Latest news with #MichaelMauro
Yahoo
30-07-2025
- Yahoo
Dentist who spent 10 days slowly killing his wife by poisoning her morning smoothie is found guilty of murder
A Colorado dentist accused of murder by slowly poisoning his wife's protein shakes over the span of 10 days, has been found guilty of first-degree murder. Jurors reached their decision on Wednesday afternoon after deliberating for less than a day following closing arguments on Tuesday in which the prosecution painted James Craig, 47, as a manipulative husband who devised a scheme to kill his wife, Angela, and make it look like she took her own life. 'Angela Craig was innocent,' prosecutor Michael Mauro said during his closing argument. 'She had no part in her death, and the only person who says otherwise is this man. The person guilty of the ultimate betrayal – her murder.' Angela Craig, a 43-year-old mother of six, died on March 18, 2023, after being hospitalized three times in 10 days for severe headaches, dizziness, and vomiting. An autopsy revealed lethal levels of cyanide and tetrahydrozoline, an ingredient found in over-the-counter eyedrops, in her system. Arsenic was also listed as a contributing factor in her death. Prosecutors accused Craig of poisoning his wife over time, culminating in a fatal dose they say he administered on March 15, 2023, while she was in the hospital. She was declared brain dead shortly afterward. Craig's defense team acknowledged his serial infidelity and dishonesty but argued there was no concrete proof he killed his wife. Defense attorney Lisa Moses cited Angela Craig's old journal entries to suggest she may have died by suicide and questioned the thoroughness of the investigation. 'This case is really about broken people, broken marriage, broken perceptions, broken investigation,' Moses said. During the two-week trial, the prosecution called 48 witnesses and introduced evidence that Craig had ordered cyanide and arsenic online and made internet searches such as 'how to make poison' and 'Top 5 Undetectable Poisons That Show No Signs of Foul Play.' They also argued Craig had attempted to stage a murder-for-hire plot from jail, targeting the case's lead investigator and two inmates, while also soliciting help from his daughter and others to lie and fabricate evidence. Angela's brother-in-law, Mark Pray, testified that he unwittingly gave Angela cyanide-laced pills at Craig's instruction. Moments later, she became weak and unable to stand. Craig did not testify during the trial, and his attorneys did not call any witnesses. In cross-examinations, the defense suggested Angela may have taken the poison herself and argued that investigators had tunnel vision by focusing solely on Craig. Police recovered a document from Craig's phone titled 'timeline,' in which he claimed Angela had asked him to help her die after he sought a divorce. He wrote that he agreed to obtain poisons but not administer them, instead placing cyanide in capsules and preparing a syringe. According to his timeline, Angela ingested the toxins herself before her final collapse. Detective Bobbi Olson, the lead investigator, testified that Craig's version of events shifted frequently and conflicted with statements he made to others. At one point, Craig allegedly accused Angela of trying to frame him. The defense entered Angela's journal into evidence, highlighting years-old entries about the toll of Craig's affairs. But Olson noted the entries ended in 2018 and made no mention of suicide. Angela's sister, Toni Kofoed, pushed back on any suggestion Angela wanted to end her life. 'She had a broken heart,' Kofoed testified. 'But not a broken mind.' Craig now faces a potential life sentence without parole.
CNN
18-07-2025
- CNN
Dentist accused of fatally poisoning wife asked daughter to create deepfake video of mom asking for chemicals, daughter says
A daughter of James Craig, the Colorado dentist accused of fatally poisoning his wife and the mother of their children, testified Thursday that her father asked her make it seem like her mother wanted Craig to order the ingredients which ultimately led to her death. Craig gave step-by-step instructions in a letter for how to create a deepfake video of his wife, the daughter testified. Deepfakes are inauthentic images, videos or audio recordings created by artificial intelligence that appear real but have been digitally manipulated, or faked. 'I love you … I'm sorry to even have to ask you for this help,' prosecutor Michael Mauro read in an excerpt of the letter, which the daughter testified was written in her father's handwriting. Craig is accused of poisoning his wife, Angela, in March 2023, with a mix of arsenic, cyanide and tetrahydrozoline, a medication commonly found in eyedrops. Once she was in the hospital, he allegedly filled a pill with cyanide and made sure she took it, killing her, according to the prosecution. Prosecutors allege he killed his wife because of his growing financial troubles and his affair with another woman. Craig has pleaded not guilty to charges including first-degree murder, solicitation to commit first-degree murder, solicitation to commit tampering with physical evidence and solicitation to commit perjury. He had told several people that his wife was suffering from suicidal ideations leading up to her death, according to the probable cause affidavit. The letter's directions included buying a 'cheap' laptop, installing a private network and dark web browser and paying for the project using a pre-paid Visa gift card, the daughter testified. The video must appear to have been made in the weeks before Angela Craig's death, the daughter testified. He also asked her to burn the video to thumbdrives and let an investigator know she found them in her mother's bag, all before destroying the laptop, she testified. The letter said the second-oldest daughter out of six children was chosen to do this favor because she is most like her mother – stoic and practical – and is technologically adept, she testified. In cross examination, she admitted the letter was disappointing, confusing and made her feel a lot of emotions. The 20-year-old daughter said she was living at home at the time her mother became sick and she drove her to and from emergency rooms to be treated, while also taking care of her younger siblings. In one instance, she found her mother 'almost fainted on the floor' of their bathroom, she was 'super tired and super out of it,' she said. Craig's oldest daughter also testified Thursday, revealing her father did not want an autopsy to be conducted on her mother. He didn't want to 'satisfy their curiosities' and have them poking at her, the daughter testified her father said after her mother's death. When she expressed her concerns about her mother's illness being hereditary and that she might have passed it on to her youngest children, the daughter testified her father stayed quiet. During her emotional testimony, the daughter said that while her mother struggled 'like anyone else,' she wouldn't have taken her own life. 'We were making plans,' the 21-year-old woman said. With a comfort dog named Fancy by her side on Thursday, the oldest daughter testified, often through tears, that her mother was her best friend and she tried to talk to her each day. She knew her mother to be very active, loved exercising on her stationary bike and did yoga and Pilates. But in early 2023, her mother had gotten very ill and was frustrated over not knowing what was wrong with her. Her oldest daughter remembers her mother saying she felt 'dizzy' and 'heavy' before her symptoms worsened and she felt 'pukey' and 'less stable on her own two feet.' Andi Babineau reported from Centennial, Colorado,and Cindy Von Quednow reported from Los Angeles.
CTV News
18-07-2025
- CTV News
Dentist accused of fatally poisoning wife asked daughter to create deepfake video of mom asking for chemicals, daughter says
Colorado dentist James Craig is accused of fatally poisoning his wife in 2023. (Christopher Oquendo/Pool/Daily Mail via CNN Newsource) Centennial, Colorado — A daughter of James Craig, the Colorado dentist accused of fatally poisoning his wife and the mother of their children, testified Thursday that her father asked her make it seem like her mother wanted Craig to order the ingredients which ultimately led to her death. Craig gave step-by-step instructions in a letter for how to create a deepfake video of his wife, the daughter testified. Deepfakes are inauthentic images, videos or audio recordings created by artificial intelligence that appear real but have been digitally manipulated, or faked. 'I love you … I'm sorry to even have to ask you for this help,' prosecutor Michael Mauro read in an excerpt of the letter, which the daughter testified was written in her father's handwriting. Craig is accused of poisoning his wife, Angela, in March 2023, with a mix of arsenic, cyanide and tetrahydrozoline, a medication commonly found in eyedrops. Once she was in the hospital, he allegedly filled a pill with cyanide and made sure she took it, killing her, according to the prosecution. Prosecutors allege he killed his wife because of his growing financial troubles and his affair with another woman. Craig has pleaded not guilty to charges including first-degree murder, solicitation to commit first-degree murder, solicitation to commit tampering with physical evidence and solicitation to commit perjury. He had told several people that his wife was suffering from suicidal ideations leading up to her death, according to the probable cause affidavit. The letter's directions included buying a 'cheap' laptop, installing a private network and dark web browser and paying for the project using a pre-paid Visa gift card, the daughter testified. The video must appear to have been made in the weeks before Angela Craig's death, the daughter testified. He also asked her to burn the video to thumbdrives and let an investigator know she found them in her mother's bag, all before destroying the laptop, she testified. The letter said the second-oldest daughter out of six children was chosen to do this favor because she is most like her mother – stoic and practical – and is technologically adept, she testified. In cross examination, she admitted the letter was disappointing, confusing and made her feel a lot of emotions. The 20-year-old daughter said she was living at home at the time her mother became sick and she drove her to and from emergency rooms to be treated, while also taking care of her younger siblings. In one instance, she found her mother 'almost fainted on the floor' of their bathroom, she was 'super tired and super out of it,' she said. Craig did not want autopsy for wife, oldest daughter says Craig's oldest daughter also testified Thursday, revealing her father did not want an autopsy to be conducted on her mother. He didn't want to 'satisfy their curiosities' and have them poking at her, the daughter testified her father said after her mother's death. When she expressed her concerns about her mother's illness being hereditary and that she might have passed it on to her youngest children, the daughter testified her father stayed quiet. During her emotional testimony, the daughter said that while her mother struggled 'like anyone else,' she wouldn't have taken her own life. 'We were making plans,' the 21-year-old woman said. With a comfort dog named Fancy by her side on Thursday, the oldest daughter testified, often through tears, that her mother was her best friend and she tried to talk to her each day. She knew her mother to be very active, loved exercising on her stationary bike and did yoga and Pilates. But in early 2023, her mother had gotten very ill and was frustrated over not knowing what was wrong with her. Her oldest daughter remembers her mother saying she felt 'dizzy' and 'heavy' before her symptoms worsened and she felt 'pukey' and 'less stable on her own two feet.' By Andi Babineau and Cindy Von Quednow, CNN
Eater
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
Inside LIA, a New Downtown Restaurant Attempting to Redefine Artful Consumption
Chicago chefs have often explored the connection between the visual and culinary arts through creating plating or decor. LIA, opening today in River North, takes that relationship to a new level, featuring dishes that replicate the art that surrounds the diner. The restaurant will welcome a resident artist; the menu also has a QR code encouraging customers to purchase pieces. For its opening, LIA (which stands for 'life imitates art') will shine a spotlight on Laundry Room Studios. Resident artists aren't new to Chicago restaurants; places like Michelin-starred Esme have found success with the practice. But in River North, among the tourist traps, LIA hopes to carve a niche. The tasting menu tries not to take itself too seriously. A foie gras mousse with cherry gel starts the meal and is called 'I'm Not Super Hungry.' The meal closes with a Nutella tiramisu with an affixed message 'Don't Eat The Art Work,' and mimics a piece of art hung on the wall. Customers aren't bound by the tasting menu. A la carte options include small plates (like white sangria octopus), large plates (like banana leaf monkfish), and 'vegetable stuff' (like caccio de pepe with a red beet reduction). This is the first Chicago project from a metro Detroit-based company, Canvas Hospitality. There, chef Jonas Vaiciunas and co-owner Michael Mauro opened a restaurant called the Jackson, named after Jackson Pollock. The food's presentation, as you might guess, took cues from the artist. In Chicago, the space is designed by Pophouse, which is owned by Jennifer Gilbert. Her husband is billionaire Dan Gilbert. Check out the space, food, and menu below. LIA opens on Thursday, June 5. LIA , 11 W. Illinois Street, reservations via Resy . Sign up for our newsletter.
