CENTENNIAL, Colo. (AP) — A Colorado dentist, James Craig, has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after being found guilty of murdering his wife, Angela Craig. The case centered on allegations that James Craig poisoned Angela by mixing cyanide into her protein shakes over a span of ten days in March 2023, and later delivered a fatal dose while she was hospitalized.
District Judge Shay Whitaker imposed the life sentence, which is mandatory for a first-degree murder conviction in Colorado. During the trial, the jury deliberated on the evidence presented, ultimately rejecting Craig’s defense claim that he assisted in his wife's suicide after expressing his desire for a divorce due to his numerous extramarital affairs.
Prosecutors elaborated during the trial that Angela Craig was poisoned as she experienced baffling symptoms in a Denver hospital, leading to her being declared brain dead shortly after. The meticulous planning and actions taken by James Craig were highlighted, including an attempt to cover up the murder by soliciting others to create false evidence positioned to suggest Angela had been responsible for her own death.
The courtroom witnessed a powerful moment during the sentencing hearing as tearful testimonies from Angela Craig's family members unfolded. Her older sister, Toni Kofoed, spoke about the enduring bond and shared moments she would miss, voicing pain over the loss of opportunities to grow old alongside Angela. The emotional distress was palpable as one of the couple's six children remarked on their profound sense of betrayal, addressing James Craig directly and denouncing him as a villain.
Miriam "Mira" Meservy, Craig's daughter, expressed her heartbreaking realization of misplaced trust in her father, stating, “I was supposed to be able to trust my dad; he was supposed to be my hero, and instead he’ll forever be the villain in my book.” Meanwhile, their son, Toliver Craig, poignantly shared that he set an alarm on his phone to remember his mother every night, illustrating the depth of their grief.
When given the opportunity to speak, James Craig opted to remain silent, and upon the conclusion of the proceedings, he was led away in handcuffs. The courtroom had been divided, with James Craig's relatives sitting on one side and Angela Craig's family on the other; however, they came together in shared grief after the sentencing.
In addition to murder, James Craig was convicted of multiple charges including attempting to fabricate evidence and seeking to persuade his family to support his narrative. Prosecutors detailed how the dentist tried to direct his daughter into creating a video that would imply Angela wanted to be poisoned and even urged an inmate to eliminate the lead detective involved in the investigation.
Throughout the two-week trial, James Craig’s legal team did not call any witnesses to support their claims, instead alleging that Angela Craig might have died by suicide and questioning the thoroughness of the police investigation toward James as a suspect. Nonetheless, evidence was presented indicating conflicting statements made by James Craig regarding Angela's death, undermining their defense.
Toxicology reports identified cyanide and tetrahydrozoline, a substance typically found in over-the-counter eye drops, as the cause of Angela Craig's death. Prosecutors alleged that James Craig intended to escape a marriage he felt trapped in, motivated by greed and fear of losing both his financial stability and public image. Surveillance footage presented in court depicted Craig with a syringe before he entered his wife's hospital room, where he administered the lethal injection, followed by a text to a romantic partner, highlighting the motive behind his actions.
Senior Chief Deputy District Attorney Michael Mauro encapsulated the prosecution’s view during closing arguments, emphasizing the jury's conclusion that Angela Craig was not suicidal and that she had no involvement in her tragic fate. The unfolding narrative painted a distressing image of betrayal, manipulation, and loss, leaving a community and family grappling with the aftermath of such a horrifying crime.
