Devil dentist spent days slowly killing wife with poisoned protein shakes – before giving her deadly cyanide in hospital
James Craig has been convicted of first-degree murder for killing his wife Angela after 20 years of marriage.
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A court found that the Colorado man had poisoned Angela Craig over 10 days in March 2023.
But when those attempts failed the dentist gave his wife a final dose of cyanide as she was hospitalised with symptoms that puzzled doctors, prosecutors said.
She was declared brain dead soon after.
Toxicology tests determined Angela Craig, 43, died of poisoning from cyanide and tetrahydrozoline - an ingredient commonly found in over-the-counter eye drops, according to the coroner.
Photos from a hospital security camera produced in court showed Craig holding a syringe before he entered Angela's room.
After administering the fatal dose through her IV, Craig walked out and texted a fellow dentist with whom he was having an affair, according to prosecutors.
Court documents claimed that Craig wanted to kill his wife to get out of a marriage he felt trapped in, adding he didn't want a divorce so he could protect his money and image.
Legal papers revealed he reportedly arranged to have her fly to Colorado when Angela was ill.
Text messages showed the pair using affectionate language.
However, Craig reportedly sent his wife affectionate messages while she was in the hospital.
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He also expressed concern about Angela's welfare.
Months later, Cain spoke out on Good Morning America and revealed she wasn't willing to have a relationship with someone who was married.
'There's been no planning for a future together,' she said.
Craig was also found guilty of trying to cover up the killing by asking others to fake evidence and testimony that would make it appear that Angela had killed herself.
He asked one of her daughters to make a fake video of her mother asking to be poisoned and of trying to get one fellow jail inmate to kill the lead detective investigating his wife's death, among other things.
The defence had suggested earlier that Angela Craig may have taken her own life and faulted police for focusing solely on Craig as a suspect.
James Craig case
DENTIST James Craig faces two extra charges in connection with a plot to kill a detective probing his suspected murder case. He is accused of killing his wife Angela.
March 6 2023: Angela falls ill after drinking shakes reportedly made by Craig. He takes her to the hospital, and she is released the same day.
March 8 - 10 2023: Craig tries to arrange lover to travel to Colorado.
March 14: Angela is discharged from hospital for a second time.
March 15: She is re-admitted, and her condition deteriorates.
March 16: She suffered a seizure and was put in intensive care
March 18: Angela, Craig's wife of 23 years, is pronounced brain dead.
March 19: Craig arrested on murder charges in connection with her death.
March 23: Craig formally charged with murder
November 21, 2024: Trial delayed after defense attorney withdraws.
July 30, 2025: District Judge Shay Whitaker sentenced James Craig to life without the possibility of parole
Police branded Angela's death a "heinous" murder and unearthed a series of Google searches allegedly made by Craig.
Court documents also revealed that Craig ordered potassium cyanide – even though he didn't need it to carry out his job.
The man stood in a hushed courtroom on Wednesday afternoon as the jury delivered a litany of guilty verdicts.
His sentencing followed tearful testimony by Angela Craig's relatives about the impact of losing her, including one of the couple's six children, who cast her father as a villain.
Craig appeared to shake with tears as his oldest daughter spoke about how much she missed being able to talk to her mother about her life and how she felt betrayed by her father.
"I was supposed to be able to trust my dad; he was supposed to be my hero, and instead hell forever be the villain in my book," Miriam Mira Meservy said.
District Judge Shay Whitaker sentenced James Craig to life without the possibility of parole.
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