Jury deliberates fate of Colorado dentist accused of poisoning wife

A Colorado jury is now deliberating the fate of former dentist James Craig, who is accused of murdering his wife, Angela Craig, by poisoning her protein shakes.

(NBC)- A Colorado jury is now deliberating the fate of former dentist James Craig, who is accused of murdering his wife, Angela Craig, by poisoning her protein shakes.

During closing arguments Tuesday, prosecutors argued Craig meticulously plotted Angela’s death in 2023—researching poisons online before lacing her shakes with cyanide, arsenic, and eyedrops. “He suddenly realizes he needs to go buy 12 bottles of eye drops? Give me a break,” a prosecutor told jurors, calling the substances “the murder weapon.”

Prosecutors painted Craig, a father of six, as a man who wanted out of his 23-year marriage. They claim he killed Angela not just to pursue another relationship, but to preserve his public image and collect financial benefits.

“He cheated on his wife constantly,” Craig’s defense attorney admitted. “They did. They proved beyond a reasonable doubt that he was not faithful. That’s what they proved. But this idea that somehow this was some sort of motive was nothing new.”

Instead, the defense claimed Angela may have taken her own life, suggesting Craig had warned doctors about possible suicidal thoughts. Home video played in court showed Angela telling her husband, “It’s your fault they treated me like a suicide risk. Like I did it to myself.”

Doctors reportedly struggled to understand what was causing Angela’s symptoms. In text messages presented to the jury, Angela told her husband, “I feel drugged,” to which Craig responded, “Given our history, I know that must be triggering. Just for the record, I didn’t drug you.”

Angela was hospitalized three times in 10 days before she was ultimately taken off life support.

James Craig grew emotional as his attorney argued the case for reasonable doubt. His future now rests with the jury.