gone. I was always locked in my room. I can't remember but I am pretty sure the lock was on the outside. Corey threatened she would kill my lizard because we didn't want to watch some weird show with her. All of our chickens died because there was no food or water. My rabbit died because we didn't have food or water. The goats almost starved to death because she bought moldy hay and she didn't water them. Nothing ever got fed or watered. It didn't feel good to worry about my animals. I felt like I had to take care of my siblings. Ash mostly took care of me though because I was locked in my room. Ash would bring me food. Corey would lock me up if I told her she was drunk. This happened pretty much daily. I feel angry that she locked me in my room. I am angry almost all my animals died. I am angry she threatened to kill them. I am angry she killed my dad. I started to feel really good when I moved into a safe place. It was safe because the people around me were safe. Katie and Clint. I felt safe at Jake and Shalina because I wasn't with Corey anymore. Counseling. I feel annoyed that I have to go to counseling and tell the story about what happened 55 million times. I feel better now because I know it's to help me. I would like to not have to go to counseling. I would like to have to not worry about anything after this trial is over. I want the judge to know I hope Corey gets convicted to a life sentence. Corey is always drunk. I want the judge to know my dad was a good person and I miss my dad. I miss my dad but I do not miss how my life used to be. I don't miss Corey. I will tell you that. Thank you. [00:09:02] Christina Green: Thank you. Thank you.