The In Between Podcast with Mel Barrett

As the prosecution begins to wrap up its case against Kouri Richins, the testimony from her inner circle painted a chilling portrait of a woman who was not just in financial ruin, but allegedly vocal about a world where her husband no longer existed.
We’re breaking down the testimony of Kouri’s childhood best friends, Allie Staking and Chelsea Barney. From a "funny" story about hidden THC gummies in Hawaii to the heartbreaking moment Chelsea realized her "best friend" had allegedly stolen her life savings and left her facing eviction, the betrayal in the courtroom was palpable.
Inside this episode:

The "Joke" That Wasn't: We analyze Becky Lloyd’s bombshell testimony that Kouri explicitly stated it would be "better if Eric was dead" months before his fentanyl overdose.

The Safe Incident: The raw desperation Kouri showed while trying to crack Eric’s safe the day after he died—and why she was so obsessed with his will.

The Medical Narrative: We listen to the recorded jail calls where Kouri attempts to blame Eric's death on a "fungal infection" and COVID-19, despite the medical examiner's findings.

"Don't Eat What Kouri Gives You": The haunting "poisoning joke" shared among friends just weeks before Eric’s death. Was it a dark premonition or just bad timing?

PLUS we'll go live to the courtroom for the O'Keefes v Karen Read civil cas

Stick around for our closing segment where we head back to Massachusetts. Karen Read is back in the headlines after a "misleading" phone call between her and Aidan "Turtleboy" Kearney was leaked. Is this the "smoking gun" the McAlberts have been waiting for, or is it another case of a conversation taken wildly out of context? 
If you want to watch the Impact x Nightline episode that Mel is featured in about Pamela Smart's new legal fight, watch it here: https://www.hulu.com/series/98fb0a9b-...

If you like us, please tip us: 
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Follow @realmelbarrett on all socials / TT: @jackofalltradesdc Listen to the In Between Podcast wherever you get your podcasts! Follow ‪@reblavoie‬ on all socials Listen to Crime Writer's On wherever you get your podcasts!

Mel Barrett and Rebecca Lavoie are back to dissect Day 8 of the Kouri Richins trial, a day that felt less like a courtroom and more like a post-mortem of a "shadow war" Eric Richins didn't know he was losing. In this episode, we’re talking about the arrival of the "other man," Robert Josh Grossman. 
Grossman sat in that box and confirmed the affair, but he also dropped a chilling detail: ten days after the funeral, Kouri asked him point-blank what it felt like to kill someone while he was serving in Iraq. Mel and Rebecca ask—is that grief-fueled curiosity, or a killer looking for a kindred spirit? 
Something is definitely off about the paper trail: 
The 6-Minute Mission: We look at the digital evidence of someone using Kouri’s login to try and flip a $2 million beneficiary 61 times in six minutes. That’s not a glitch; that’s an obsession. 
The Digit Slip: A new $100,000 policy taken out weeks before the death had Eric’s SSN transposed and was mailed to a private PO box. Coincidence? We think not. But the defense isn't backing down. 
We break down the high-stakes mistrial motion filed after the defense discovered the state might have hidden the fact that their star witness, Carmen Lauber, failed drug court. Plus, we dive into the "catch pole" text that has the lead detective looking more like a bully than an investigator. 
Join us as we ask: Was Eric Richins a man who knew his time was up, or is the "Moscow Mule Killer" just a widow being buried by bad accounting? Something is definitely off. 
If you want to watch the Impact x Nightline episode that Mel is featured in about Pamela Smart's new legal fight, watch it here: https://www.hulu.com/series/98fb0a9b-...

If you like us, please tip us: 
venmo: @melbarrettwrites 
cashapp: cash.app/$SomethingsOffTips 
You can now join the YouTube channel! Click the join button to select your favorite level. 
Follow @realmelbarrett on all socials / TT: @jackofalltradesdc Listen to the In Between Podcast wherever you get your podcasts! Follow ‪@reblavoie‬ on all socials Listen to Crime Writer's On wherever you get your podcasts!

Join Mel and Marti Cummings as they discuss the current state of politics that led to war with Iran. Is the Epstein Files or Trump's ego? 
Mel is building this new show from scratch and can use your help! 
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Mel Barrett and Rebecca Lavoie are breaking down Day 7 of the Kouri Richins trial, an eight-hour masterclass in forensic accounting that suggests Kouri’s financial empire wasn't just crumbling—it was a full-blown "implosion".
In this episode, we dive into the staggering testimony of Brooke Karrington, the state's star financial witness. Karrington detailed a web of debt totaling $8 million and a net worth that sat at a chilling negative $1.6 million on the day Eric Richins died. We look at the $1.3 million in life insurance payouts that Kouri allegedly burned through in just 90 days, leaving her with a measly $800 in her account by September 2022.
Plus, something is definitely off about:

The Boyfriend Payment: Why did $25,000 of Eric’s money flow directly to Robert Josh Grossman, the "paramour" Kouri was allegedly texting about a future life?

The $3.2 Million Mansion: Mel and Rebecca discuss the sheer audacity of closing on a massive mansion just 24 hours after finding your husband "cold to the touch".

The Secret HELOC: The $250,000 loan Kouri allegedly took out on the family home using a power of attorney Eric knew nothing about—until it was maxed out.

We also analyze Kathy Nester’s surgical cross-examination for the defense, where she pivoted the narrative from "calculated killer" to "overwhelmed entrepreneur". Was Kouri a murderer, or just a woman who was too busy flipping houses to keep her books straight? And what about that safe in the garage and the $10,000 allegedly found in a backpack?
Finally, we go behind closed doors to discuss Judge Richard Mrazik’s rulings on "junk science" experts and the high-stakes legal battle over Kouri’s allegedly forged tax returns.
Join us as we ask: Is this a motive for murder, or a portrait of a messy, high-stakes life spinning out of control? something is definitely off.
If you want to watch the Impact x Nightline episode that Mel is featured in about Pamela Smart's new legal fight, watch it here: https://www.hulu.com/series/98fb0a9b-...

If you like us, please tip us: venmo:
@melbarrettwrites
cashapp: cash.app/$SomethingsOffTips
You can now join the YouTube channel!
Click the join button to select your favorite level. Follow @realmelbarrett on all socials / TT: @jackofalltradesdc Listen to the In Between Podcast wherever you get your podcasts! Follow ‪@reblavoie‬ on all socials Listen to Crime Writer's On wherever you get your podcasts!

There is the official story: A mother, a nurse, and a "premeditated" tragedy in a quiet Massachusetts suburb. And then there is the truth that lives in the gray area.
In this episode, Mel Barrett deconstructs the case against Lindsay Clancy. As the July 20, 2026, trial date looms, the legal battle has shifted from the "what" to the "why." We dive deep into the medical records that reveal a staggering cocktail of 13 psychiatric medications prescribed in just four months—a chemical storm that Patrick Clancy says turned his wife into a "zombie."
We walk through the haunting 55-minute timeline of January 24, 2023, and break down the defense's high-stakes motion for a bifurcated trial. Why is the state fighting so hard to keep the jury from seeing the science and the horror as separate issues? And what does the recent 2026 court appearance—Lindsay’s first in person—tell us about the road ahead?
This isn't just a story about a crime; it’s an indictment of a medical system that treats postpartum mental health like a chemistry experiment.
Inside the episode:

The "Male Voice": A detailed look at the reported psychotic break.

17-Minute Appointments: How virtual care failed a family in crisis.

The First Amendment Standoff: Why The New Yorker fought a subpoena for Patrick’s interview notes.

The 2026 Lawsuit: Patrick Clancy vs. the doctors who signed the scripts.

If you want to watch the Impact x Nightline episode that Mel is featured in about Pamela Smart's new legal fight, watch it here: https://www.hulu.com/series/98fb0a9b-...

If you appreciate the work Mel does, please tip her! 
venmo: @melbarrettwrites 
You can now join the YouTube channel! Click the join button to select your favorite level. 
Follow @realmelbarrett on all socials / TT: @jackofalltradesdc Listen to the In Between Podcast wherever you get your podcasts!