The idyllic image of a picture-perfect family can be shattered in an instant. This chilling tale centers around a Colorado dentist, a father of six, accused of the unthinkable – slowly poisoning his wife to death. As investigators pieced together the puzzle, a sinister plot unraveled, revealing a tale of infidelity, betrayal, and alleged murder.
The Unraveling of a Family
Our story takes us back to March 2023, when 43-year-old Angela Craig, residing with her husband, James Craig, and their six children near Denver, Colorado, began experiencing a string of debilitating symptoms. Severe headaches, dizziness, and seizures plagued her, leading to multiple hospital visits.
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Amidst the escalating health crisis, Angela confided in her husband, expressing a chilling sentiment: “I feel drugged.” This seemingly innocuous statement would later become a haunting foreshadowing of the tragedy to unfold.
On her third visit to the hospital, Angela’s condition deteriorated, requiring ventilation. Tragically, she was declared medically brain dead and passed away on March 15th, 2023. While the initial cause of death remained unclear, an investigation was launched, quickly turning its focus towards Angela’s husband, James.
A Web of Suspicious Activity
James, a practicing dentist in Aurora, Colorado, became the focal point of the investigation after a series of questionable decisions came to light. According to the criminal complaint, his alleged actions painted a disturbing picture.
A coworker at James’ dental practice recounted witnessing him behaving unusually. James, who had his own office and personal laptop, was seen in an examination room, lights dimmed, utilizing a work computer. This peculiar incident raised eyebrows, prompting further investigation.
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Upon examining the computer’s search history, investigators unearthed a series of chilling searches, including inquiries like “how many grams of pure arsenic will kill a human,” “is arsenic detectable in autopsy,” and “top 5 undetectable poisons.” The nature of these searches, as highlighted by the prosecution, appeared highly incriminating, suggesting a premeditated plot.
Adding another layer to the investigation, James allegedly purchased cyanide and arsenic online. Forensic death investigator, Joseph Scott Morgan, weighed in on the case, stating, “The poisoning itself is what would be referred to as a slow dosing…a perpetrator would be attempting to get enough into this individual system over a protracted period of time so that it masks itself as something other than an acute poisoning.”
Betrayal and a Shocking Affair
As investigators delved deeper into James’ life, they uncovered a shocking revelation – he was allegedly involved in an extramarital affair during his wife’s illness. Emails recovered by authorities revealed “intimate in nature and contained sexually explicit conversations” with another woman. Disturbingly, travel plans were also discovered within these emails, coinciding with Angela’s hospitalization. The woman had even visited James in Denver while Angela fought for her life.
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The emergence of an affair introduced a potential motive for the alleged crime – a desire to start a new life free from the constraints of his marriage.
Furthermore, the investigation unveiled a history of alleged abuse and a previous attempt by James to drug Angela five to six years prior. In text messages recovered by authorities, James wrote to Angela, “For the record, based on our past, I did not drug you.” This statement, seemingly intended to deflect suspicion, ultimately strengthened the prosecution’s case, establishing a pattern of behavior and a potential motive.
The Fight for Justice
Following Angela’s tragic death, her husband, James Craig, was apprehended and charged with first-degree murder. Prosecutors also levied charges of solicitation to commit tampering with physical evidence, alleging James’ attempts to interfere with the investigation.
James has pleaded not guilty to all charges. As of August 8th, he awaits trial, with a bond set at $10 million. The trial is expected to delve into the complexities of the case, with expert witnesses, digital evidence, and emotional testimonies taking center stage.
This chilling tale serves as a stark reminder that beneath the veneer of normalcy, darkness can lurk, and even those closest to us can harbor sinister secrets.