The homicide trial for a Colorado dentist accused of poisoning his spouse to loss of life has been placed on maintain after the protection legal professional “instantly give up” throughout jury choice.
James Toliver Craig, 45, is accused of killing his spouse, Angela Craig, by placing poison in her protein shakes.
Angela Craig, a 43-year-old mom of six who was married to her husband for 23 years, died in March 2023 of poisoning from cyanide and tetrahydrozoline, the latter a substance present in over-the-counter eye drops, based on the coroner.
The trial has been delayed earlier than and was set to start Thursday with jury choice, KDVR reported. Nevertheless, on Thursday morning, the protection counsel moved to withdraw from the case on account of a “skilled battle,” based on the 18th Judicial District Legal professional’s Workplace.Â
COLORADO DENTIST ACCUSED OF POISONING WIFE TRIED TO GET FELLOW INMATE TO PLANT FAKE SUICIDE NOTES: POLICE
The decide allowed the withdrawal beneath the Rule of Skilled Conduct, and Craig declined to characterize himself, delaying the case.
Craig allegedly flew his orthodontist lover from Austin to Denver whereas his spouse was dying, based on an in depth arrest affidavit. The 2 additionally reportedly exchanged “sexually specific emails.”
The charging doc described the couple’s troubled marriage, monetary difficulties and Craig’s alleged sinister plot to homicide her.
“In totality, this investigation has confirmed that James has gone to nice lengths to try to finish his spouse’s life,” Aurora police Detective Bobbi Olson wrote within the affidavit.Â
On Feb. 27, Craig created a secret e-mail account, jimandwaffles.com, which he solely used on a pc in his now-shuttered Summerbrook Dental Group, investigators stated.
COLORADO DENTIST ACCUSED OF POISONING WIFE’S PROTEIN SHAKES TO START NEW LIFE WITH LOVER
Police say Craig searched on-line for issues like “The best way to make homicide appear like a coronary heart assault” and “The best way to make poison” days earlier than his spouse looked for signs she was having like vertigo, shaking and chilly lips.
Craig additionally allegedly researched a number of “undetectable poisons” and bought some, and he ordered a rush cargo of potassium cyanide regardless that it was not wanted.
Investigators allege that Craig purchased poisons on-line simply earlier than his spouse started to expertise signs that medical doctors couldn’t discover a trigger for, however his legal professionals have argued there isn’t a direct proof that he put poison in his spouse’s shakes and have accused Olson of being biased in opposition to him.
Her sister, Toni Kofoed, informed police that Craig had drugged his spouse about 5 years earlier as a result of he had deliberate to commit suicide and did not need her to cease him.
Kofoed additionally informed investigators that the couple’s marriage had at all times been “tumultuous” and that Craig had “a number of affairs with a number of ladies” and had been “hooked on pornography since he was a teen.”
COLORADO DENTIST ACCUSED OF FATALLY POISONING WIFE ON VERGE OF FINANCIAL RUIN: COURT PAPERS
Angela Craig informed her sister a number of instances over the previous 16 years that she deliberate to depart him, however he at all times satisfied her to remain. The couple was additionally broke and on the verge of declaring chapter for a second time, the paperwork allege.
Angela Craig had complained to her sister that her husband had not too long ago gambled away greater than $2,000 on a visit to Las Vegas.
Again in Might, Craig was accused of asking a fellow jail inmate to plant letters in his storage and his truck to make it appear like his spouse was suicidal. Olson stated the inmate believed the letters have been written by Craig however have been meant to look as if his spouse had written them.
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In accordance with Olson, Craig supplied cash to pay the inmate’s bond so as to be launched from jail or carry out free dental work in alternate for planting the letters, however the inmate determined to not take him up on the provide and reported the incident to authorities, the detective beforehand testified.
Craig was already charged with first-degree homicide and one other rely of solicitation to commit tampering with bodily proof. He pleaded not responsible to these two costs in Nov. 2023.
His subsequent court docket look is scheduled for Dec. 16.
Fox Information’ Rebecca Rosenberg and the Related Press contributed to this report.Â
Stepheny Value is author for Fox Information Digital and Fox Enterprise. Story ideas and concepts may be despatched to stepheny.worth@fox.com