A jury in Colorado has found dentist James Craig guilty of first-degree murder for poisoning his wife Angela Craig, including by lacing her protein shakes with cyanide and eye drop ingredients.
The conviction on Wednesday followed a two-week trial in which prosecutors argued that Craig repeatedly poisoned his wife over ten days in March 2023, culminating in a fatal dose of cyanide administered via her intravenous drip while she was hospitalised near Denver. He was also found guilty of attempting to cover up the killing by asking others to fabricate evidence, including instructing his daughter to make a fake video suggesting her mother wanted to be poisoned.
In emotional testimony, Angela Craig’s sister Toni Kofoed told the court: “You have taken away our opportunity to grow old together.” One of the couple’s six children said her father would forever be a villain. Several family members wept as they described the impact of her death.
Prosecutors said Craig wanted to end his marriage to protect his finances and reputation, and that he had been having an affair with a fellow dentist. They presented hospital security footage showing Craig holding a syringe before entering his wife’s room. Defence lawyers argued the image was blurry and that no poison was found on recovered syringes, suggesting Angela Craig may have taken her own life.
Toxicology tests confirmed Angela Craig died from cyanide and tetrahydrozoline, a component of eye drops. Craig did not testify, and his attorneys presented no witnesses. Sentencing is yet to be determined.
