Cyprus Times

Woman Accused of Poisoning Husband for $3.6M Payout, Then Writing Children's Book About His Death

Published February 11, 2026, 09:12
Woman Accused of Poisoning Husband for $3.6M Payout, Then Writing Children's Book About His Death

A 35-year-old woman in the US is accused of poisoning her husband to collect a $3.6 million payout and then writing a children's book about his death. According to the indictment, Carrie Ritchins gave her husband a lethal dose of fentanyl in his drink while having an affair with a handyman to whom she sent messages about her plan. Ritchins claimed she found her husband dead when she returned to the bedroom, but the prosecution argues her motive was financial. She was arrested in May 2023 and faces additional charges for financial crimes. A year after the crime, Ritchins published a children's book titled “Are You With Me?” about grief and loss, which she dedicated to her husband. The book was withdrawn from Amazon after her arrest. The case has caused a sensation in the US, as it combines a horrific murder with a cynical exploitation of grief for financial gain.