A Colorado dentist accused of killing his wife by poisoning her protein shakes has been charged with attempting to get a fellow inmate to murder a detective investigating his case.
James Toliver Craig, 45, was charged with solicitation to commit murder in the first degree and solicitation to commit perjury in the first degree, according to the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
Craig was previously arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the death of his wife, Angela Craig, 43, who died in March 2023 of poisoning from cyanide and tetrahydrozoline, a substance found in over-the-counter eye drops.
Authorities believe Craig tried to get another inmate in the Arapahoe County jail to kill an Aurora police detective, who was working on the investigation into Angela’s death, according to court records and sources familiar with the investigation.
The intended victim of the alleged plot was an Aurora detective, according to police spokesman Joe Moylan. The other inmate was not accused of any wrongdoing related to the alleged plot to kill the detective.
Craig was previously accused of asking a fellow inmate to plant letters in his garage and truck to make it look like his wife was suicidal, offering to pay the inmate’s bond or perform free dental work in exchange.
The investigation into Angela’s death revealed that Craig had searched online for information on making murder look like a heart attack and had researched and purchased “undetectable poisons.” He also ordered a shipment of potassium cyanide to his dental practice.
Angela’s sister told police that Craig had multiple affairs with other women and had drugged her about five years earlier because he planned to die by suicide and didn’t want her to stop him.
Craig’s trial for his wife’s murder was delayed after his defense counsel moved to withdraw from the case due to a “professional conflict.” His next hearing is scheduled for December 16.
