A Colorado dentist, James Craig, who stands accused of using poison to kill his wife by contaminating her protein shakes, is scheduled to enter a plea in court on Tuesday for the charge of first-degree murder.
Police allege that James Craig initiated an affair before his wife, Angela Craig, passed away on March 18. Authorities uncovered online searches made by Craig, inquiring about topics such as the detectability of arsenic in an autopsy and methods to make murder appear as a heart attack. Angela Craig also conducted searches, investigating symptoms like vertigo, shaking, and cold lips, as detailed by District Attorney John Kellner during a preliminary hearing held in July.
Angela Craig, a mother of six who had been married to James Craig for 23 years, reportedly died from a combination of cyanide and tetrahydrozoline poisoning, the latter being a substance found in over-the-counter eye drops. This information was disclosed by Arapahoe County coroner Kelly Lear.
During the preliminary hearing, defense attorneys for James Craig contested the absence of direct evidence connecting him to the poisoning, and they accused the lead detective of harboring bias against their client. The matter of how investigators believe tetrahydrozoline was used to poison Angela Craig was not addressed in either the affidavit or the hearing’s testimonies.
In addition to the murder charge, Craig was later accused of tampering with evidence; however, specific details about this allegation have not been revealed.
The defense team proposed an alternate explanation, suggesting that Craig, who had previously attempted suicide, was researching methods to end his own life. The lead investigator in the case, Bobbie Olson, admitted during the preliminary hearing that tests did not identify any traces of cyanide or arsenic in two shake bottles.
Authorities contend that Craig, who regularly prepared protein shakes for his wife, attempted to poison her shake with arsenic on March 6. When this attempt failed and Angela survived, Craig allegedly rushed to acquire potassium cyanide, falsely claiming it was needed for a surgical procedure, according to court documents.
The arrest affidavit indicated that the investigation into Craig’s actions began after a nurse mentioned to Craig’s dental practice partner that he had procured potassium cyanide, although it wasn’t necessary for their dental work.
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Police assert that Craig was involved with another woman while his wife was undergoing treatment in the hospital. However, the woman denied willingly engaging in a relationship with a married individual.
