A dentist from Aurora, Colorado, allegedly poisoned his wife so he could start a new life with an orthodontist in Texas. James Craig, 45, is accused of slowly poisoning his wife, Angela Craig, with potassium cyanide in her protein shakes until she became so ill that she could not recover and eventually died.
As Angela Craig became increasingly ill, James Craig reportedly told investigators his wife was hooked on opioids and had suicidal thoughts, according to the Denver Gazette. But James Craig's dental partner at Sunnybrook Dental was suspicious that he may have been hurting Angela and tipped off a nurse, according to an affidavit obtained by the news outlet. The investigation uncovered chilling facts.
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Craig apparently put in a quick order for poison.
The arrest affidavit alleges that the couple had marital problems and a divorce was on the horizon. According to the documents, Craig opened a new Gmail account February 27 and began some sinister searches. Police said that Craig made urgent orders for potassium cyanide and exchanged emails with his mistress.
According to 9 News, the affidavit states that in an email, Craig allegedly told a representative from Midland Scientific that he was a surgeon and planned to use the potassium cyanide for a medical procedure.
"James responded by stating he was a surgeon performing a craniofacial reconstruction. James said he is using this chemical to check and see if it will help with the layering of alternative metals," the affidavit reads.
Days later, Angela Craig became ill.
The arrest documents state that Angela Craig started to feel ill on March 6, complaining of dizziness. She was admitted to Parker Adventists Hospital and released later that day. She reportedly believed she had a sinus infection.
James Craig apparently paid great attention to his wife and her illness, checking with her frequently as the days passed. He allegedly exchanged several text messages with his wife, the report stated.
"Baby I love you so much," he wrote in a text message. "I wish I could just stay up 24 seven and be with you. I know it's lonely and boring and maybe sometimes scary and I just want to be there to support you through all of it."
According to texts, Craig was allegedly very concerned about his wife's symptoms.
The documents note that James Craig texted his wife repeatedly, asking about her symptoms and whether they were getting worse. His texts became increasingly loving, and he wanted her to know how much she meant to him.
"As the song says I hope you know that you're enough for me. Indeed more than enough," one message read, according to the Gazette.
Angela Craig stayed in the hospital for five days.
According to the affidavit, she was admitted to Parker Adventist on March 9 and released on March 14. On March 15, her condition worsened considerably, and her brother took her to University Hospital, where she was admitted to the intensive care unit. Angela Craig had no brain activity and died on March 18.
Craig reportedly requested no autopsy upon her death because he said he didn't want her body to go through any more trauma. He allegedly said if doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong with her when she was alive, they couldn't explain it after she died.
A coworker reportedly found a biohazard sticker at the dental office that said 'potassium cyanide.'
The office manager allegedly found the sticker and began to Google the side effects, 9 News reported. The affidavit also explained that Angela Craig's symptoms were consistent with having ingested potassium cyanide, and the manager reportedly told another employee about her suspicion.
According to 9 News, James Craig's business partner, Ryan Redfearn, went to University Hospital when he heard that Angela Craig's condition was grave and told a nurse that he believed she had been poisoned.
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His wife's illness allegedly thwarted James Craig's plans to meet his mistress.
The arrest report states that James Craig had a flight planned from Denver to Austin on March 16. An email exchange allegedly took place between Craig and his mistress the same day where she expressed her desire to meet his family under better conditions.
"Honey … I do want to give you any comfort I can but I do not feel it is right for me to mix in with all of those gathering to mourn Angela either and I don't want to meet your family as a friend and try to conceal what I feel for you," the email reads, according to the Gazette.
Angela Craig's family said the couple's relationship was in trouble.
James Craig was purportedly addicted to pornography and had drugged his wife in the past, her sister told police, per 9 News. Her sister alleged that Angela Craig wanted to leave the marriage numerous times during the past 16 years but was always persuaded to stay. The family reportedly had financial problems as well, the sister told police.
When police took the couple's cellphones on March 16, they reportedly found a chilling text exchange from the couple on March 6, according to the affidavit. In the conversation, Angela Craig reportedly told her husband that she felt drugged.
"Given our history I know that must be triggering. Just for the record, I didn't drug you," he replied. "I'm super worried though. You really looked pale before I left. Like in your lips even."
Craig was arrested early Sunday morning on suspicion of first-degree murder. His next court appearance was scheduled for March 25. He is being held in jail with no bond.
