Eric's Brother-in-Law Found a $250K Loan Kouri Richins Hid From Her Husband

A quarter million dollars. Borrowed against Eric Richins' own home. And the man who found it wasn't a detective or a forensic accountant. It was his brother-in-law, Clinton Benson, who pulled up the county records and saw what Eric never knew existed.

Benson took the stand today in Day 1 of the Kouri Richins murder trial, and his testimony gave the jury something the prosecution needs badly: a firsthand witness to the financial betrayal at the center of this case.

The Discovery

Benson is married to Katie Richins Benson, Eric's sister. He described pulling county records and discovering that Kouri had taken out a $250,000 home equity line of credit on the house she shared with Eric. Without Eric's knowledge. Without Eric's consent.

Think about that for a second. Your own home. Someone borrows a quarter million against it. And you have no idea until your brother-in-law goes digging through public records.

Benson testified that after discovering the HELOC, he was the one who connected Eric with a divorce attorney. The marriage was already fracturing. This discovery cracked it wide open.

The Night Eric Died

Benson was also there the night of March 3, 2022, into the early morning hours of March 4. He testified about arriving at the house, seeing the chaos, watching the family try to process what happened. He described Kouri's demeanor and behavior that night, observations the prosecution wants the jury to sit with.

After Kouri Richins was arrested, Benson stepped into a different role entirely. He testified about securing the home, changing the locks, and controlling access to the property. He became the gatekeeper, making sure nothing disappeared before investigators could do their work.

The Defense Pushes Back

The defense didn't let any of this go unchallenged. They went after Benson on two fronts.

First, they questioned his baseline. If you didn't live with Eric and Kouri, how do you know what "normal" looks like for them? Fair point. Benson saw the couple through family gatherings and visits. He wasn't in the house every day. The defense wants the jury to weigh that when they evaluate his observations about Kouri's behavior.

Second, and this is the bigger play, the defense challenged the family's role in driving the investigation. They pressed Benson on whether the Richins family's own efforts, hiring a private investigator, feeding tips to law enforcement, shaped the case more than the evidence itself. It's a theme we're going to see throughout this trial. The defense wants the jury wondering whether this investigation was led by the evidence or led by a grieving family that had already made up its mind.

Why This Testimony Matters

The prosecution's case hinges on motive. They need the jury to believe Kouri Richins killed her husband for money. Benson's testimony puts a face on the financial allegations. It's one thing to show the jury a county record. It's another thing entirely to have the person who discovered it sit on the stand and explain what it felt like to realize his brother-in-law had no idea his wife had borrowed $250,000 against his home.

The defense knows this. That's why they fought to undermine Benson's credibility and frame his testimony as coming from a biased family member, not a neutral observer.

Both sides landed punches today. The question is which version the jury takes home with them tonight.

▶ WATCH THE FULL TESTIMONY Eric's Brother-in-Law Found a Secret $250K Loan Kouri Richins Hid From Her Husband

Kouri Richins has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder, attempted criminal homicide, insurance fraud, and forgery. She is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The trial is expected to last five weeks.