Austin connection to dentist accused in wife's poisoning death, affidavit claims

AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) — An Aurora dentist who is accused of poisoning and killing his wife allegedly researched and ordered multiple "undetectable poisons" and Googled "how many grams of pure arsenic will kill a human." Police also said he was attempting to begin a new life with another woman who had ties to Central Texas.

James Toliver Craig, 45, was arrested on a first-degree murder charge Sunday for the death of his wife Angela Craig. According to an arrest affidavit obtained by KXAN sister station FOX31, the Aurora Police Department believes James went to great lengths to kill his wife by allegedly searching for ways to kill someone undetected, ordering multiple different types of poison and pouring them into her protein shakes.

According to the affidavit, Angela said she was suffering from dizziness, headaches and the feeling of being drugged beginning on March 6 through March 15. Angela became sick multiple times within that week and was admitted to the hospital three separate times.

FOX31 tried to speak to James' defense attorney after a Monday hearing, but he did not want to comment on the case.

Co-workers become suspicious of James

According to the arrest affidavit, James' office manager first became suspicious of his behavior on March 6, the first day Angela became sick.

The office manager told police she was working late at the dental office when James returned and began researching something on an exam room computer. She told police this was odd because James had his own office and personal computer.

A short time later, James left the dental office and told the office manager he would be receiving a personal package and to not open it. According to the office manager, that package arrived Monday and another employee accidentally opened it to find a bio-hazard sticker inside with a "Potassium Cyanide" canister.

The office manager told police she Googled what potassium cyanide was used for and saw Angela was suffering from the same symptoms.

The office manager told police she noticed James' strange behavior in the office after his wife fell ill.

"During Angela's time in the hospital, James had conversations with [the office manager] where he told her he didn't think his wife was going to 'make it.' In the same conversation, James asked about business in the office. [The office manager] found it strange James was concerned about his dental practice when his wife was a in dire medical condition," according to the affidavit.

When asked about the cyanide, James allegedly told his business partner he had ordered the cyanide for their dental practice, but his business partner claimed there was no medical reason or purpose for that compound in the dental practice, according to the affidavit.

James denied the cyanide was inside the package and claimed it was a ring he was going to give Angela as a surprise. According to the affidavit, James later recanted and said the package did contain potassium cyanide but claimed he ordered it for Angela because she didn't have the proper credentials to order it herself.

According to the arrest affidavit, a case worker who met with the Craig family told detectives James alleged Angela had been suicidal for a while. The social worker said James claimed he had to revive Angela on several occasions.

However, according to the affidavit, James never reported any of the alleged incidents or sought medical attention for Angela.

At one point, the office manager said James told her Angela made accusations that he had poisoned her. Angela said something to James along the lines of "there are poisons they don't test for."

Other people in the dental office also thought James might be responsible for Angela's sickness.

The office manager also told police that she knew James and Angela were having marital problems and he had told Angela he wanted a divorce.

Search warrant shows orders for poison, suspicious search history

On March 16, APD obtained a search warrant of the Craig household, and James handed over both his and Angela's cell phones as well as the laptop he used at work.

According to the arrest affidavit, while going through Angela's phone, detectives found numerous text exchanges between her and James about her symptoms and times in the hospital. At one point, Angela texts James that she feels drugged, and James responds, "Given our history I know that must be triggering. Just for the record, I didn't drug you. I am super worried though. You looked really pale before I left...Like in your lips even."

One of Angela's family members allegedly told police James had drugged her five to six years ago.

Detectives also went through James' computer and search history. While searching, detectives found “how many grams of pure arsenic will kill a human?” and “Is arsenic detectable in autopsy?” were both searched on Google.

The search history also showed "Top 5 Undetectable Poisons That Show No Signs
of Foul Play,” “how to make poison,” and “The Top 10 Deadliest Plants (They Can Kill You)” were all searched on YouTube.

James also allegedly searched for chemical suppliers in Aurora. According to the affidavit, an email belonging to the name Jim Craig made multiple orders related to poisons. The email also had communication with a woman he may have been having an affair with.

According to detectives, the emails between James and the woman were intimate in nature and contained sexually explicit conversations. The emails also revealed travel plans for the woman to travel from the Austin airport to Colorado from March 8-10. Angela was in the hospital from March 9-14.

According to Angela's family member, this alleged affair is not the first. The witness claimed James had multiple affairs with multiple women.

Probable cause for arrest

According to detectives, throughout the investigation, they felt James went to great lengths to kill his wife.

He used suicidal ideations from Angela as an alleged cover-up story. He allegedly researched multiple "undetectable poisons" and purchased a few. He allegedly intended to fly in another woman while his wife was sick in the hospital. He allegedly administered the poison to Angela through protein shakes.

With all this information, detectives believe they found more than enough evidence to arrest James with premeditated first-degree murder.