James Craig, dentist accused of killing wife by poisoning her, set to enter a plea to charges

A Colorado dentist accused of killing his wife by lacing her protein shakes with poison is expected to plead not guilty to rates which includes to start with-degree murder in October, his protection lawyers explained Tuesday.

Law enforcement reported James Craig, who commenced an affair prior to his wife’s March 18 loss of life, experienced searched on the internet for responses to questions these types of as, “Is arsenic detectable in an autopsy?” and “How to make murder glimpse like a heart assault.” In the pursuing days, Craig’s spouse, Angela Craig, then Googled signs she was possessing which include vertigo, shaking and chilly lips, stated District Legal professional John Kellner at a July preliminary listening to.

Angela Craig, a mother of 6 who was married to her partner for 23 a long time, died of poisoning from cyanide and tetrahydrozoline, the latter a substance found in above-the-counter eye drops, in accordance to the Arapahoe County coroner Kelly Lear.

Immediately after Tuesday’s listening to, where by James Craig’s arraignment was postponed to Oct. 9, Craig’s defense legal professional, Andrew Ho, explained he expects a jury trail.

At a prior hearing in July, James Craig’s attorneys argued there was no direct evidence that Craig had slipped poison into his wife’s shakes and accused the direct detective of bias against Craig. Neither the affidavit nor testimony during the listening to resolved how investigators believe Angela Craig was poisoned with tetrahydrozoline.

Craig also was later charged with tampering with evidence but specifics about that allegation have not been disclosed. 

The defense lawyers suggested that Craig, who had earlier tried suicide, had been seeking on-line for methods to kill himself. The case’s lead investigator, Bobbie Olson, acknowledged at the preliminary listening to that testing did not obtain any indication of cyanide or arsenic in two bottles made use of for shakes.

Investigators allege that Craig, who routinely designed protein shakes for his wife, experimented with poising her shake on March 6 with arsenic. Soon after she survived, Craig purchased a rush cargo of potassium cyanide that he instructed the supplier was wanted for a operation, according to courtroom files.

The arrest affidavit claimed that the investigation into Craig started just after his dental observe spouse pointed out to a nurse that Craig experienced requested potassium cyanide even though they didn’t need it for their operate.

Police claim Craig was looking at one more lady as his wife was currently being handled in the clinic. But the female instructed ABC’s GMA she failed to willingly have a relationship with a person who was married.

Angela Craig’s sister, Toni Kofoed, advised law enforcement that James Craig had drugged his spouse about 5 many years in the past with an unidentified drug simply because he mentioned he prepared to kill himself and did not want her to be able to help save him.

Kofoed believes that incident is what James Craig referenced in a series of texts among Angela and James Craig about her signs and symptoms right after she to start with fell unwell on March 6. According to the arrest affidavit, James Craig wrote: “Supplied our historical past I know that have to be triggering. Just for the document, I failed to drug you. I am super nervous while.”

In accordance to a get the job done bio and online video posted on-line, Craig taught as an affiliate professor at the College of Missouri College of Dentistry for three several years and has been practising dentistry in the Aurora region because 2006.

Neighbors of the family told CBS Colorado they were surprised.

“I retain praying for the youngsters since they shed the two moms and dads at the exact time,” mentioned neighbor Karen Lucero.