A former dentist in Colorado, awaiting trial for allegedly poisoning his wife, now faces two additional charges related to an alleged plot against an Aurora police detective involved in investigating his case.
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James Craig, 45, was arrested in March 2023 following the suspicious death of his wife, Angela. Her death was attributed to a combination of cyanide and tetrahydrozoline, which were allegedly added to her protein shakes. Joe Moylan, a spokesman for the Aurora Police Department, confirmed that James targeted a detective involved in the murder investigation. The charges against him were filed just one day before his trial was scheduled to begin on November 14, according to reports from TOO FAB.
The proceedings were delayed after James’ attorney, Harvey Steinberg, withdrew from the case due to concerns about his client’s behavior. Steinberg cited reasons for his withdrawal, including allegations of “criminal or fraudulent” actions by James and significant disagreements regarding the defense strategy. Court documents also indicated that James attempted to recruit another inmate to find women willing to falsely testify that they had affairs with him, aiming to support a narrative that his wife had framed him out of jealousy.
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Prosecutors allege that James made several attempts to obstruct justice. One accusation involves him smuggling a letter out of jail in which he asked one of his daughters to create a fake video showing Angela requesting poisons for personal use. Additionally, James allegedly asked an inmate to create false journal entries in his home to imply that his wife had committed suicide; however, the inmate reportedly declined this request.
Angela first fell ill on March 6, 2023, showing symptoms that suggested poisoning. She was hospitalized multiple times, but after experiencing a severe seizure, she was placed on a ventilator. Angela was declared brain-dead on March 17 and subsequently taken off life support. Investigators discovered incriminating evidence, including internet searches for undetectable poisons, orders for cyanide and arsenic, and text messages exchanged between James and Angela in which she expressed feeling “drugged.” James’ trial for Angela’s murder has been rescheduled for December 16, and he will appear with a new lawyer.
