A Colorado dentist, James Toliver Craig, was recently arraigned in court wearing an orange jumpsuit and shackles, as he faces charges for the alleged murder of his 43-year-old wife, Angela. Authorities believe that Craig poisoned his wife’s protein shakes with arsenic and potassium cyanide.
The 45-year-old suspect appeared solemn in the Arapahoe County courtroom. His arrest followed the revelation of his supposed extramarital affair with Karen Cain, an orthodontist based in Austin, Texas. Cain is said to have visited Craig while his wife was hospitalized, with one such visit coinciding with the delivery of arsenic to Craig’s residence. Cain has yet to publicly respond to these allegations.
Court documents reveal that Craig has allegedly attempted to poison Angela in the past. Her sister informed investigators of an incident that occurred five to six years ago, in which Craig allegedly drugged Angela to ensure she would not find him as he planned to commit suicide.
The text messages between the couple in March 2023 also hint at Angela’s suspicions of being drugged by her husband. In one exchange, Angela told James she felt drugged. He denied drugging her in his text response.
Angela’s sister further revealed to the police that the couple’s marriage had been fraught with difficulties, including James’ multiple affairs and a longstanding addiction to pornography.
The investigation gained momentum when Craig’s business partner alerted the police about a suspicious package containing potassium cyanide, which had been shipped to their dental practice. The package was accidentally opened by the office manager, who then informed Craig’s partner.
On March 18, Angela was declared brain-dead, and James was arrested shortly after. He now faces charges of first-degree murder and is being held without bond. His attorney, an Arapahoe County public defender, has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Craig has reportedly waived his right to a preliminary hearing and is scheduled to appear in court again on April 7.