Latest news with #ArapahoeCounty
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Colorado dentist sentenced to life in prison for poisoning his wife's protein shakes
A Colorado dentist was sentenced to life in prison on July 30 for the 2023 murder of his wife, whose protein shakes were dosed with a mix of chemicals, including a medication commonly used in over-the-counter eye drops, prosecutors said. James Craig, 47, was convicted of first-degree murder, solicitation to commit murder in the first degree, solicitation to commit perjury, and solicitation to commit evidence tampering, according to the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office. He was acquitted of a lesser, non-included charge of manslaughter-caused or aided suicide. An Arapahoe County jury reached their verdict on July 30 after nearly nine hours of deliberation following closing arguments in which prosecutors detailed James Craig's scheme to kill his wife, 43-year-old Angela Craig, in March 2023. Shortly after James Craig was convicted, District Judge Shay Whitaker sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole. During the trial, prosecutors said James Craig had poisoned his wife over the span of 10 days with arsenic, potassium cyanide, and tetrahydrozoline, a form of a medicine that is found in over-the-counter eye drops and nasal sprays. She was hospitalized on March 15, 2023, and pronounced brain dead three days later. Jurors also found James Craig guilty of attempting to cover up his scheme by asking others to fabricate evidence and lie, including his daughter whom he asked to create a deepfake video of his wife. In addition, prosecutors said James Craig had targeted the lead detective investigating the case and plotted to kill him, among other offenses. "This is Angela's husband (poisoning) her, causing her to die a slow death," District Attorney Amy Padden said during a news conference following Craig's sentencing. "It wasn't something done in the heat of passion. It was deliberate. It was over the course of days, and then the cover up afterwards — enlisting his own daughter to attempt to make a deepfake video. To me, that was what was so stunning about this case." What was he using it for? An Arkansas tree cutter made a lethal biological agent. Protein shakes laced with poison Weeks before his wife's death, James Craig conducted searches related to poison, including "how many grams of pure arsenic will kill a human" and "Is Arsenic Detectable in Autopsy," according to a redacted affidavit. He also researched "undetectable poisons" and their effects on people, the affidavit states. James Craig then ordered arsenic from Amazon, which was delivered to his house in suburban Denver on March 4, 2023, according to the affidavit. Two days later, Angela Craig drank a protein shake that he made her and began to feel sick, saying that she was dizzy and weak. "Angela went to Parker Adventist Hospital and was released the same day," the affidavit states. "(She) returned to Parker Adventist Hospital on March 9, 2023. Angela was admitted on March 9, 2023, and released on March 14, 2023." James Craig also ordered potassium cyanide from Midland Scientific, a laboratory products distributor, and later purchased packages of eyedrops from a supermarket, according to the affidavit and prosecutors. The order of potassium cyanide was delivered to his dental practice on March 13, 2023, and was opened by an employee. After doctors were unable to diagnose Angela Craig, police began investigating James Craig after his dental practice partner, Ryan Redfearn, told a nurse that James Craig had ordered potassium cyanide and that he suspected Angela Craig was a possible victim of poisoning, the affidavit states. "Ryan asked James why he would buy Potassium Cyanide. James eventually recanted and admitted the package contained Potassium Cyanide but claimed that Angela asked him to order it," according to the affidavit. "James told Ryan he ordered the Potassium Cyanide, but he 'didn't think she [Angela] would actually take it.'" Idaho murders: Bryan Kohberger gets four life sentences after tearful testimony from victim families Multiple affairs, a previous drugging Toni Kofoed, Angela Craig's sister, told investigators that her sister and James Craig had a tumultuous marriage, according to the affidavit. Redfearn also said in an interview with investigators that he knew James Craig had been having marriage problems. "James had multiple affairs with several women, told Angela he had been addicted to pornography since he was a teenager, and drugged Angela approximately five to six years ago," the affidavit states. Angela Craig allegedly told Kofoed that James Craig had drugged her with an unknown drug because he planned to commit suicide, according to the affidavit. She also told Kofoed several times that she was going to leave her husband but said "James always convinced her to stay," the affidavit states. An investigation revealed that prior to Angela Craig's death, James Craig had been having an affair with a woman — identified as Karin Cain — he met at dental conference in Las Vegas. A search of James Craig's emails showed that he had been communicating with Cain while Angela Craig was in the hospital, according to the affidavit. "The emails were intimate in nature and contained sexually explicit conversations," the affidavit states. "It appeared that James had Karin visit him while his wife was in the hospital sick." The affidavit further stated that James Craig told Cain that something had happened to his wife and she expressed how sorry she was for him. In an interview with ABC News in 2023, Cain said when she met James Craig he had told her he was amid a divorce and that she didn't believe she was the motive behind the killing. "If I had known what was true, I would not have been with this person," she told ABC News. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Colorado dentist sentenced to life for poisoning wife's protein shakes
Sky News
7 hours ago
- Sky News
James Craig: Dentist who poisoned wife's protein shakes - and gave fatal dose of cyanide
A dentist has been jailed for life for poisoning his wife's protein shakes before delivering a fatal dose of cyanide while she was in hospital. James Craig, from Colorado in the US, had searched on the internet "how to make murder look like a heart attack" weeks before Angela - his wife of 23 years - died, a trial heard. The 45-year-old had also searched for answers to the question "is arsenic detectable in an autopsy?" on a computer at his dental practice in the Denver suburb of Aurora in Colorado, the court was told. Prosecutors said the dentist had poisoned Mrs Craig, who was the mother of his six children, over 10 days in the month of her death. When those attempts failed, prosecutors alleged the dentist gave the 43-year-old a final dose of cyanide while she was hospitalised in Denver with symptoms that confused doctors. She was declared brain dead soon after on what was her third trip to hospital following the initial poisonings. Police in the Denver had begun investigating Craig after his dental practice partner and friend told a nurse that the dentist had ordered potassium cyanide, even though it was not needed for their work. Craig was convicted of first-degree murder and several other charges by a jury at the Arapahoe County Justice Center on Wednesday. District Judge Shay Whitaker sentenced Craig to life without the possibility of parole, the mandatory sentence for a first-degree murder conviction in Colorado. The jury rejected his claim that he had helped his wife kill herself after he said he wanted a divorce following his repeated extramarital affairs. His sentencing came after his oldest daughter, Miriam Merservy, spoke tearfully in court about how 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 he'll forever be the villain in my book," she said. Craig appeared to shake with tears as his daughter spoke. The couple's son Toliver Craig told the court he and his mother didn't always get along - but two weeks after she died he set an alarm on his phone that still goes off every night at 10pm. It just says "Mom". "I'm sad there's not more time with her," he said. Craig didn't testify during his two-week trial and he declined to make a statement before being sentenced. Toxicology tests determined Mrs Craig died of poisoning from cyanide and tetrahydrozoline, an ingredient commonly found in over-the-counter eye drops, according to the coroner. Prosecutors argued Craig wanted to kill his wife to get out of a marriage he felt trapped in, adding he didn't want a divorce because he wanted to protect his money and image. They said photos from a hospital security camera shown in court depict Craig holding a syringe before he entered his wife's room. After administering the fatal dose, Craig walked out and texted a fellow dentist with whom he was having an affair, Senior Chief Deputy District Attorney Michael Mauro told jurors in closing arguments on Tuesday. His wife's condition quickly worsened. Speaking after sentencing, Mr Mauro said Craig clearly wanted out of his marriage but gave in to "greed and cowardice" with murder. "The jury said it loudly: Angela was not suicidal. She had no knowledge of or participation in what happened to her," the prosecutor said. What else was Craig convicted of? Besides murder, Craig was found guilty of trying to cover up the killing by asking others to fake evidence and testimony that would make it appear his wife had killed herself or wanted to frame him for her death. He was also found guilty of asking one of his daughters, who was not Ms Merservy, to make a fake video of her mother asking to be poisoned. Craig was also convicted trying to get a fellow jail inmate to kill the lead detective investigating his wife's death. He was acquitted of just one charge - manslaughter.
Telegraph
10 hours ago
- Telegraph
Dentist who poisoned wife's protein shakes jailed for murder
A Colorado dentist was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday for killing his wife by lacing her protein shakes with poison before delivering a fatal dose of cyanide. District Judge Shay Whitaker sentenced James Craig to life without the possibility of parole, the mandatory sentence for first-degree murder in Colorado. He was convicted of murder and other charges earlier in the day by a jury. Craig poisoned his wife Angela Craig over 10 days in March 2023. When those attempts failed, prosecutors said the dentist gave his wife a final dose of cyanide as she was taken to hospital in suburban Denver with symptoms that puzzled doctors. She was declared brain-dead soon after. In addition to murder, Craig was 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 or wanted to frame him for her death. He was found guilty of asking his daughter to make a fake video of her mother asking to be poisoned and of trying to get one inmate to kill the lead detective investigating his wife's death, among other things. Jurors rejected his claim that his wife sought his help in ending her own life. Toxicology tests determined Ms Craig died of poisoning from cyanide and tetrahydrozoline, an ingredient commonly found in over-the-counter eye drops, according to the coroner. Prosecutors at the district court in Centennial, Araphaoe County, argued Craig wanted to kill his wife to get out of a marriage he felt trapped in, adding he did not want a divorce so he could protect his money and image. Photos from a hospital security camera seen in court show Craig holding a syringe before he entered Ms Craig's room, prosecutors told the trial. After administering the fatal dose through her IV, Craig walked out and texted a fellow dentist with whom he was having an affair, Senior Chief Deputy Michael Mauro told jurors in closing arguments. His wife's condition quickly worsened. Lisa Fine Moses, one of Craig's lawyers, told jurors earlier this week that the image was blurry and syringes that investigators recovered did not contain any poison. She also said the couple were not in financial trouble, and that Craig's cheating had been going on for years and had never been a motivation for murder. Craig stood in a hushed courtroom on Wednesday afternoon as the jury delivered a series of guilty verdicts on murder and other charges. His sentencing came soon after the victim's relatives tearfully testified about the impact of losing her. Toni Kofoed, Ms Craig's older sister, lamented the loss of phone calls, texts and trips with her sister where they could laugh and talk throughout the night. 'You have taken away our opportunity to grow old together. Her life was not yours to take,″ Ms Kofoed said, addressing the defendant. 'Angela had a love and a passion for life. She loved her children and, unfortunately, she loved you.' 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 he'll forever be the villain in my book,' she said. The dentist declined to make any statement before he was sentenced. He was immediately handcuffed to be led out of the court. In court, Craig's family members sat on his side of the room and the victim's family sat on the other. But afterward, they hugged each other and shook hands, many wiping tears from their eyes. Craig did not testify during the two-week trial, and his attorneys did not present other witnesses. The defence had suggested earlier at trial that Ms Craig may have taken her own life and faulted police for focusing solely on Craig as a suspect. However, prosecutors said the dentist offered other conflicting explanations for her death to other people.
CTV News
11 hours ago
- CTV News
Dentist is convicted of murder, gets life sentence for lacing wife's protein shakes with poison
Dentist James Craig listens to closing arguments during his murder trial in district court in Arapahoe County, Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in Centennial, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowskil) A Colorado dentist was sentenced to life in prison Wednesday in the death of his wife, whose protein shakes he laced with poison before delivering a fatal dose of cyanide. District Judge Shay Whitaker sentenced James Craig to life without the possibility of parole, the mandatory sentence for first-degree murder in Colorado. He was convicted of murder and other charges earlier in the day by a jury. Prosecutors had said at trial that James Craiged poisoned his wife Angela Craig over 10 days in March 2023. When those attempts failed, prosecutors said the dentist gave his wife a final dose of cyanide as she was hospitalized in suburban Denver with symptoms that puzzled doctors. She was declared brain dead soon after. Craig stood in a hushed courtroom Wednesday afternoon as the jury delivered a litany of guilty verdicts on murder and other charges. His sentencing came soon after when Angela Craig's relatives tearfully testified about the impact of losing her. Angela Craig's older sister, Toni Kofoed, lamented the loss of phone calls, texts and trips with her sister where they could laugh and talk throughout the night. 'You have taken away our opportunity to grow old together,' Kofoed. said. 'Her life was not yours to take,″ Kofoed said in turning to the defendant. 'Angela had a love and a passion for life. She loved her children and, unfortunately, she loved you.' And James 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 he'll forever be the villain in my book,' she said. The dentist declined to make any statement before he was sentenced. He was immediately handcuffed to be led out of court. In court, James Craig's family members sat on Craig's side of the room and Angela Craig's family sat on the other. But afterward, they hugged each other and shook hands, many wiping tears from their eyes. In addition to murder, James Craig also was found guilty of trying to cover up the killing by asking others to fake evidence and testimony that would make it appear that Angela Craig had killed herself or wanted to frame him for her death. He was found guilty of asking his daughter to make a fake video of her mother asking to be poisoned and of trying to get one inmate to kill the lead detective investigating his wife's death, among other things. Jurors rejected his claim that his wife sought his help in ending her own life. James Craig himself didn't testify during the two-week trial, and his attorneys didn't present other witnesses. The defense had suggested earlier at trial that Angela Craig may have taken her own life and faulted police for focusing solely on James Craig as a suspect. However, prosecutors said the dentist had offered other conflicting explanations for her death to other people. Toxicology tests determined Angela Craig died of poisoning from cyanide and tetrahydrozoline, an ingredient commonly found in over-the-counter eye drops, according to the coroner. Prosecutors argued 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. Prosecutors said photos from a hospital security camera shown in court depict Craig holding a syringe before he entered Angela Craig'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, Senior Chief Deputy Michael Mauro told jurors in closing arguments. His wife's condition quickly worsened. One of Craig's attorneys, Lisa Fine Moses, told jurors earlier this week that the image was blurry and syringes that investigators recovered did not contain any poison. She also said the couple wasn't in financial trouble, and that Craig's cheating had been going on for years and had never been a motivation for murder. Jesse Bedayn And Colleen Slevin, The Associated Press Slevin reported from Denver.
CBS News
13 hours ago
- CBS News
Colorado dentist James Craig found guilty of murdering his wife
An Arapahoe County jury has returned a guilty verdict in the trial of James Craig, the Colorado dentist accused of poisoning and killing his wife. The jury returned the verdict, along with five other guilty verdicts, on Wednesday afternoon. Craig was on trial after he was charged with the murder of his wife, Angela, in 2023 by putting poisonous arsenic in her protein shakes. The jury returned guilty verdicts on first-degree murder, two counts of solicitation to commit tampering with physical evidence, two counts of solicitation to commit first-degree perjury, and solicitation to commit first-degree murder. The solicitation to commit murder charge stems from allegations that he sought a fellow jail inmate to kill an investigator in his case, investigators said. Prosecutors claimed Craig's internet browsing history included search terms like "How to make murder look like a heart attack?" "Is there such thing as an undetectable poison?" and "How long does it take to die from arsenic poisoning?" During opening statements in the trial, Craig's defense attorney Ashley Witham suggested that Angela's death may have been a suicide, saying the case is not as "cut and dry" as the prosecution claims. The conviction for first-degree murder includes a sentence of up to life in prison without the possibility of parole, as Colorado doesn't have the death penalty.
