New prices filed in opposition to a Colorado dentist accused of fatally poisoning his spouse’s protein shakes concentrate on his alleged efforts to kill a detective concerned within the case, authorities mentioned.
A spokesman for the Aurora Police Department confirmed the accuracy of a report from NBC affiliate KUSA of Denver in regards to the solicitation to commit first-degree homicide cost filed final week in opposition to James Craig, 46.
Craig was beforehand arrested and charged with first-degree homicide within the March 18, 2023, demise of his spouse of 23 years, Angela Craig, 43. He has pleaded not responsible to that cost.
Citing knowledgeable battle, Craig’s lawyer withdrew from the case simply earlier than prosecutors filed the solicitation cost final week. It wasn’t instantly clear if Craig has a brand new lawyer to talk on his behalf in regards to the new prices, which additionally embody solicitation to commit perjury.
According to information obtained by KUSA, Craig was in jail twice with the person he allegedly sought to have homicide the detective, as soon as in May and June 2023 and once more final month. The inmate has not been accused of any crimes in reference to the Craig case, the station reported.
Citing a number of sources acquainted with the investigation, the station reported that the detective who was the goal of the alleged plot labored on the investigation into Angela Craig’s demise.
The police spokesman declined to supply extra particulars to NBC News in regards to the allegations.
Authorities beforehand accused James Craig of dosing his spouse’s drink with cyanide and tetrahydrozoline, a drugs present in eye drops. She first turned sick in early March 2023 and was admitted to a hospital on March 15 with a extreme headache and dizziness. Angela Craig later died after experiencing a extreme seizure, authorities mentioned in James Craig’s arrest warrant.
Investigators initially believed her demise was a results of poisoning by arsenic and cyanide, in accordance with the arrest warrant. But the county coroner later attributed it to a mix of cyanide and tetrahydrozoline.
Authorities have pointed to Craig’s web search historical past, which confirmed he sought data on whether or not arsenic was detectable in an post-mortem. They additionally pointed to his on-line purchases: Weeks earlier than his spouse’s demise, Craig ordered potassium cyanide from Amazon and had it delivered to his dental apply, the warrant reveals.
When James Craig’s enterprise accomplice discovered of the acquisition, he flagged it as suspicious to a nurse on the facility the place Angela Craig was hospitalized. There was no medical cause to purchase cyanide for a dental apply, he informed the nurse, in accordance with the warrant.
The nurse, a compulsory reporter, then contacted authorities.
When the enterprise accomplice confronted James Craig about it, he initially denied shopping for the cyanide however later mentioned his spouse requested him to order it, in accordance with the warrant.
At a courtroom listening to final 12 months, Craig’s protection lawyer mentioned there was no direct proof displaying his shopper poisoned his spouse’s drink.
That lawyer withdrew final week on the day jury choice was supposed to start in Craig’s trial. The lawyer partly attributed his withdrawal to a perception that his shopper “persists in a plan of action involving the lawyer’s providers that the lawyer moderately believes is prison or fraudulent,” KUSA reported.
Jury choice has been indefinitely postponed, the station reported.