James Craig: Colorado dentist accused of poisoning wife tried to plant fake suicide notes with jail inmate’s help

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

AURORA, COLORADO: Colorado dentist James Craig faces a new allegation in the ongoing investigation into the death of his wife, Angela Craig, who died in March 2023 from poisoning.

According to police testimony, Craig allegedly took a fellow jail inmate's help to plant letters suggesting Angela's suicidal tendencies.

James Craig's plot to fabricate evidence against dead wife

During a court hearing, Aurora police detective Bobbi Olson revealed that Craig asked the inmate to place the fabricated letters in his garage and truck at his residence. Olson stated that the inmate believed the letters were written by the suspect but meant to appear as if Angela had written them.

Angela, a 43-year-old mother of six, died from cyanide and tetrahydrozoline poisoning in March 2023. The latter is a substance commonly found in over-the-counter eye drops, as confirmed by the coroner's report, reported Fox.

Authorities allege that Craig purchased poisons online just before Angela began experiencing unexplained symptoms. However, his defense has contested the absence of direct evidence linking him to the poisoning and accused Detective Olson of bias.

Inmate rejects James Craig's offer and alerts authorities

Olson testified that Craig attempted to entice the inmate with offers of financial assistance for bail or free dental work in exchange for planting the letters. Subsequently, the inmate declined and instead alerted law enforcement about Craig's plan.

However, Craig's legal team has questioned the credibility of the inmate witness, highlighting discrepancies in the inmate's account and timing of reporting.

Despite the defense's arguments, a judge deemed the prosecution's evidence sufficient to charge Craig with solicitation to commit tampering with physical evidence, in addition to previous charges of first-degree murder and another count of solicitation to commit tampering with physical evidence.

What was James Craig's motive behind murdering wife Angela?

Craig's mistress, an orthodentist in Texas, is speculated to may have been the reason he murdered Angela, his wife for 23 years, so that he could start a new life with his lover. She even flew to Colorado to visit Craig from March 8-10, while his wife was hospitalized.

Craig's charging documents state that the relationship between the duo had been fractured. The documents also stated that Craig "had multiple affairs with several women and once told Angela that he had been addicted to pornography since he was a teenager".

The documents reveal Craig confessing to Angela that he had even drugged her five or six years ago, telling her that after killing her, he wanted to die peacefully without her interfering when he wanted to actually kill himself. 

Nevertheless, Craig maintains his innocence and pleaded not guilty to all charges. His trial is scheduled to commence on August 8.