A Colorado dentist accused of fatally poisoning his wife allegedly spiked her pre-workout protein shakes with arsenic and cyanide, according to court documents.
James Toliver Craig, 45, apparently planned to create a new life by snuffing out his old one — getting rid of Angela Craig, mother of his six children — to make way for the woman he was having an affair with, according to an arrest warrant laying out evidence gathered by investigators.
Craig was arrested early Sunday on suspicion of first-degree murder in the “heinous, complex and calculated” killing, police in Aurora, Colo., said. He is scheduled to appear in court Thursday, when formal charges are expected.
On March 6, Craig drove his wife to a local hospital after she complained of severe headaches and dizziness. She was hospitalized two more times this month but never made it home the third time. She was put on a ventilator in the ICU after arriving at the hospital last Wednesday, but she deteriorated rapidly and died soon after.
Doctors were unable to figure out what had caused Angela’s death until Craig’s dental practice partner, Ryan Redfearn, alerted police to a rush delivery of potassium cyanide to their shared office. Though Craig claimed the drug was for an upcoming surgery, Redfearn knew they didn’t need it for their work.
According to investigators, cyanide was Craig’s backup plan. He ordered it after Angela didn’t at first succumb to the arsenic.
Craig also had another failsafe substance in mind: the toxic plant extract oleandrin. However, authorities were already investigating Craig by the time he placed that order and were able to intercept the delivery.
Craig used a specially created email address to place the poison orders and communicate with his mistress, according to the affidavit.
The couple’s marriage had been tumultuous, and James Craig also confided that he was in financial trouble, Redfearn told police.
According to a statement made by Angela’s sister, Toni Kofoed, Angela said her husband drugged her about five years earlier to prevent her from interfering with his planned suicide attempt.
Kofoed told police she believed that incident is what Craig was alluding to in a series of text messages exchanged with his wife after she first fell ill on March 6.
When Angela texted saying she felt “drugged,” Craig responded: “Given our history I know that must be triggering. Just for the record, I didn’t drug you. I am super worried though.”
If he had been worried, his concern was likely more about whether his scheme would work — if his internet searches are any indication.
Before placing the orders, Craig allegedly Googled questions such as, “is arsenic detectable in autopsy?” on his office computer. He also sought information on “undetectable poisons” and “how many grams of pure arsenic will kill a human.” On YouTube, he allegedly searched “how to make poison” and “top 5 undetectable poisons that show no signs of foul play,” reported CNN, citing the affidavit.
Craig had tried to pass his wife off as suicidal, but that didn’t stick since no one else could back up these claims. He also tried to prevent her autopsy, under the guise of protecting his wife’s body from further medical intrusions.