Dentist Accused Of Poisoning Wife While Planning New Life With Another Woman: Warrant

AURORA, CO — A dentist in Colorado is facing murder charges after the death of his wife, who authorities say was poisoned through a protein shake her husband would regularly prepare for her.

According to an arrest warrant, the dentist, 45-year-old James Toliver Craig, showed "planning and intent" leading to his wife's death and was working on starting a new life with a woman he was having an affair with. The couple had six children together, ABC reported.

Authorities said he drove his 43-year-old wife, Angela Craig, to the hospital Wednesday evening because she was complaining of severe headaches and dizziness. She deteriorated rapidly and was declared brain dead before being taken off life support.

James Craig was arrested early Sunday morning, according to a news release.

After authorities determined that Angela Craig was poisoned, suspicion turned to her husband—a dentist who worked at the Summerbrook Dental Group—because he recently ordered potassium cyanide despite having no medical need for it at the practice, according to the arrest warrant.

Angela Craig first became sick on March 6—the day she was taken to the hospital for the first of three times—after drinking a protein shake that her husband made for her, the warrant said. James Craig was known to make his wife protein shakes regularly and authorities believe he poisoned her through these shakes, according to the warrant.

When confronted by an unnamed person who knew about the package he ordered, James Craig said his wife asked him to order the potassium cyanide since she didn't have the proper credentials to do so herself, according to the warrant. He later described a situation similar to a game of "chicken," but claimed he "didn't think she [Angela] would actually take it," the warrant said.

Authorities also said in the warrant that James Craig used an office computer to research "undetectable poisons."

Speaking to authorities, James Craig's business partner said he filed for bankruptcy in 2021 and was about to go bankrupt again, according to the warrant. James Craig also told multiple coworkers that his marriage was failing, and he appears to have been in a sexual relationship with a woman who he flew to Denver for a visit while his wife was in the hospital, the warrant said.

According to the warrant, the pair exchanged emails that were sexual and intimate in nature and contained flight itineraries for travel from Texas to Colorado.

“When the suspicious details of this case came to light, our team of officers and homicide detectives tirelessly worked to uncover the truth behind the victim’s sudden illness and death,” Division Chief Mark Hildebrand said in the news release. “It was quickly discovered this was in fact a heinous, complex and calculated murder."

Anyone with any information is urged to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.STOP (7867).