Colorado dentist sentenced for poisoning his wife's protein shakes and killing her

AURORA, Colo. (TCN) -- A dentist who poisoned his wife's protein shakes and gave her a fatal dose of cyanide will spend the rest of his life behind bars.

The 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office announced July 30 that a jury found James Craig guilty of multiple charges, including first-degree murder, solicitation/tampering with evidence, solicitation to commit perjury, and solicitation to commit murder. According to The Associated Press, a judge sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Per an initial affidavit and Aurora Police, on March 15, 2023, the defendant drove his wife, 43-year-old Angela Craig, to University Hospital for a severe headache and dizziness. She reportedly experienced a seizure and had to be placed on life support. Authorities said she was declared brain deadly shortly after and taken off life support several days later. She reportedly died of poisoning from cyanide and tetrahydrozoline, an ingredient commonly found in eye drops.

Prior to her death, Angela Craig had been in and out of the hospital for similar symptoms.

According to the affidavit, James Craig, a dentist who worked at the Summerbrook Dental Group, had ordered potassium cyanide for their dental practice even though there was no medical reason to do so. Nurses learned about this and alerted police. A witness allegedly asked James Craig why he bought the potassium cyanide, and he claimed his wife asked him to order it.

James Craig purportedly purchased cyanide and arsenic in the days leading up to his wife’s death and poisoned her protein shakes. He allegedly used his office computer to search for subjects, including "How many grams of pure arsenic will kill a human," "how to make poison," "Is Arsenic Detectable in Autopsy," and "how to make a murder look like a heart attack."

Investigators obtained security footage from the hospital showing the defendant holding a syringe before he went into his wife's room and allegedly administered a fatal dose through her IV.

Per the affidavit, the Craigs were having marital problems. James Craig reportedly claimed the victim was suicidal and that he had saved her many times, but officials said he never reported it. According to authorities, the defendant told fellow co-workers that "his marriage was failing, and he was in financial turmoil."

While his wife was hospitalized, Craig allegedly communicated with a woman for an apparent affair and flew her to Denver.

According to The Associated Press, the defendant's oldest daughter spoke before her father's sentencing and said, "I was supposed to be able to trust my dad; he was supposed to be my hero, and instead, he’ll forever be the villain in my book."

Joshua Ritter recently discussed the defendant's trial on True Crime News The Sidebar Podcast.

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