James Craig, a Colorado dentist, has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the calculated and prolonged murder of his wife, Angela Craig.
Craig, convicted of first-degree murder, orchestrated the poisoning over a span of ten days in March 2023. Prosecutors revealed he laced his wife’s protein shakes with toxins before delivering a final, lethal dose of cyanide through her IV while she was hospitalized with unexplained symptoms.
Angela, 43, was declared brain dead shortly afterward. A toxicology report confirmed her death was caused by cyanide and tetrahydrozoline—an ingredient commonly found in over-the-counter eye drops.
Photos presented in court captured Craig carrying a syringe before entering Angela’s hospital room. Prosecutors alleged that after administering the fatal dose, Craig texted a fellow dentist with whom he was romantically involved.
Court documents described a disturbing motive: Craig wanted out of the marriage but sought to avoid divorce to protect his finances and public image. He even reportedly coordinated for his mistress to visit Colorado while Angela was gravely ill.
According to court filings, Craig sent his wife affectionate text messages during her hospital stay while simultaneously pursuing another woman. That woman, speaking later on Good Morning America, said she had no plans for a future with Craig and was not interested in a relationship with a married man.
The prosecution also detailed Craig’s attempts to cover up the murder. He allegedly asked others to falsify evidence, including one of his daughters, whom he asked to create a fake video suggesting Angela wanted to be poisoned. He also tried to solicit a fellow inmate to kill the detective leading the investigation.
The defense argued that Angela may have taken her own life and accused police of prematurely zeroing in on Craig as the sole suspect.
Timeline of Events
- March 6, 2023: Angela falls ill after reportedly drinking protein shakes made by Craig. She is taken to the hospital and discharged the same day.
- March 8–10: Craig allegedly tries to arrange for his lover to travel to Colorado.
- March 14: Angela is discharged again.
- March 15: She is readmitted as her condition worsens.
- March 16: Angela suffers a seizure and is placed in intensive care.
- March 18: She is declared brain dead.
- March 19: Craig is arrested on murder charges.
- March 23: He is formally charged.
- November 21, 2024: Trial delayed after Craig’s defense attorney withdraws.
- July 30, 2025: Craig is sentenced to life without parole.
Authorities labeled the case a “heinous” murder. Investigators uncovered troubling Google searches Craig had made in the lead-up to his wife’s death, as well as a suspicious purchase of potassium cyanide, which had no relevance to his dental practice.
In court, Craig stood silently as the jury read the guilty verdicts. During the sentencing hearing, Angela’s family delivered emotional statements about their loss. One of the couple’s six children, Miriam Mira Meservy, expressed her devastation, calling her father a “villain.”
“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,” she said.
District Judge Shay Whitaker sentenced Craig to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
