Lawyers are scheduled to present closing arguments Tuesday in the trial of James Craig, a Colorado dentist accused of killing his wife by slowly poisoning her.
James Craig faces murder charges in the 2023 death of Angela Craig in a Denver suburb. He is also accused of attempting to fabricate evidence to make it appear his wife died by suicide and of asking a jail inmate to kill the detective leading the investigation. Angela Craig, the mother of six children with James, died after multiple hospital visits within a week. Toxicology revealed she was poisoned with cyanide and tetrahydrozoline, a chemical found in eye drops. Prosecutors say James Craig bought poisons and laced her protein shakes, even allegedly administering a fatal dose of cyanide while she was hospitalized.
Craig did not testify or present witnesses. His defense suggested Angela may have taken her own life and criticized police for focusing on James. Police found notes on Craig’s phone where he claimed Angela asked for his help to poison herself amid divorce talks. He admitted to preparing cyanide-laced capsules and a syringe but denied administering them himself. Witness Mark Pray testified that he gave Angela the capsules on James Craig’s instructions, after which she collapsed and was rushed to the hospital.
Detective Bobbi Olson, the lead investigator, testified that Craig’s timeline conflicted with his previous statements and that he accused Angela of setting him up. The defense introduced Angela’s 2018 journal, which detailed marital struggles and infidelity but made no mention of suicidal thoughts. Craig’s attorney described Angela as “broken” due to her husband’s affairs and their religious commitment, but Angela’s sister rejected this, saying her sister was heartbroken, not mentally unstable. Prosecutors say Craig was financially troubled and involved with another dentist when he killed his wife.