James Craig Plea Hearing Delayed Until October
Aug 31, 2023, 10:00 AM
James Craig, the Aurora dentist accused of poisoning his wife, will not enter a plea in his murder case until early October. Dressed in an orange jail jumpsuit, Craig listened as his attorneys argued that they were not ready for the arraignment, originally scheduled for Tuesday, as they still had 2,000 pages of discovery to comb through. John Kellner, the 18th judicial district attorney, objected to the postponement, stating Angela Pray Craig's siblings "want to continue without delay."
Craig's sister and two brothers attended the hearing via WebEx, as did the relatives of her husband. Meanwhile, the couple's six children deferred their opinion on the postponement to both parties, according to their attorney.
James Craig, 45, faces a first-degree murder charge for the death of his wife, Angela, 43, who died under mysterious circumstances on March 18, 2023. Craig was arrested the next day. Aurora police believe Craig had a motive to kill his wife as his marriage and business were struggling, and he had recently started a romantic relationship with a Texas orthodontist when he allegedly began his plans, according to the arrest affidavit.
Prosecutors claim that Angela Craig died from a combination of cyanide and tetrahydrozoline, a decongestant found in over-the-counter eyedrops like Visine. The arrest document noted that Angela first visited the Parker Adventist Hospital on March 6, complaining of dizziness and feeling that "her head wasn't right," but was released that day. She visited again three days later when her symptoms reappeared and remained in the hospital for five days.
On March 16, her brother, Mark Pray, rushed her to the CU Anschutz emergency room, where she collapsed and died two days later. Police suspect that James Craig poisoned his wife with potassium cyanide, which he allegedly disguised in her protein shakes, as the arrest affidavit contended.
However, Craig's lawyers argued during the preliminary hearing that there was no evidence that the poison originated in the drink that Craig claimed he prepared for her after a workout.
James Craig is expected to enter a plea on October 9 in Arapahoe County Court.
The case has garnered significant attention, not only because of the nature of the crime but also due to the insidious method allegedly employed by James Craig. As previously discussed by retired FBI Special Agent Jennifer Coffindaffer on the "Hidden Killers" podcast, poisoning is a rare and calculated method of murder, often chosen by particularly sadistic individuals. Coffindaffer noted that while poisoning is not a common choice for murderers, it is often selected by those with a patient and calculating mind, characteristics that seem to align with the actions of James Craig as described in the arrest affidavit.
As the case progresses, the details of Angela Craig's final days and the actions of James Craig will be meticulously examined in court. With the arraignment postponed until October 9, both the prosecution and defense will have additional time to prepare their cases, ensuring that all aspects of this tragic event are thoroughly investigated.
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The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
Craig's sister and two brothers attended the hearing via WebEx, as did the relatives of her husband. Meanwhile, the couple's six children deferred their opinion on the postponement to both parties, according to their attorney.
James Craig, 45, faces a first-degree murder charge for the death of his wife, Angela, 43, who died under mysterious circumstances on March 18, 2023. Craig was arrested the next day. Aurora police believe Craig had a motive to kill his wife as his marriage and business were struggling, and he had recently started a romantic relationship with a Texas orthodontist when he allegedly began his plans, according to the arrest affidavit.
Prosecutors claim that Angela Craig died from a combination of cyanide and tetrahydrozoline, a decongestant found in over-the-counter eyedrops like Visine. The arrest document noted that Angela first visited the Parker Adventist Hospital on March 6, complaining of dizziness and feeling that "her head wasn't right," but was released that day. She visited again three days later when her symptoms reappeared and remained in the hospital for five days.
On March 16, her brother, Mark Pray, rushed her to the CU Anschutz emergency room, where she collapsed and died two days later. Police suspect that James Craig poisoned his wife with potassium cyanide, which he allegedly disguised in her protein shakes, as the arrest affidavit contended.
However, Craig's lawyers argued during the preliminary hearing that there was no evidence that the poison originated in the drink that Craig claimed he prepared for her after a workout.
James Craig is expected to enter a plea on October 9 in Arapahoe County Court.
The case has garnered significant attention, not only because of the nature of the crime but also due to the insidious method allegedly employed by James Craig. As previously discussed by retired FBI Special Agent Jennifer Coffindaffer on the "Hidden Killers" podcast, poisoning is a rare and calculated method of murder, often chosen by particularly sadistic individuals. Coffindaffer noted that while poisoning is not a common choice for murderers, it is often selected by those with a patient and calculating mind, characteristics that seem to align with the actions of James Craig as described in the arrest affidavit.
As the case progresses, the details of Angela Craig's final days and the actions of James Craig will be meticulously examined in court. With the arraignment postponed until October 9, both the prosecution and defense will have additional time to prepare their cases, ensuring that all aspects of this tragic event are thoroughly investigated.
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com