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A dentist arrested in the murder of his wife and mother of his six children allegedly researched poisons that can’t be detected in an autopsy before lacing his wife’s protein shakes with arsenic and cyanide to start a new life with his lover.
James Toliver Craig, 45, of Aurora, Colorado used a shared computer at his workplace to conduct multiple online searches about poison before his wife Angela, 43, was declared brain-dead in hospital this week, according to his arrest warrant.
The searches on YouTube and Google included: ‘how many grams of pure arsenic will kill a human.’ ‘Is Arsenic Detectable in Autopsy.’ ‘Top 5 Undetectable Poisons That Show No Signs of Foul Play,’ ‘how to make poison,’ and ‘The Top 10 Deadliest Plants (They Can Kill You).’
Craig was at the same time exchanging ‘intimate’ and ‘sexually explicit’ emails with an orthodontist from Austin, Texas and flew the woman to see him while his wife was fighting for her life in hospital before doctors turned off her life support.
The affidavit said Craig planned to: ‘end his wife’s life by searching for ways to kill someone undetected, providing her poisons that align with her hospitalized symptoms, and working on starting a new life with [his lover].’
James Toliver Craig was arrested for murder on Sunday after detectives discovered his wife Angela Craig, 43, had been fatally poisoned
James and Angela Craig pose for a family picture with their six children aged eight to 20
The dentist allegedly ordered the arsenic online on February 27 and received a package at home on March 4, said police who arrested him on suspicion of first-degree murder.
Angela soon began experiencing symptoms of dizziness and headaches and visited hospital several times before she was admitted for the last time on Wednesday, March 15, but doctors could not determine the cause of her illness and family members thought it was a sinus infection.
Craig reportedly told an office manager on March 6 he was expecting a package and not to open it, according to the affidavit.
He allegedly gave Angela ‘extra protein’ that morning before a workout ‘because she was feeling sluggish’ but it landed her in hospital.
‘After the workout, Angela became faint and dizzy, and ultimately James took Angela to the hospital,’ the affidavit said.
Angela returned to hospital on March 9 and again released on March 14 as mystery still surrounded the cause of her symptoms.
Craig’s second package arrived at work on March 13 and when an employee opened the box she found a bio hazard sticker and a canister marked ‘Potassium Cyanide’.
She googled the chemical compound and realized the symptoms of cyanide poisoning was similar to the symptoms Angela was experiencing.
When the employee heard Angela had been readmitted to hospital on March 15 she told Craig’s business partner about her shock discovery and he then told a nurse during a visit to check up on her.
The nurse called police and her death was investigated by Major Crimes Homicide Unit detectives who determined she was poisoned.
‘As a mandatory reporter, the nurse called the police, and an investigation ensued,’ the affidavit states
Angela’s condition deteriorated rapidly as she began suffering from seizures and at 2pm on March 16 she was placed on a ventilator in the intensive care unit.
Craig told investigators that his wife had been intentionally overdosing on opioids since had asked for a divorce in December 2022.
Police raided his home and business seizing protein powders, shakers, a computer tablet, phones and two Ziploc bags with powdery substances.
Craig was a practicing dentist and part of the Summerbrook dental office in Colorado, which filed for bankruptcy protection in 2021
Craig’s internet history showed he placed an Amazon order for ‘Arsenic Metal 99.9999% Crystalline Metalloid 10 grams for Element Collection’ among other poisons he ordered online
A data analysis of his devices revealed the chilling searches he had conducted online, including a $13 Amazon order for ‘Arsenic Metal 99.9999% Crystalline Metalloid 10 grams for Element Collection.’
When police combed through his email account jimandwaffles@gmail.com they found additional purchases of poison, according to the affidavit.
There was an order on March 9 from Midland Scientific for Sigma 207810-25G which is the technical term for potassium cyanide.
Emails between Craig and a Midland Scientific employee who requested additional information for the order show the dentist claiming he was a surgeon who was performing a craniofacial reconstruction.
Craig also attempted to purchase $330 worth of 3 Oleandrin 1mg from AdooQ Bio Science but cops intercepted the order.
Angela was pronounced dead on at 4.29pm on March 18 after doctors made the decision to turn off her life support.
Craig flew the woman whom he had exchanged sexually explicit messages with from Texas to Colorado while Angela on life support.
‘It appears James was flying this woman into Denver while his wife and the mother of his children was dying in the hospital,’ police said.
Craig had told the seller of the poison that he was a surgeon and intended to use the potassium cyanide for a medical procedure.
He proceeded to give the seller his dental license number and work email to order the poison.
Text messages Craig sent his wife Angela while she was hospitalized after he allegedly poisoned her
An individual close to Angela Craig’s family told the Daily Beast that she was a ‘phenomenal woman, outgoing, and the best mother you could imagine.’
‘She was very supportive of her husband, even working in his practice during financial difficulties.’
Craig and his practice, Summerbrook Dental, filed for bankruptcy protection in 2021, according to court records.
The couple had been married for more than 20 years and were parents to six children – five girls and a boy – aged eight to 20.
The individual who spoke to the Beast said: ‘One of her brothers who lives in Salt Lake went out to be with her.’
There was, until her admission to hospital, no reason to suspect foul play.
But, after Angela was hospitalized, James apparently made himself scarce.
‘He had not been around the family much in the last few days,’ which, ‘led to some suspicion,’ said the source.
In a 2021 press release, Craig described himself as ‘happily married’ to Angela.
The release went on to say that the pair ‘have six children, and they all enjoy the outdoors, especially camping, snowboarding, fishing, hiking, rock climbing, and mountain biking.’
‘They also enjoy visiting theme parks and are often traveling to Disney, Universal, and Sea World.’
It noted as well, that James Craig volunteered with WE CAN HELP, an anti-bullying program sponsored by the Denver Police Department.
Poisoning is a rare method murder. According to studies, poisoning accounts for less than 0.5 percent of cases.
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