AURORA, Colo — The Aurora dentist accused of killing his wife by poisoning her with cyanide and Visine will not go to trial until late summer after the judge granted a motion to continue it Friday morning.
James Craig's trial was set to begin next month but will now begin on Aug. 8. Attorneys for Craig said a key witness to their case suffered a stroke earlier this year and is currently unable to testify as he recovers.
He is charged with first-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence related to the March 2023 death of his wife 43-year-old Angela Craig.
RELATED: Aurora dentist charged in wife's deadly poisoning makes court appearance, does not enter plea
Angela Craig died March 1, 2023, after ingesting lethal doses of cyanide and tetrahydrozoline, an ingredient commonly found in Visine, according to an autopsy report from the Arapahoe County Coroner's Office. The report also lists arsenic poisoning as a "significant condition" related to her death.
According to an arrest affidavit from Aurora Police, Angela Craig went to a hospital three times before her death – on March 6, March 9, and March 15 – after becoming faint and dizzy.
The affidavit also says James Craig used an office computer to research and buy "undetectable poisons," and he bought crystalline metalloid arsenic from Amazon a few weeks before his wife's death. Five days before her death, the document says James Craig received a package at his office that was opened by an office attendant who found a biohazard sticker and a circular canister that said "potassium cyanide" on it.
James Craig's business partner went to the hospital when he learned Angela Craig's condition was grave. According to the affidavit, he told a nurse he believed Angela Craig had been poisoned because her husband had recently ordered potassium cyanide for their dental practice. That resulted in an investigation into her death.
Evidence challenged
Craig's attorneys filed numerous motions seeking to have electronic evidence thrown out. Specifically, they challenged:
- Warrants for search and seizure of his cellphone
- Seizure of a laptop
- Seizure of "computer 9" at Craig's dental office
- Data associated with a Google email and Google Voice phone number
They argued that the warrant for the phone was "bare bones" but the court disagreed and denied the motion related to his cellphone. In regards to the laptop, the attorneys argued that the warrant was for the seizure of a "desktop computer" and that taking the laptop was "outside the scope." The court denied the motion, saying that the warrant was meant to authorize the seizure of "computers" and that distinguishing between the two was unnecessary.
Craig's attorneys also challenged a search warrant for computer 9 at his dental office. According to court records, an employee saw Craig using that computer and told investigators it was odd because he had a computer in his office and a laptop he would take home.
They argued the warrant lacked probable cause but the court found, based in part on the statements from Craig's coworker, that there was "substantial" probable cause. His attorney also argued that the search was "beyond the scope" because it included internet searches rather than just what was on the hard drive.
The court found that while some items may have exceeded the scope, the officers acted in good faith and said the items should not be excluded. The challenges over the Google email and phone number were based on the court's finding that the seizure of computer 9 was unlawful.
Since it was legal, those motions were also denied.
Craig is next due in court on April 16 for a motions hearing. He's being held on a $10 million cash-only bond.
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Investigations & Crime