In a shocking turn of events, investigators have revealed that Lisa Darden, the mother of Kouri Richins, a Utah grief author accused of spiking her husband's drink with a lethal dose of fentanyl, may have had a role in the death. This revelation came to light during the investigation into the suspicious overdose of Richins' husband, Eric Richins, on March 4, 2022, in Kamas, Utah, according to a recently unsealed search warrant affidavit.

Eric Richins was found dead in his home after celebrating his wife's closing on a new property for her business. A medical examiner determined that he had five times the lethal dosage of illicit fentanyl in his system, ruling out the possibility of an accidental overdose.

During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that Darden was connected to another "suspicious overdose" death in 2006. The victim was Darden's former partner, with whom she had a romantic relationship and cohabitated. An autopsy revealed that the cause of death was drug poisoning from an overdose of oxycodone. Intriguingly, Darden had been named as the beneficiary of the woman's estate shortly before her demise.

The search warrant affidavit further indicated that investigators found conversations between Darden and Kouri Richins, expressing Darden's apparent disdain for her son-in-law. Combining this with Darden's proximity to her partner's suspicious overdose death and her relationship with Kouri, the detective concluded that it is possible Darden played a role in planning and orchestrating Eric's death.

Darden has not been charged with any crime at this time, and attempts by NBC News to reach her were unsuccessful. However, Kouri Richins is currently facing charges of aggravated murder and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. Her attorney, Skye Lazaro, vehemently denied the allegations against Darden, stating that her partner's death was a result of opioid addiction and dismissing any suggestion of foul play as a baseless conspiracy theory.

The case has shed light on the pervasive issue of opioid addiction and fentanyl overdoses throughout the country. Lazaro emphasized that Darden's circumstances, including being named as the beneficiary of her partner's life insurance policy, are not uncommon and simply reflect the tragic reality faced by many families.

As Kouri Richins awaits trial in custody, the investigation into Eric Richins' death continues, with a renewed focus on the potential involvement of Lisa Darden. The shocking revelations have left the community puzzled, shedding new light on the complexities of this case and raising questions about the extent of Darden's role, if any, in the tragic demise of Eric Richins.