On more than one occasion, Eric Richins gets violently ill after having dinner with his wife, Kouri.

Then the pair, who own a successful real estate business, is celebrating a big sale when  Kouri Richins fixes her husband a drink. She then goes to take care of the children.  Hours later when she goes to bed Eric Richins is dead. 

Investigators believe his wife killed him, putting an overdose of fentanyl in his drink.  Police also discover that Kouri Richins tried to change the beneficiary to her husband's life insurance. 

Joining Nancy Grace Today:
Jeffrey Wolf - Criminal Defense Attorney; Twitter: @JeffWolf5280 and @WolfLawLLC 
Dr. Angela Arnold - Psychiatrist, Atlanta GA.- Expert in the Treatment of Pregnant/Postpartum Women; Former Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Obstetrics and Gynecology: Emory University; Former Medical Director of The Psychiatric Ob-Gyn Clinic at Grady Memorial Hospital
Bobby Chacon- Former Special Agent FBI, Screenwriter for “Criminal Minds;” Instagram/Twitter: @BobbyChaconFBI
Dr. Paul Christo - Opioid Expert, Associate Professor for The John Hopkins School of Medicine, Division of Pain Medicine; Author and Host of "Aches & Gains: A Comprehensive Guide To Overcoming Your Pain"
Dr. Kendall Crowns- Chief Medical Examiner Tarrant County (Ft Worth), Lecturer: University of Texas Austin and Texas Christian University Medical School
Jen Smith- Chief Reporter for DailyMail.com, Twitter: @jen_e_smith

On more than one occasion, Eric Richins gets violently ill after having dinner with his wife, Kouri.
Then the pair, who own a successful real estate business, is celebrating a big sale when  Kouri Richins fixes her husband a drink. She then goes to take care of the children.  Hours later when she goes to bed Eric Richins is dead. 
Investigators believe his wife killed him, putting an overdose of fentanyl in his drink.  Police also discover that Kouri Richins tried to change the beneficiary to her husband's life insurance. 
Joining Nancy Grace Today:
<ul>
<li><a href="wolflawcolorado.com">Jeffrey Wolf</a> - Criminal Defense Attorney; Twitter: @JeffWolf5280 and @WolfLawLLC </li>
<li><a href="AngelaArnoldMD.com">Dr. Angela Arnold</a> - Psychiatrist, Atlanta GA.- Expert in the Treatment of Pregnant/Postpartum Women; Former Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Obstetrics and Gynecology: Emory University; Former Medical Director of The Psychiatric Ob-Gyn Clinic at Grady Memorial Hospital</li>
<li><a href="BobbyChacon.com ">Bobby Chacon</a>- Former Special Agent FBI, Screenwriter for “Criminal Minds;” Instagram/Twitter: @BobbyChaconFBI</li>
<li>Dr. Paul Christo - Opioid Expert, Associate Professor for The John Hopkins School of Medicine, Division of Pain Medicine; Author and Host of "Aches &amp; Gains: A Comprehensive Guide To Overcoming Your Pain"</li>
<li>Dr. Kendall Crowns- Chief Medical Examiner Tarrant County (Ft Worth), Lecturer: University of Texas Austin and Texas Christian University Medical School</li>
<li>Jen Smith- Chief Reporter for <a href="http://dailymail.com/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="3">DailyMail.com</a>, Twitter: @jen_e_smith</li>
</ul>

Nancy Grace dives deep into the day’s most shocking crimes and asks the tough questions in her new daily podcast – Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. Nancy Grace had a perfect conviction record during her decade as a prosecutor and used her TV show to find missing people, fugitives on the run and unseen clues. Now, she will use the power of her huge social media following and the immediacy of the internet to deliver daily bombshells!

Theme Music: Audio Network

Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Nancy Grace dives deep into the day’s most shocking crimes and asks the tough questions in her new daily podcast – Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. Nancy Grace had a perfect conviction record during her decade as a prosecutor and used her TV show to find missing people, fugitives on the run and unseen clues. Now, she will use the power of her huge social media following and the immediacy of the internet to deliver daily bombshells!

Theme Music: Audio Network

Mormon Mom CHARGED W/POISONING HUBBY “DEAD BY COCKTAIL”

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/fad58872-1041-4fcc-bf45-affe011c4895/transcript

Nancy Guthrie, mother of Today Show host Savannah Guthrie, has been missing and presumed abducted for 100 days. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos facing heavy backlash for the handling of the case, and may be officially ousted from office.

Nancy Guthrie, mother of Today Show host Savannah Guthrie, has been missing and presumed abducted for 100 days. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos facing heavy backlash for the handling of the case, and may be officially ousted from office.

Nancy Guthrie Missing: Day 100  | Crime Alert 05.11.26

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/d8683eb7-256d-494f-bbf8-b44700481323/transcript

It's been four years since father of three, Eric Richins, died from a fentanyl overdose. We now know his ingestion of the drug was planned by his wife Kori.  Afterwards, she wrote a children’s book about grief,  with her children, to help them cope.   Kouri Richins' book  isn't the only thing she's written.

There's a six-page handwritten letter, "the walk the dog letter."  Prosecutors say that in the letter, Richins is instructing he family how to lie about what happened the night her husband died.  

It's called the "walk the dog letter," since that phrase is written in big letters on the top. In it,  Richins makes the claim that her husband Eric was addicted to drugs, that he would make frequent trips to Mexico to get pills, and that his death was an accidental overdose. The letter was written to Richins' mother, and it reportedly tells her to instruct Richins' brother to make the connection to Mexico and drugs

The jury deliberated just under three hours before convicting  Richins of aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, forgery and two counts of insurance fraud. 

What happened to the Richins children?

Joining Nancy Grace Today:
Donna Kelly– Former Utah Senior Deputy District Attorney and Attorney for Crime Victims Legal Clinic; Helped form the Utah County Sex Crimes Task Force
Dr. Bethany Marshall – Psychoanalyst (Beverly Hills, CA); Instagram & TikTok: drbethanymarshall; Twitter: @DrBethanyLive
Justin Boardman – Retired Detective, West Valley City Police Department Special Victim’s Unit, Boardman Training & Consulting
Dr. William Morrone – Toxicologist, Chief Medical Examiner, Bay County Michigan; Author: “American Narcan: Naloxone & Heroin-Fentanyl Associated Mortality”
Elaine Aradillas - Senior Crime Reporter at the Messenger; Twitter: @elaineja, Instagram: @the_elaineja

It's been four years since father of three, Eric Richins, died from a fentanyl overdose. We now know his ingestion of the drug was planned by his wife Kori.&nbsp; Afterwards, she wrote a children&rsquo;s book about grief,&nbsp; with her children, to help them cope.&nbsp; &nbsp;Kouri Richins' book&nbsp; isn't the only thing she's written.
There's a six-page handwritten letter, "the walk the dog letter."&nbsp; Prosecutors say that in the letter, Richins is instructing he family how to lie about what happened the night her husband died.&nbsp;&nbsp;
It's called the "walk the dog letter," since that phrase is written in big letters on the top. In it,&nbsp; Richins makes the claim that her husband Eric was addicted to drugs, that he would make frequent trips to Mexico to get pills, and that his death was an accidental overdose. The letter was written to Richins' mother, and it reportedly tells her to instruct Richins' brother to make the connection to Mexico and drugs
The jury deliberated just under three hours before convicting&nbsp; Richins of aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, forgery and two counts of insurance fraud.&nbsp;
What happened to the Richins children?
Joining Nancy Grace Today:
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.ucvlc.org%20/">Donna Kelly</a>&ndash; Former Utah Senior Deputy District Attorney and Attorney for Crime Victims Legal Clinic; Helped form the Utah County Sex Crimes Task Force</li>
<li><a href="http://drbethanymarshall.com/">Dr.&nbsp;Bethany&nbsp;Marshall</a> &ndash; Psychoanalyst (Beverly Hills, CA); Instagram &amp; TikTok: drbethanymarshall; Twitter: @DrBethanyLive</li>
<li>Justin Boardman &ndash; Retired Detective, West Valley City Police Department Special Victim&rsquo;s Unit, Boardman Training &amp; Consulting</li>
<li><a href="https://www.crimeonline.com/2023/09/20/crime-stories-with-nancy-grace-tot-boy-1-dead-of-fentanyl-overdose-at-licensed-daycare/RecoveryPathwaysLLC.com%C2%A0">Dr. William Morrone</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Toxicologist, Chief Medical Examiner, Bay County Michigan; Author: &ldquo;American Narcan: Naloxone &amp; Heroin-Fentanyl Associated Mortality&rdquo;</li>
<li><a href="themessenger.com&nbsp;">Elaine Aradillas</a> - Senior Crime Reporter at the Messenger; Twitter: @elaineja, Instagram: @the_elaineja</li>
</ul>

Dad Murdered, Mom Imprisoned: What Happened to Eric Richins' Children? 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/30d28c65-430a-41c7-b01e-b44200dd0c8a/transcript

 

In this week’s episode of "Zone 7," retired NYPD detective Mike Alcazar joins Sheryl McCollum to talk about what hostage negotiation looks like when a scene is tense, the stakes are high, and one wrong move can change everything.

Drawing on decades in law enforcement, Mike discusses the Nancy Guthrie case, explains how negotiators read people in real time, and highlights the importance of patience, trust, and teamwork.

He also shares stories from the field and looks back on the path that took him from undercover work to hostage negotiation and, later, to the recovery efforts after 9/11.

Highlights:

(0:00) Sheryl McCollum welcomes retired NYPD detective Mike Alcazar to Zone 7

(1:00) Mike’s first reaction to the Nancy Guthrie case and why it struck him as unusual from the beginning

(4:15) Information negotiators look for first: behavior, history, and possible mental-state concerns

(9:00) The challenge of deciding when family can help and when they may make a crisis worse

(13:30) Tension between negotiation and tactical response, and how one decision can undo hours of progress

(19:30) How Mike became a negotiator and what the training process was like

(23:00) A Brooklyn barricade, drone technology, and the friend who helped bring the situation to a peaceful end

(29:45) Why voice, personality, and appearance can shape who a subject chooses to trust

(31:15) How a sandwich from the bodega helped resolve a case

(32:45) Mike looks back on becoming a detective and how 9/11 changed the course of his career

(35:15) Ground Zero, recovery efforts, and the emotional toll officers carried after 9/11



Guest Bio

Mike Alcazar is a retired NYPD detective with more than 30 years of service in law enforcement. During his time with the department, he worked undercover in vice, served as a hostage negotiator, and handled organized crime investigations.

Mike took part in recovery efforts following the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and now serves as an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

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: coldcase2004@gmail.com
X: @zone7squad
Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum
Instagram: @officialzone7podcast

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.

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.

 

&nbsp;
In this week&rsquo;s episode of "Zone 7," retired NYPD detective Mike Alcazar joins Sheryl McCollum to talk about what hostage negotiation looks like when a scene is tense, the stakes are high, and one wrong move can change everything.
Drawing on decades in law enforcement, Mike&nbsp;discusses the Nancy Guthrie case, explains how negotiators read people in real time, and&nbsp;highlights the importance of patience, trust, and teamwork.
He also shares stories from the field and looks back on the path that took him from undercover work to hostage negotiation and, later, to the recovery efforts after 9/11.
Highlights:
(0:00) Sheryl McCollum welcomes retired NYPD detective Mike Alcazar to Zone 7
(1:00) Mike&rsquo;s first reaction to the Nancy Guthrie case and why it struck him as unusual&nbsp;from the beginning
(4:15) Information negotiators look for first: behavior, history, and possible mental-state&nbsp;concerns
(9:00) The challenge of deciding when family can help and when they may make a crisis&nbsp;worse
(13:30) Tension between negotiation and tactical response, and how one decision can&nbsp;undo hours of progress
(19:30) How Mike became a negotiator and what the training process was like
(23:00) A Brooklyn barricade, drone technology, and the friend who helped bring the&nbsp;situation to a peaceful end
(29:45) Why voice, personality, and appearance can shape who a subject chooses to&nbsp;trust
(31:15) How a sandwich from the bodega helped resolve a case
(32:45) Mike looks back on becoming a detective and how 9/11 changed the course of&nbsp;his career
(35:15) Ground Zero, recovery efforts, and the emotional toll officers carried after 9/11 
Guest Bio
Mike Alcazar is a retired NYPD detective with more than 30 years of service in law&nbsp;enforcement. During his time with the department, he worked undercover in vice, served as a&nbsp;hostage negotiator, and handled organized crime investigations.
Mike took part in recovery&nbsp;efforts following the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and now serves as an&nbsp;adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
About the Host
Sheryl &ldquo;Mac&rdquo; McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a Metro Atlanta Police&nbsp;Department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners&nbsp;with colleges and universities nationwide.
With more than 4 decades of experience, she has&nbsp;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&rsquo;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:
<ul>
<li>Email: coldcase2004@gmail.com</li>
<li>X: @zone7squad</li>
<li>Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum</li>
<li>Instagram: @officialzone7podcast</li>
</ul>
Preorder Sheryl&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Swans-Dont-Swim-in-a-Sewer/Sheryl-Mac-McCollum/9798895652824">upcoming book,</a> "Swans Don&rsquo;t Swim in a Sewer: Lessons in Life, Justice, and Joy from a Forensic Scientist," releasing May 2026 from Simon and Schuster.
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.
&nbsp;

Zone 7: The Art of Listening, Detective Mike Alcazar on Hostage Negotiation

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/15572116-4d0c-4ef7-b3a0-b44200dce4b3/transcript

Mormon Mom CHARGED W/POISONING HUBBY “DEAD BY COCKTAIL”

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