Colorado Dentist Heads to Trial for Allegedly Poisoning Wife’s Protein Shakes

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A once-trusted family man and respected dentist now stands accused of plotting his wife’s slow, silent death with poison hidden in her daily routine.

A Colorado dentist faces trial this week in a shocking case that has captivated the nation. James Craig, 47, is accused of murdering his wife, Angela Craig, by poisoning her protein shakes with cyanide and eye drop chemicals in early 2023. The charges include first-degree murder, solicitation to commit murder, and attempting to falsify evidence.

Angela, a 43-year-old mother of six, was hospitalized three times in March 2023 with symptoms that puzzled doctors: dizziness, headaches, and nausea. Each time, the medical staff struggled to find a cause. But after her final collapse and death, toxicology reports revealed she had been poisoned with cyanide and tetrahydrozoline, an ingredient found in eye drops. Investigators believe James Craig orchestrated the poisoning in an effort to start a new life, possibly tied to financial troubles and alleged extramarital affairs.

Authorities say Craig ordered arsenic online shortly before Angela’s symptoms began and later rushed a shipment of potassium cyanide, which was intercepted by an employee at his Aurora dental practice. That same week, Angela was hospitalized for the final time. Craig’s business partner flagged concerns to hospital staff, which prompted police to begin their investigation.

Fabricated Evidence

The case has taken several disturbing turns. Prosecutors allege that Craig not only tried to kill his wife but also attempted to stage her death as a suicide. He is accused of enlisting a jail inmate to plant letters at his home claiming Angela was suicidal. When that failed, Craig allegedly offered the inmate’s ex-wife $20,000 for each person she could find to falsely testify that Angela had planned to take her own life.

Adding to the complexity, Craig’s legal defense has shifted multiple times. His original attorney, Harvey Steinberg, withdrew just as jury selection began, citing a rule allowing lawyers to leave if a client engages in illegal conduct. His next lawyer, Robert Werking, also stepped down after being charged with arson for allegedly setting fire to his own home. That left Werking’s wife and law partner, Lisa Fine Moses, to handle the defense.

Despite the serious allegations, Craig has pleaded not guilty. His team argues that no poison was detected in the shake containers and challenges the credibility of the jail informants, pointing to their past forgery convictions. They also claim investigators failed to properly link Craig to the alleged fake suicide letters.

Still, prosecutors have presented compelling digital evidence. Craig’s online history includes searches such as “how to make murder look like a heart attack” and “is arsenic detectable in an autopsy?” Combined with a recorded kitchen confrontation where Angela accused her husband of telling doctors she was suicidal, the state believes it has a strong case.

Angela’s brother, Mark Pray, described James Craig as a man who showed no regard for his wife or family, stating he “orchestrated the torment and demise” of his sister. Jury selection is underway in a trial that is expected to last several weeks and could bring long-awaited answers for Angela’s loved ones.