Colorado dentist’s murder trial suspended after defense ‘suddenly resigns’

for murder case Colorado dentist The defendant, accused of poisoning his wife to death, was detained after his defense lawyer “suddenly resigned” during jury selection.

James Toliver Craig, 45, is accused of murdering his wife, Angela Craig, by poisoning her protein shakes.

Angela Craig, a 43-year-old mother of six who was married to her husband for 23 years, died in March 2023 from cyanide and tetrahydrozoline poisoning found in over-the-counter eye drops. coroner

The trial was previously postponed and was to begin with jury selection on Thursday. KDVR reported. But on Thursday morning, the defense attorney moved to withdraw from the case due to a “professional conflict,” according to the 18th District Attorney’s Office.

COLORADO DENTIST ACCUSED OF POISONING HIS WIFE TRIED TO HIRING A FRIEND OF A CONVICTOR TO SET FORGED SUICIDE NOTES: POLICE

Two photographs of James Oliver, the dentist accused of murdering his wife Angela Craig. (Facebook)

The judge allowed the withdrawal under the Rules of Professional Conduct and Craig refused to represent himself and adjourned the case.

According to the detailed arrest affidavit, Craig allegedly flew his orthodontist girlfriend from Austin to Denver while his wife was dying. The two also reportedly exchanged “sexually charged emails.”

The charging document describes the couple’s troubled marriage, their financial difficulties and Craig’s alleged malicious plot to kill her.

“Overall, this investigation has proven that James went to great lengths to end his wife’s life.” Aurora police Detective Bobbi Olson he wrote in the declaration.

Investigators said Craig created a secret email account called jimandwaffles.com on Feb. 27 and used it only on a computer at the now-shuttered Summerbrook Dental Group.

COLORADO DENTIST ACCUSED OF POISONING HIS WIFE’S PROTEIN SHAKE TO START A NEW LIFE WITH HIS LOVE

Colorado dentist James Craig (right) is accused of fatally poisoning his wife, Angela Craig. The duo shared six children together. (Facebook)

Police said Craig was searching online for things like “How to make murder look like a heart attack” and “How to make poison” days before his wife searched for symptoms such as dizziness, tremors and cold lips.

Craig also allegedly researched and purchased multiple “undetected poisons” and ordered an urgent shipment of potassium cyanide even though it was not needed.

Investigators allege that Craig purchased poison online just before his wife began experiencing symptoms that doctors could not pinpoint; However, his lawyers argued that there was no direct evidence that Craig had poisoned his wife’s concoctions and accused Olson of bias on the issue. he.

His sister, Toni Kofoed, told police: Craig had drugged his wife because he had planned to commit suicide about five years ago and didn’t want her to stop him.

Kofoed also told investigators that the couple’s marriage had always been “turbulent” and that Craig had “multiple affairs with several women” and had been “addicted to pornography since adolescence.”

COLORADO DENTIST ACCUSED OF FATALLY POISONING HIS WIFE ON THE VERGE OF FINANCIAL COLLAPSE: COURT RECORDS

Angela and Colorado dentist James Craig in a family portrait. James was charged with first-degree murder for allegedly poisoning his wife. (Facebook)

Angela Craig told her sister several times over the past 16 years that she planned to leave her, but she always convinced her to stay. The couple was also broke and on the verge of declaring bankruptcy for the second time, according to the documents.

Angela Craig had complained to her sister that her husband had gambled more than $2,000 on a recent trip to Las Vegas.

In May, Craig was accused of asking a prison mate to plant letters in his wife’s garage and truck to make it look like she was suicidal. Olson said the prisoner believed the letters were written by Craig, but it must have looked like his wife had written them.

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According to Olson, Craig offered money to post the inmate’s bail to get out of jail or free dentistry in exchange for planting the letters, but the inmate decided not to accept his offer and reported the incident to authorities. The detective had previously testified.

Craig was already charged first degree murder and a further motion to tamper with physical evidence. He pleaded not guilty to these two charges in November 2023.

His appear at the next hearing It is planned to be held on December 16.

Fox News’ Rebecca Rosenberg and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Story tips and ideas can be sent to [email protected].