A Colorado jury has found Dr. James Toliver Craig guilty of first-degree murder in the death of his wife, Angela Craig, following a high-profile three-week trial that revealed a chilling and calculated plot involving poison, secret relationships, and deception. Dr. Craig, 47, was convicted of administering a lethal combination of cyanide and tetrahydrozoline—an ingredient found in over-the-counter eye drops—to his 47-year-old wife, who died after a series of unexplained and worsening medical episodes in March 2023. In addition to the murder charge, he was also found guilty of two counts of solicitation to commit tampering with physical evidence, two counts of solicitation to commit perjury in the first degree, and one count of solicitation to commit first-degree murder. He was acquitted on a lesser manslaughter charge and now faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.
A Mysterious Illness and a Rapid Decline
According to court records and trial testimony, Angela Craig was hospitalized three times in just over a week in March 2023, after experiencing sudden and severe symptoms including dizziness, vomiting, headaches, blurred vision, seizures, and ultimately a rapid decline into a coma. Her condition deteriorated to the point where she was declared brain-dead on March 18, 2023. Medical experts confirmed that the cause of death was acute poisoning due to cyanide and tetrahydrozoline. Witnesses, including medical personnel, described Angela’s sudden health collapse as alarming and consistent with poisoning.
Nicole Harmon, Angela’s lifelong best friend, testified that Angela never spoke of suicidal thoughts or intentions. “She wasn’t a risk-taker. She wasn’t manipulative,” Harmon said in court. “And she never said anything—ever—about wanting to die.” Harmon also described a moment on March 9, 2023, when she arrived at Angela’s home after receiving a troubling text. She found Angela weak and curled up. Angela had not eaten, could not stand, and had been given a shake by her husband that morning. When Harmon asked James Craig about her symptoms, she testified he dismissed it as “Post-COVID. Not diabetes.”
Marriage Problems and Family Testimony
Craig’s defense acknowledged that the couple’s 23-year marriage was rocky, but they described Angela as emotionally fragile and private. However, prosecution witnesses painted a starkly different picture. Two of the couple’s children testified against their father. One daughter described her mother as her “best friend” who loved woodworking, animals, fitness, and most of all, her children. She recounted how Angela looked forward to becoming a grandmother and was deeply frustrated during her hospital stay that she couldn’t be with her family. “She wanted to get back home,” she told the jury. “She just wanted to get back to her girls.” She also said that although her parents had past struggles, their relationship had appeared to improve before Angela’s death.
