They say at the end there that there is a witness who has gone missing or failed to show up, a William Walden, and they are searching for him. Not sure if I've got the spelling of his name right.
CO - Angela Craig, 43, mother of 6, allegedly poisoned by cyanide in protein shake by dentist husband, Aurora, Mar 2023
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I highly recommend listening to Lauren's nightly re-caps.
I have know idea how she does it but her delivery of the day's court proceedings is like she's reading them from a book.
Lauren @ HTC said WW is the man that received the hit-list from JC whille JC was in jail.
Thank you for posting this….a thorough recap of what happened in court!
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James Craig trial: Daughter testifies about letter from Craig, asking her to create 'fake piece of evidence'
The trial of the former Aurora dentist accused of murdering his wife in 2023 continued on Thursday, with two of the couples children taking the witness stand.
www.denver7.com
He was arrested on March 19, 2023. His bond was set at $10 million on June 28, 2023. That October, he pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
James Craig's trial began on Tuesday, July 15, 2025.
You can read Denver7's previous reporting on this trial here:
www.denver7.com
Jul 22
She told the court she has been with the office since 2004, and became the elected coroner in 2014. She has performed more than 6,000 autopsies in her career. She has also testified in court around 177 times, and has worked in Colorado for more than two decades. She was qualified as an expert witness in forensic pathology.
Prosecutor Ryan Brackley questioned Lear as to the information she had available to her prior to the autopsy. Lear responded she had "a fair number" of medical records including from Angela's terminal hospital stay, hospital visits before her death, hospital records dating back to 2014 and information from law enforcement regarding their investigation at the time. She added that she knew about the allegations that Angela had been poisoned with cyanide.
In her testimony, Lear said Angela's organs showed a lack of oxygen, which were the result of cyanide and tetrahydrozoline toxicity — the overdose of those two drugs caused a lack of oxygen to all of the organs in her body, she said.
She testified that she believed Angela Craig may have been re-exposed to cyanide during her hospital stay due to her "abrupt change in her clinical status in that time frame."
Ultimately, she said, Angela's cause of death was acute cyanide and tetrahydrozoline toxicity, or poisoning. She ruled Angela's manner of death as a homicide.
When questioned as to why she did not rule her death a suicide, she said her death could not have been a suicide after looking at her past medical history and hospital visits, and from looking at the evidence from text messages as well as her actions prior to her death (i.e. going to the hospital to find out what was wrong with her).
"My job as the forensic pathologist is to speak for the decedent," Lear told the jury. "I have to look at her actions and her records and her words, where I can find them, to make a determination as to manner [of death].”
James Craig's trial began on Tuesday, July 15, 2025.
You can read Denver7's previous reporting on this trial here:
- Opening statements/day 1 - Tuesday, July 15
- Day 2 - Wednesday, July 16
- Day 3 - Thursday, July 17
- Day 4 - Friday, July 18
James Craig trial: Wife of former Aurora dentist had nearly twice the lethal amount of cyanide in her system
The wife of former Aurora dentist James Craig had nearly twice the lethal limit of cyanide in her system at the time of her death, according to a toxicology expert who testified in court Monday.
www.denver7.com
Jul 22
Arapahoe County Coroner says Angela's death was a homicide, not suicide
The last witness of the day was Dr. Kelly Lear, who is the elected coroner and forensic pathologist for the Arapahoe County Coroner's Office. In her job, she evaluates deceased people to determine why that person has died.She told the court she has been with the office since 2004, and became the elected coroner in 2014. She has performed more than 6,000 autopsies in her career. She has also testified in court around 177 times, and has worked in Colorado for more than two decades. She was qualified as an expert witness in forensic pathology.
Prosecutor Ryan Brackley questioned Lear as to the information she had available to her prior to the autopsy. Lear responded she had "a fair number" of medical records including from Angela's terminal hospital stay, hospital visits before her death, hospital records dating back to 2014 and information from law enforcement regarding their investigation at the time. She added that she knew about the allegations that Angela had been poisoned with cyanide.
In her testimony, Lear said Angela's organs showed a lack of oxygen, which were the result of cyanide and tetrahydrozoline toxicity — the overdose of those two drugs caused a lack of oxygen to all of the organs in her body, she said.
She testified that she believed Angela Craig may have been re-exposed to cyanide during her hospital stay due to her "abrupt change in her clinical status in that time frame."
Ultimately, she said, Angela's cause of death was acute cyanide and tetrahydrozoline toxicity, or poisoning. She ruled Angela's manner of death as a homicide.
When questioned as to why she did not rule her death a suicide, she said her death could not have been a suicide after looking at her past medical history and hospital visits, and from looking at the evidence from text messages as well as her actions prior to her death (i.e. going to the hospital to find out what was wrong with her).
"My job as the forensic pathologist is to speak for the decedent," Lear told the jury. "I have to look at her actions and her records and her words, where I can find them, to make a determination as to manner [of death].”
Texas Orthodontist Dr. Karin Cain took the stand during the trial today. She testified until noon when the jury broke for lunch. Cain said the two had exchanged more than 4000 Text messages after meeting at Dental conference in Las Vegas in march. Cain said she met James Craig while waiting for a bus to take the conference attendees to a dinner. The two she said made out in her hotel room. Cain told the jury Craig led her to believe he was in the process of getting a divorce from his wife Angela and that he was separated from her and living in an apartment. She told the court Craig was saying all the right things that got her emotional since she had been single for a year. I’m writing this post outside the courtroom during a lunch break.
……
James Craig kept his head down as the woman he was allegedly trying to date entered the court room. Orthodontist Karin Cain looked directly at him for several moments when identifying him. He did not look at her. He kept his head down. In court it has been said Craig had many extramarital affairs. But Cain is the last one, before Angela Craig was allegedly poisoned by him. She will continue testifying at 1:20 this afternoon.
……
James Craig kept his head down as the woman he was allegedly trying to date entered the court room. Orthodontist Karin Cain looked directly at him for several moments when identifying him. He did not look at her. He kept his head down. In court it has been said Craig had many extramarital affairs. But Cain is the last one, before Angela Craig was allegedly poisoned by him. She will continue testifying at 1:20 this afternoon.
The prosecution finished reading through text messages between Orthodontist Karin Cain and Dr. Craig, and went on to talk about her trip to Denver.
She had initially planned to visit around March 8-10, but with Angela in the hospital, they rescheduled for March 16-20. She came to Denver and visited with Craig a few times during the trip before he was arrested. Detectives knocked on her hotel door on March 19 around 2 a.m. to tell her that Craig had been arrested. Cain then provided what she knew to detectives.
……
The prosecutors presented letters written by Craig to Cain while he was in jail in late April. Cain said she did not read and burned the first two letters before she learned that she should not do that. The other letters talked about his love for her and at one point, Craig apologized and said he lied about having a separate apartment.
Cain said she did not respond to any specific letters but sent a letter expressing that she did not want to communicate with him anymore.
Cross-examination began and the defense talked to Cain about how they met at a convention and that led to a relationship where they talked. Cain clarified that she does not remember giving Craig her address, but cannot swear that she did not give it to him.
Cain was released from the stand and the prosecution has now called a new witness to the stand: Kacy Bohannon, who lives in Colorado and interacted with Craig during his time in the Arapahoe County Jail.
She had initially planned to visit around March 8-10, but with Angela in the hospital, they rescheduled for March 16-20. She came to Denver and visited with Craig a few times during the trip before he was arrested. Detectives knocked on her hotel door on March 19 around 2 a.m. to tell her that Craig had been arrested. Cain then provided what she knew to detectives.
……
The prosecutors presented letters written by Craig to Cain while he was in jail in late April. Cain said she did not read and burned the first two letters before she learned that she should not do that. The other letters talked about his love for her and at one point, Craig apologized and said he lied about having a separate apartment.
Cain said she did not respond to any specific letters but sent a letter expressing that she did not want to communicate with him anymore.
Cross-examination began and the defense talked to Cain about how they met at a convention and that led to a relationship where they talked. Cain clarified that she does not remember giving Craig her address, but cannot swear that she did not give it to him.
Cain was released from the stand and the prosecution has now called a new witness to the stand: Kacy Bohannon, who lives in Colorado and interacted with Craig during his time in the Arapahoe County Jail.
James' cellmate, who alleged James asked him to place a fake journal inside his home, also took the stand Tuesday.
www.denver7.com
Hidden True Crimes recap tonight should be good. I’m hooked on them now….thanks @Izzylizzy !
James Craig trial: Aurora dentist's romantic partner testifies about their budding relationship
The romantic partner of the Aurora dentist accused of murdering his wife in 2023 testified about their budding relationship as romantic texts between the two were shown before the court Tuesday.
www.denver7.com
Hidden True Crimes recap tonight should be good. I’m hooked on them now….thanks @Izzylizzy !
Playlist to all of Lauren's @ Hidden True Crime video coverage from Day 1 in the James Craig Trial.
www.youtube.com
Tonight Day 6 @ 10:30 PM
JAMES CRAIG /ARSENIC POISONING CASE
Share your videos with friends, family, and the world
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Tonight Day 6 @ 10:30 PM
LOLJames' cellmate, who alleged James asked him to place a fake journal inside his home, also took the stand Tuesday.
James Craig trial: Aurora dentist's romantic partner testifies about their budding relationship
The romantic partner of the Aurora dentist accused of murdering his wife in 2023 testified about their budding relationship as romantic texts between the two were shown before the court Tuesday.
Hidden True Crimes recap tonight should be good. I’m hooked on them now….thanks @Izzylizzy !
We're on the same wave length we both posted about the same time on Lauren's coverage.
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Tweets from today
Copy and pasting because embedding them junks up the feed.
DR MARK SIMON - TOXICOLOGIST
Dr. Mark Simon completed a 4-year ER residency followed by a 2-year toxicology fellowship. He's board-certified in both specialties and trained to treat poisoning cases directly. When he arrived in the ICU, Angela was already intubated and unresponsive.
Simon wrote in his medical note that Angela “acutely worsened” around 2 PM. At the time of his exam, her condition looked like poisoning—but he couldn’t confirm cyanide without lab work.
Simon explained that cyanide blocks mitochondria, the part of the cell that generates energy. When shut down, the body switches to desperate, inefficient methods of survival, leading to rapid collapse.
Standard hospital labs can’t detect cyanide. Special tests must be sent out. In the meantime, Simon looked for indirect signs in Angela’s blood pointing to cellular breakdown.
Simon said the case didn’t add up. Cyanide isn’t common in ER cases. To present like Angela did, exposure had to be recent—within minutes. He’d never seen anything like it.
Angela’s brain pressure was so high, Simon said he’d never seen a patient live through it. Even with intervention, her condition was already past saving.
Simon warned that mixing cyanide, arsenic, and tetrahydrozoline can amplify symptoms. They don’t cancel each other out—they compound. The result: a cascade of collapse across multiple systems.
When multiple toxins might be involved, diagnosing the cause gets harder. Simon said it complicates everything—especially urgent treatment decisions.
Simon confirms he heard rumors of cyanide. No one confirmed exposure. The only info was that cyanide had been shipped to a dental office.
Simon admits:
He couldn’t confirm cyanide was ingested.
He didn’t know the dose.
He couldn’t say when it was taken—or whether it was voluntary.
CORONER LEAR
Lear acknowledged arsenic was present in both blood draws. No spike between March 9 and March 15 suggested it was metabolizing — not re-administered. She couldn’t rule out another dose but saw no toxic jump.
Lear said the tetrahydrozoline level was lethal — but admitted there’s no adult literature on fatal doses. Her assessment was based on pediatric data. She confirmed: what’s deadly for a child may not be deadly for an adult.
On cross, Dr. Lear admitted she didn’t speak with Angela Craig’s kids, didn’t ask about therapy, and didn’t verify if Angela was ever suicidal.
She had no access to what happened “behind closed doors” — and never consulted a psychiatrist on suicidality in this case.
Prosecutor walked Dr. Lear through every available record.
If Angela had confessed suicide plans to James Craig, he never shared it with the hospital.
Not on March 9.
Not on March 15.
Not when end-of-life care was discussed.
And not in any text messages.
JURY QUESTIONS
Juror: Even without adult fatality literature, was Angela’s tetrahydrozoline level way outside normal?
Dr: Yes.
Juror: How many deaths like this in a normal population?
Dr: In 20 years, I’ve seen
— 3 cyanide deaths (non-fire-related)
— 0 tetrahydrozoline deaths locally
Angela’s was the first. The poison wasn’t common. And it wasn’t subtle.
DR NATALIE HELD - PULMONOLOGIST
Dr. Natalie Held, a pulmonary and critical care physician, is now testifying. She works at UC Health, is triple board-certified, and supervises ICU cases involving mechanical ventilation, coma, and end-of-life care. She explained the medical and legal criteria for brain death, including objective tests and reflex exams. In her role, she’s often called on to make brain death determinations for ICU patients.
On March 18, 2023, Dr. Natalie Held formally determined that Angela Craig was brain dead. Held had been on Angela’s care team for four days and followed standard ICU protocol.
She confirmed the diagnosis after reviewing reflexes, brainstem function, and breathing tests. Her conclusion: Angela met both the medical and legal criteria for death.
Held explained why Angela wasn’t declared brain dead on March 15, the day of the crash. ICU doctors must first eliminate all reversible factors: sedation, metabolic imbalances, or lab abnormalities.
Angela remained under observation until those issues were corrected. The goal: ensure the brain damage was truly irreversible before diagnosis.
DR BREWER - FBI CHEMICAL ANALYST
Dr. Brewer describes his day-to-day: inventorying evidence, reviewing testing requests, and performing chemical analyses. He works mainly with FBI submissions but also processes local agency cases.
In this case, he received and analyzed items tied to James Craig, submitted by Aurora Police.
He tested two items from Craig’s case: a black bottle and a pink “Blender Bottle.” Initial tests targeted cyanide and arsenic—both came back negative.
The black bottle’s residue showed no tetrahydrozoline. But the pink Blender Bottle? A semi-solid yogurt-like substance tested positive for tetrahydrozoline.
Brewer confirmed washing or rinsing any container could remove traces of cyanide, arsenic, or tetrahydrozoline. Defense pressed Dr. Brewer on whether the black and pink bottles appeared washed.
He agreed both looked unwashed to a layperson—residue was clearly present. Jury hears these items likely retained original contents.
Under cross, Brewer confirms tetrahydrozoline is found in OTC products:
• Eye drops (Visine)
• Nasal decongestants
It was found only in the pink bottle—not in the syringes or black bottle.
Defense confirms Brewer determined how much tetrahydrozoline was in the pink bottle. Exact concentration not stated yet—but a quantifiable amount was found.
FBI chemist admits their tests were qualitative only — not quantitative.
That means:
• No way to tell how much tetrahydrozoline was in the bottle
• No way to know who put it there, how, or when
DR KAREN CAIN
Karen Cain, James Craig’s former mistress, is now testifying. Her voice is shaky as she begins answering questions. All eyes are on her — this is the first time jurors hear directly from the woman at the center of the affair.
Karen Cain confirms she was divorced in January 2024, after 27 years of marriage. She has two adult children: a 21-year-old son and a 23-year-old daughter.
She was still adjusting to single life when she met Dr. Craig. Karen Cain met Dr. Craig at a dental conference in Las Vegas in Feb 2023. She was recently divorced and attending alone.
They struck up a conversation while waiting for the conference dinner shuttle. Both shared they were going through difficult divorces. Cain described their initial conversation as deep and emotionally open.
They had dinner together twice and grew close during the conference. Karen Cain admitted their relationship became “physically intimate” in Las Vegas.
She invited Craig to her room. They made out, but she emphasized there was no sexual relationship. Boundaries were discussed and respected. After Vegas, Karen Cain distanced herself, feeling their makeout had moved "too fast."
She told Craig she wouldn’t sleep with anyone unless he was her “forever person.” Craig responded with empathy, calling that boundary “reasonable.”
They continued texting and calling daily—over 4,000 messages in 18 days
Cain testified that Craig leaned heavily into spiritual conversations. He claimed he was living apart from Angela Craig, only visiting to help with their daughters.
Cain said Craig would call her while putting his kids to bed, praying with them via AirPods. She says she even prayed for Angela Craig, believing she was just the ill ex-wife of her new love interest.
After Vegas, Cain and Craig shared a ride to the airport, lunch, and another kiss at her gate.
Craig texted her from a new number—allegedly because he didn’t want his daughters snooping.
That phone sent the first of over 4,000 texts, now entered into evidence as People’s Exhibit 70A. She saved his number under “JT” (James + a nickname) because her dad was also named Jim.
PROSECUTOR READS JT’S TEXTS
Dr. Cain didn’t want to read them herself.
So the prosecutor did.
It started with a line Craig wrote after she thanked him for accepting her “complex needs.”
Over 4,000 texts like this are now in evidence.
Craig texted about his wife Angela:
“She wasn’t giving her whole self... I needed full commitment.”
Cain said he later compared that lack to what she was giving him emotionally.
“Problem is I might be completely in love with you after 3 days… and that’s nuts.”
Cain told the jury: “That’s what I was looking for… a spiritual and emotional connection.”
Craig urged her not to book a flight yet:
“I’m so deep into you right now… I may not be able to hold the boundary we agreed to.”
He warned he lacked self-control if they saw each other too soon.
Feb 28, Craig texts Karen:
“Ugh. Fighting with Ange all afternoon.”
Angela had seen a California Pizza Kitchen charge — “big enough to cover two people.”
He claims: “I don’t think she understands what it means to be getting divorced.”
Craig tells Karen Angela is going to Utah.
He adds: “Maybe she’ll decide to stay gone… It would definitely make my life easier.”
Karen believed he was separating and already moved into an apartment.
Asked if she was expressing this new romance to friends back in 2023, Karen replies:
“Yes.”
But when asked if she told her kids before March—
“No, I don’t think I ever shared it with my kids.”
Karen says she bought plane tickets twice to visit Craig. The original plan: March 8–10, 2023. She didn’t end up coming. Reason? She vaguely recalls Angela being sick and things “not feeling like a good time to hang out.”
Karen moved the trip to March 16–20. Prosecutor confirms flight docs show her name and booking confirmations.
Karen says she and James talked often about their feelings and the possibility of a long-term relationship. They never discussed logistics, but emotionally, it felt serious.
Karen recalled James once said, “I could see myself asking you to marry me.” She says she replied, “I could see myself saying yes.”
On March 6, Craig told Karen Angela was sick, ER found nothing, and “she thinks I did this to her.” He added: “I would never drug you. Just for the record.”
Craig texted Karen that Angela had tried to take her life 2–3 times. He said she stole sedatives from his office, and he had to dig through trash to find what she took and reverse it.
On March 7, he told Karen his daughter Annabelle took Angela to Urgent Care.
Later he texted: “I’m glad they’re keeping her. I just need a night off from caring for her. Is that awful?”
He reassured Karen: “I’d totally take care of you… but with Angela, it feels too intimate.”
Then added: “I’m terrible.”
Craig sent Karen photos of Angela in the hospital bed with their daughter and a birthday dinner with the family. Karen confirmed she didn’t ask for these photos.
Craig told Karen he spoke to Angela’s brother about the divorce. The brother allegedly replied: “You tried hard to make it work.” Craig sent another family photo later that night.
On March 14, Craig texted Karen again: “She accused me of being the reason she’s sick… because I want to leave her.”
Karen replied with support: “Of course.”
On March 14, Craig texted Karen:
“I feel like such a bad person… Maybe I’ve shared too much. Maybe I should retreat.”
He poured out feelings of shame, rejection, and desire. “Say the word, and I’m yours.”
March 15, 6:04 AM: Craig texts Dr. Kane, “I love you so much… the Lord has been speaking to me quietly… giving me signs that with you is where I need to be.”
She responds with comfort.
Angela Craig is still alive.
Later that day, Craig texts: “Crash. Intubated. No brain activity.”
Karen replies: “No words. I love you.”
She offers to help him prepare to tell “the Littles,” his two youngest daughters.
5:28 PM: Craig says telling his daughters will be “heartbreaking.”
8:13 PM: He asks Karen if she’s still coming to visit.
Near midnight: He texts a detailed plan for her to attend the funeral weekend… secretly.
Craig’s plan: • Put her in a hotel near him
• Pretend she’s a visiting orthodontist friend
• Introduce her slowly to family
• Sneak away to spend “late night hours” with her
All while his wife is dying and her body is under police investigation.
March 15, just before midnight: Craig texts,
“Worst case scenario… what if they decide… I helped her?”
Karen reassures him:
“You were at work both times she went to the ER.”
Karen arrives March 16. They meet briefly, hike, dine at a sushi spot, and spend the night together. The next day, she spends time alone while Craig picks burial plots. They dine in Boulder and he stays again.
March 19, 2 AM: Police wake Karen. They arrest Craig. She tells them: this was her first visit, and “they’re divorcing.” She later shares text messages and tries to explain: “He’s a good dad… I don’t think he did this.”
After the arrest, she reschedules her flight, changes hotels, and emails detectives. Her goal? “I didn’t want them to take the kids’ dad… I really didn’t think he had any part in this.”
She tells police: Angela was depressed and had prior suicide attempts based solely on Craig’s word.
By late April, Craig starts sending handwritten letters to Karin. She doesn't know how he got her home address.
Jury sees 5 letters Craig mailed Dr. Karin Cain after his arrest. She burned the first 2. Sent the rest to police.
“Karen, you have ruined me — ruined me in all the best ways. I love you like an oasis in the desert.”
He called her serene, transcendent, and said he dreamed of her every night.
“I die a new death every day I cannot be near you. It’s a sacrifice I willingly give if it means someday I might win your heart again.” Signed every time: Love, JT
Craig admits he lied to Karin about having a separate apartment. He panicked, afraid she’d leave if she knew he still lived with Angela.
Dr. Karin Cain wrote Craig one final letter: “Do not write me anymore.”
That was her only response.
Cross-examination of Dr. Karin Cain starts, led by defense attorney Moses. Tone is direct. He's laying groundwork on her communication timeline with Craig.
Moses takes Dr. Karin Cain back to February 2023, when she first met James Craig at a medical conference.
She opened up about her divorce, her faith. He did the same. That night ended with dinner and emotional bonding.
Cain admits they spent most of two days together—conference events, a dinner, a cab to the airport. Then came “daily texting,” phone calls, and emotional closeness. She says he made her feel “seen” in ways her ex-husband never had.
Moses locks in key detail: Craig was using a Google number to text Cain.
Cain says she didn’t understand the significance at first, but it was supposedly to hide texts from his “snooping kid.”
Moses presses: “That’s not a normal number, right?” Cain agrees.
Defense hits hard:
Cain didn’t know Craig was texting his wife at the same time.
Didn’t know he was texting other women.
Didn’t know he hired a prostitute in Vegas.
Moses: “But he knew.”
Cain: “Yes.”
Moses challenges Cain on why she changed her flight. Cain initially told police it was for her son's spring break. Today she says it may also have been because “something felt off.”
Moses: “Which one’s true?”
Cain: “Both can be.”
Defense confirms “marriage” did appear in 4,000 texts—but only about Cain’s past, not a future with Craig. No talk of wedding plans.
Moses: “So you weren’t planning a life together?”
Cain: “Not in logistics. But emotionally? Yes.”
Moses pushes hard: “It was infatuation, right?”
Cain agrees it felt exciting, even “like a high school girl.”
But she stands her ground:
❝It felt like love.❞
That moment lands heavy in the courtroom.
Prosecutor Broccoli ends strong:
“Yes, a lot of what the defendant told you wasn’t true, correct?”
Cain: “Correct.”
He walks back through key lies:
– Still married
– Still living with wife
– Prostitute in Vegas
And what else was a lie?
Objection. Sustained.
JUROR QUESTION
“Did Dr. Craig tell you about any extramarital affairs he had during his marriage? If so, how many? What duration did the relationship last?”
Dr. Cain says Craig first claimed he never cheated on Angela. A week later, he admitted that was a lie telling her he had one emotional affair and one physical affair. He didn’t share when or for how long. He blamed the divorce on emotional disconnection.
INMATE CASEY BOHANNON
Casey Nathan Bohannon, a former inmate at Arapahoe County Jail, takes the stand. He says Dr. Craig eventually admitted he was in for "M1" — not a misdemeanor, but Murder One — and that his wife died by suicide using cyanide in a protein shake.
According to Bohannon, Craig claimed Angela was “unhappy” and took her own life. But the most stunning allegation? Craig asked Bohannon to plant a fake suicide journal in his truck or garage — one that Craig himself would rewrite, mimicking Angela’s voice.
Craig allegedly told Bohannon he’d rewrite fake journal entries describing Angela’s unhappiness and suicidal ideation. The goal? To make it seem she planned it all herself.
No insurance motive discussed.
No mention of an accident.
Just a fake trail.
Craig allegedly sketched out a map of his home, pointing out camera placements. At first, he wanted the fake journal planted in the garage — but changed plans when he realized it would be caught on tape.
New plan: hide it under the seat of his jacked-up F-250.
Craig arrived at jail ~March 19
Discussions about the fake journal began soon after. Craig claimed police “lost” or “withheld” Angela’s real journals.
Craig allegedly planned the forgery as replacement evidence. Witness confirmed Craig's identity in court.
Court adjourned for the day.
Proceedings resume tomorrow at 8:15 AM.
Copy and pasting because embedding them junks up the feed.
DR MARK SIMON - TOXICOLOGIST
Dr. Mark Simon completed a 4-year ER residency followed by a 2-year toxicology fellowship. He's board-certified in both specialties and trained to treat poisoning cases directly. When he arrived in the ICU, Angela was already intubated and unresponsive.
Simon wrote in his medical note that Angela “acutely worsened” around 2 PM. At the time of his exam, her condition looked like poisoning—but he couldn’t confirm cyanide without lab work.
Simon explained that cyanide blocks mitochondria, the part of the cell that generates energy. When shut down, the body switches to desperate, inefficient methods of survival, leading to rapid collapse.
Standard hospital labs can’t detect cyanide. Special tests must be sent out. In the meantime, Simon looked for indirect signs in Angela’s blood pointing to cellular breakdown.
Simon said the case didn’t add up. Cyanide isn’t common in ER cases. To present like Angela did, exposure had to be recent—within minutes. He’d never seen anything like it.
Angela’s brain pressure was so high, Simon said he’d never seen a patient live through it. Even with intervention, her condition was already past saving.
Simon warned that mixing cyanide, arsenic, and tetrahydrozoline can amplify symptoms. They don’t cancel each other out—they compound. The result: a cascade of collapse across multiple systems.
When multiple toxins might be involved, diagnosing the cause gets harder. Simon said it complicates everything—especially urgent treatment decisions.
Simon confirms he heard rumors of cyanide. No one confirmed exposure. The only info was that cyanide had been shipped to a dental office.
Simon admits:
He couldn’t confirm cyanide was ingested.
He didn’t know the dose.
He couldn’t say when it was taken—or whether it was voluntary.
CORONER LEAR
Lear acknowledged arsenic was present in both blood draws. No spike between March 9 and March 15 suggested it was metabolizing — not re-administered. She couldn’t rule out another dose but saw no toxic jump.
Lear said the tetrahydrozoline level was lethal — but admitted there’s no adult literature on fatal doses. Her assessment was based on pediatric data. She confirmed: what’s deadly for a child may not be deadly for an adult.
On cross, Dr. Lear admitted she didn’t speak with Angela Craig’s kids, didn’t ask about therapy, and didn’t verify if Angela was ever suicidal.
She had no access to what happened “behind closed doors” — and never consulted a psychiatrist on suicidality in this case.
Prosecutor walked Dr. Lear through every available record.
- No documentation of Angela Craig ever attempting suicide.
- No record of opiate/benzo use in January.
- No statement from James Craig about suicide to doctors — despite being present at nearly every hospital visit.
If Angela had confessed suicide plans to James Craig, he never shared it with the hospital.
Not on March 9.
Not on March 15.
Not when end-of-life care was discussed.
And not in any text messages.
JURY QUESTIONS
Juror: Even without adult fatality literature, was Angela’s tetrahydrozoline level way outside normal?
Dr: Yes.
Juror: How many deaths like this in a normal population?
Dr: In 20 years, I’ve seen
— 3 cyanide deaths (non-fire-related)
— 0 tetrahydrozoline deaths locally
Angela’s was the first. The poison wasn’t common. And it wasn’t subtle.
DR NATALIE HELD - PULMONOLOGIST
Dr. Natalie Held, a pulmonary and critical care physician, is now testifying. She works at UC Health, is triple board-certified, and supervises ICU cases involving mechanical ventilation, coma, and end-of-life care. She explained the medical and legal criteria for brain death, including objective tests and reflex exams. In her role, she’s often called on to make brain death determinations for ICU patients.
On March 18, 2023, Dr. Natalie Held formally determined that Angela Craig was brain dead. Held had been on Angela’s care team for four days and followed standard ICU protocol.
She confirmed the diagnosis after reviewing reflexes, brainstem function, and breathing tests. Her conclusion: Angela met both the medical and legal criteria for death.
Held explained why Angela wasn’t declared brain dead on March 15, the day of the crash. ICU doctors must first eliminate all reversible factors: sedation, metabolic imbalances, or lab abnormalities.
Angela remained under observation until those issues were corrected. The goal: ensure the brain damage was truly irreversible before diagnosis.
DR BREWER - FBI CHEMICAL ANALYST
Dr. Brewer describes his day-to-day: inventorying evidence, reviewing testing requests, and performing chemical analyses. He works mainly with FBI submissions but also processes local agency cases.
In this case, he received and analyzed items tied to James Craig, submitted by Aurora Police.
He tested two items from Craig’s case: a black bottle and a pink “Blender Bottle.” Initial tests targeted cyanide and arsenic—both came back negative.
The black bottle’s residue showed no tetrahydrozoline. But the pink Blender Bottle? A semi-solid yogurt-like substance tested positive for tetrahydrozoline.
Brewer confirmed washing or rinsing any container could remove traces of cyanide, arsenic, or tetrahydrozoline. Defense pressed Dr. Brewer on whether the black and pink bottles appeared washed.
He agreed both looked unwashed to a layperson—residue was clearly present. Jury hears these items likely retained original contents.
Under cross, Brewer confirms tetrahydrozoline is found in OTC products:
• Eye drops (Visine)
• Nasal decongestants
It was found only in the pink bottle—not in the syringes or black bottle.
Defense confirms Brewer determined how much tetrahydrozoline was in the pink bottle. Exact concentration not stated yet—but a quantifiable amount was found.
FBI chemist admits their tests were qualitative only — not quantitative.
That means:
• No way to tell how much tetrahydrozoline was in the bottle
• No way to know who put it there, how, or when
DR KAREN CAIN
Karen Cain, James Craig’s former mistress, is now testifying. Her voice is shaky as she begins answering questions. All eyes are on her — this is the first time jurors hear directly from the woman at the center of the affair.
Karen Cain confirms she was divorced in January 2024, after 27 years of marriage. She has two adult children: a 21-year-old son and a 23-year-old daughter.
She was still adjusting to single life when she met Dr. Craig. Karen Cain met Dr. Craig at a dental conference in Las Vegas in Feb 2023. She was recently divorced and attending alone.
They struck up a conversation while waiting for the conference dinner shuttle. Both shared they were going through difficult divorces. Cain described their initial conversation as deep and emotionally open.
They had dinner together twice and grew close during the conference. Karen Cain admitted their relationship became “physically intimate” in Las Vegas.
She invited Craig to her room. They made out, but she emphasized there was no sexual relationship. Boundaries were discussed and respected. After Vegas, Karen Cain distanced herself, feeling their makeout had moved "too fast."
She told Craig she wouldn’t sleep with anyone unless he was her “forever person.” Craig responded with empathy, calling that boundary “reasonable.”
They continued texting and calling daily—over 4,000 messages in 18 days
Cain testified that Craig leaned heavily into spiritual conversations. He claimed he was living apart from Angela Craig, only visiting to help with their daughters.
Cain said Craig would call her while putting his kids to bed, praying with them via AirPods. She says she even prayed for Angela Craig, believing she was just the ill ex-wife of her new love interest.
After Vegas, Cain and Craig shared a ride to the airport, lunch, and another kiss at her gate.
Craig texted her from a new number—allegedly because he didn’t want his daughters snooping.
That phone sent the first of over 4,000 texts, now entered into evidence as People’s Exhibit 70A. She saved his number under “JT” (James + a nickname) because her dad was also named Jim.
PROSECUTOR READS JT’S TEXTS
Dr. Cain didn’t want to read them herself.
So the prosecutor did.
It started with a line Craig wrote after she thanked him for accepting her “complex needs.”
Over 4,000 texts like this are now in evidence.
Craig texted about his wife Angela:
“She wasn’t giving her whole self... I needed full commitment.”
Cain said he later compared that lack to what she was giving him emotionally.
“Problem is I might be completely in love with you after 3 days… and that’s nuts.”
Cain told the jury: “That’s what I was looking for… a spiritual and emotional connection.”
Craig urged her not to book a flight yet:
“I’m so deep into you right now… I may not be able to hold the boundary we agreed to.”
He warned he lacked self-control if they saw each other too soon.
Feb 28, Craig texts Karen:
“Ugh. Fighting with Ange all afternoon.”
Angela had seen a California Pizza Kitchen charge — “big enough to cover two people.”
He claims: “I don’t think she understands what it means to be getting divorced.”
Craig tells Karen Angela is going to Utah.
He adds: “Maybe she’ll decide to stay gone… It would definitely make my life easier.”
Karen believed he was separating and already moved into an apartment.
Asked if she was expressing this new romance to friends back in 2023, Karen replies:
“Yes.”
But when asked if she told her kids before March—
“No, I don’t think I ever shared it with my kids.”
Karen says she bought plane tickets twice to visit Craig. The original plan: March 8–10, 2023. She didn’t end up coming. Reason? She vaguely recalls Angela being sick and things “not feeling like a good time to hang out.”
Karen moved the trip to March 16–20. Prosecutor confirms flight docs show her name and booking confirmations.
Karen says she and James talked often about their feelings and the possibility of a long-term relationship. They never discussed logistics, but emotionally, it felt serious.
Karen recalled James once said, “I could see myself asking you to marry me.” She says she replied, “I could see myself saying yes.”
On March 6, Craig told Karen Angela was sick, ER found nothing, and “she thinks I did this to her.” He added: “I would never drug you. Just for the record.”
Craig texted Karen that Angela had tried to take her life 2–3 times. He said she stole sedatives from his office, and he had to dig through trash to find what she took and reverse it.
On March 7, he told Karen his daughter Annabelle took Angela to Urgent Care.
Later he texted: “I’m glad they’re keeping her. I just need a night off from caring for her. Is that awful?”
He reassured Karen: “I’d totally take care of you… but with Angela, it feels too intimate.”
Then added: “I’m terrible.”
Craig sent Karen photos of Angela in the hospital bed with their daughter and a birthday dinner with the family. Karen confirmed she didn’t ask for these photos.
Craig told Karen he spoke to Angela’s brother about the divorce. The brother allegedly replied: “You tried hard to make it work.” Craig sent another family photo later that night.
On March 14, Craig texted Karen again: “She accused me of being the reason she’s sick… because I want to leave her.”
Karen replied with support: “Of course.”
On March 14, Craig texted Karen:
“I feel like such a bad person… Maybe I’ve shared too much. Maybe I should retreat.”
He poured out feelings of shame, rejection, and desire. “Say the word, and I’m yours.”
March 15, 6:04 AM: Craig texts Dr. Kane, “I love you so much… the Lord has been speaking to me quietly… giving me signs that with you is where I need to be.”
She responds with comfort.
Angela Craig is still alive.
Later that day, Craig texts: “Crash. Intubated. No brain activity.”
Karen replies: “No words. I love you.”
She offers to help him prepare to tell “the Littles,” his two youngest daughters.
5:28 PM: Craig says telling his daughters will be “heartbreaking.”
8:13 PM: He asks Karen if she’s still coming to visit.
Near midnight: He texts a detailed plan for her to attend the funeral weekend… secretly.
Craig’s plan: • Put her in a hotel near him
• Pretend she’s a visiting orthodontist friend
• Introduce her slowly to family
• Sneak away to spend “late night hours” with her
All while his wife is dying and her body is under police investigation.
March 15, just before midnight: Craig texts,
“Worst case scenario… what if they decide… I helped her?”
Karen reassures him:
“You were at work both times she went to the ER.”
Karen arrives March 16. They meet briefly, hike, dine at a sushi spot, and spend the night together. The next day, she spends time alone while Craig picks burial plots. They dine in Boulder and he stays again.
March 19, 2 AM: Police wake Karen. They arrest Craig. She tells them: this was her first visit, and “they’re divorcing.” She later shares text messages and tries to explain: “He’s a good dad… I don’t think he did this.”
After the arrest, she reschedules her flight, changes hotels, and emails detectives. Her goal? “I didn’t want them to take the kids’ dad… I really didn’t think he had any part in this.”
She tells police: Angela was depressed and had prior suicide attempts based solely on Craig’s word.
By late April, Craig starts sending handwritten letters to Karin. She doesn't know how he got her home address.
Jury sees 5 letters Craig mailed Dr. Karin Cain after his arrest. She burned the first 2. Sent the rest to police.
“Karen, you have ruined me — ruined me in all the best ways. I love you like an oasis in the desert.”
He called her serene, transcendent, and said he dreamed of her every night.
“I die a new death every day I cannot be near you. It’s a sacrifice I willingly give if it means someday I might win your heart again.” Signed every time: Love, JT
Craig admits he lied to Karin about having a separate apartment. He panicked, afraid she’d leave if she knew he still lived with Angela.
Dr. Karin Cain wrote Craig one final letter: “Do not write me anymore.”
That was her only response.
Cross-examination of Dr. Karin Cain starts, led by defense attorney Moses. Tone is direct. He's laying groundwork on her communication timeline with Craig.
Moses takes Dr. Karin Cain back to February 2023, when she first met James Craig at a medical conference.
She opened up about her divorce, her faith. He did the same. That night ended with dinner and emotional bonding.
Cain admits they spent most of two days together—conference events, a dinner, a cab to the airport. Then came “daily texting,” phone calls, and emotional closeness. She says he made her feel “seen” in ways her ex-husband never had.
Moses locks in key detail: Craig was using a Google number to text Cain.
Cain says she didn’t understand the significance at first, but it was supposedly to hide texts from his “snooping kid.”
Moses presses: “That’s not a normal number, right?” Cain agrees.
Defense hits hard:
Cain didn’t know Craig was texting his wife at the same time.
Didn’t know he was texting other women.
Didn’t know he hired a prostitute in Vegas.
Moses: “But he knew.”
Cain: “Yes.”
Moses challenges Cain on why she changed her flight. Cain initially told police it was for her son's spring break. Today she says it may also have been because “something felt off.”
Moses: “Which one’s true?”
Cain: “Both can be.”
Defense confirms “marriage” did appear in 4,000 texts—but only about Cain’s past, not a future with Craig. No talk of wedding plans.
Moses: “So you weren’t planning a life together?”
Cain: “Not in logistics. But emotionally? Yes.”
Moses pushes hard: “It was infatuation, right?”
Cain agrees it felt exciting, even “like a high school girl.”
But she stands her ground:
❝It felt like love.❞
That moment lands heavy in the courtroom.
Prosecutor Broccoli ends strong:
“Yes, a lot of what the defendant told you wasn’t true, correct?”
Cain: “Correct.”
He walks back through key lies:
– Still married
– Still living with wife
– Prostitute in Vegas
And what else was a lie?
Objection. Sustained.
JUROR QUESTION
“Did Dr. Craig tell you about any extramarital affairs he had during his marriage? If so, how many? What duration did the relationship last?”
Dr. Cain says Craig first claimed he never cheated on Angela. A week later, he admitted that was a lie telling her he had one emotional affair and one physical affair. He didn’t share when or for how long. He blamed the divorce on emotional disconnection.
INMATE CASEY BOHANNON
Casey Nathan Bohannon, a former inmate at Arapahoe County Jail, takes the stand. He says Dr. Craig eventually admitted he was in for "M1" — not a misdemeanor, but Murder One — and that his wife died by suicide using cyanide in a protein shake.
According to Bohannon, Craig claimed Angela was “unhappy” and took her own life. But the most stunning allegation? Craig asked Bohannon to plant a fake suicide journal in his truck or garage — one that Craig himself would rewrite, mimicking Angela’s voice.
Craig allegedly told Bohannon he’d rewrite fake journal entries describing Angela’s unhappiness and suicidal ideation. The goal? To make it seem she planned it all herself.
No insurance motive discussed.
No mention of an accident.
Just a fake trail.
Craig allegedly sketched out a map of his home, pointing out camera placements. At first, he wanted the fake journal planted in the garage — but changed plans when he realized it would be caught on tape.
New plan: hide it under the seat of his jacked-up F-250.
Craig arrived at jail ~March 19
Discussions about the fake journal began soon after. Craig claimed police “lost” or “withheld” Angela’s real journals.
Craig allegedly planned the forgery as replacement evidence. Witness confirmed Craig's identity in court.
Court adjourned for the day.
Proceedings resume tomorrow at 8:15 AM.
Last edited:
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The jury hasn't retired yet to ponder their verdict, all the evidence hasn't been provided yet, but already we know he is just a blundering idiot!
Imagine poisoning your wife, the mother of your children, and blaming suicide, and then having to face witness after witness who describe, in some detail, what a horrible person you are. He has no shame.
He loves the orthodontist, he exchanges 4000 texts with her, discusses a future, even though he lies to her.
The orthodontist was just one of many, now way would you think that relationship could be part of a motive, in fact he had an encounter with a prostitute during the same trip they meet. And he was in contact with other women. (No wonder his dentist employers had to ask him to work some more, how many other women and was the 4000 text think just average? Not much time for anything else!) In fact, he had had loads of affairs, over the years. His wife knew, but they still loved each other very much. So much so, when she decided to end it all-maybe-he ordered the cyanide for her. Well, he didn't really think she would do it, no way, it was a game of chicken, you know, a giant bluff. He can't believe that the other dentists at his practice would think just because he had cyanide delivered to the practice, and his wife was in hospital gravely ill with symptoms resembling cyanide poisoning that he did it! If only they bothered to talk to him before they spoke with the LE.
What a fool.
Imagine poisoning your wife, the mother of your children, and blaming suicide, and then having to face witness after witness who describe, in some detail, what a horrible person you are. He has no shame.
He loves the orthodontist, he exchanges 4000 texts with her, discusses a future, even though he lies to her.
The orthodontist was just one of many, now way would you think that relationship could be part of a motive, in fact he had an encounter with a prostitute during the same trip they meet. And he was in contact with other women. (No wonder his dentist employers had to ask him to work some more, how many other women and was the 4000 text think just average? Not much time for anything else!) In fact, he had had loads of affairs, over the years. His wife knew, but they still loved each other very much. So much so, when she decided to end it all-maybe-he ordered the cyanide for her. Well, he didn't really think she would do it, no way, it was a game of chicken, you know, a giant bluff. He can't believe that the other dentists at his practice would think just because he had cyanide delivered to the practice, and his wife was in hospital gravely ill with symptoms resembling cyanide poisoning that he did it! If only they bothered to talk to him before they spoke with the LE.
What a fool.
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Wednesday, July 23rd:
*Trial continues (Day 7) (@ 8:30am MT) - CO - *Angela Dawn Pray Craig (43) poisoned (potassium cyanide) by husband & left her brain dead & taken off life support (arrived at hospital on Mar. 16, 2023) & died Mar. 18, 2023, Aurora. *James Toliver Craig (45/now 47) arrested (3/19/23), charged (3/23/23), formally charged (7/12/23) & arraigned (10/9/23) with 1st degree premeditated murder after deliberations & tampering with physical evidence. Amended charges (4/12/24): 1st degree murder (F1) & 2 counts of solicitation to commit with physical evidence [1 for an inmate & 1 for family member]. Added charges [11/21/24] solicitation to commit 1st degree murder [of Aurora Police Detective] & solicitation to commit perjury in the 1st degree. Held without bond. Bond set at $10M on 6/28/23. Plead not guilty (10/9/23 to murder & on 2/14/25 to Solicitation).
Added charges [4/11/25] with Solicitation to commit tampering with physical evidence. Arapahoe County
Jury selection began on 7/10/25 & ended on 7/14/25. Jury: 12 jurors & 3 alternates.
Trial began on 7/15/25 & goes through 8/1/25.
Judge Shay K. Whitaker presiding. Senior Chief Deputy DA Michael Mauro, Assistant DA Ryan Brackley & Deputy DA Osama Maagrebi. Defense attorneys Lisa Fine Moses & Ashley Whitham.
Case & Court info from 3/16/23 thru 7/3/25 & Jury Selection Day 1-3 [7/10-7/14/24] & Trial Day 1-5 (7/15-21/25) reference post #960 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...entist-husband-aurora-mar-2023.670769/page-48
7/22/25 Tuesday, Trial Day 6: State witnesses: Dr. Mark Simon, an emergency medicine physician who is trained in medical toxicology. Arapahoe County Coroner Dr. Kelly Lear [back on stand]. Dr. Natalie Held [a pulmonary & critical care doctor who treats patients with lung disease]. Dr. Jason Brewer [a forensic chemist examiner at the FBI Laboratory in Quantico, Va., with a specific expertise in chemistry]. Texas Orthodontist Dr. Karin Cain [had affair with Craig]. Text messages/letters read for jurors. Kasey Bohannon [Craig's cellmate]. See post #972 page 49.
Trial continues on Wednesday, 7/23/25.
*Trial continues (Day 7) (@ 8:30am MT) - CO - *Angela Dawn Pray Craig (43) poisoned (potassium cyanide) by husband & left her brain dead & taken off life support (arrived at hospital on Mar. 16, 2023) & died Mar. 18, 2023, Aurora. *James Toliver Craig (45/now 47) arrested (3/19/23), charged (3/23/23), formally charged (7/12/23) & arraigned (10/9/23) with 1st degree premeditated murder after deliberations & tampering with physical evidence. Amended charges (4/12/24): 1st degree murder (F1) & 2 counts of solicitation to commit with physical evidence [1 for an inmate & 1 for family member]. Added charges [11/21/24] solicitation to commit 1st degree murder [of Aurora Police Detective] & solicitation to commit perjury in the 1st degree. Held without bond. Bond set at $10M on 6/28/23. Plead not guilty (10/9/23 to murder & on 2/14/25 to Solicitation).
Added charges [4/11/25] with Solicitation to commit tampering with physical evidence. Arapahoe County
Jury selection began on 7/10/25 & ended on 7/14/25. Jury: 12 jurors & 3 alternates.
Trial began on 7/15/25 & goes through 8/1/25.
Judge Shay K. Whitaker presiding. Senior Chief Deputy DA Michael Mauro, Assistant DA Ryan Brackley & Deputy DA Osama Maagrebi. Defense attorneys Lisa Fine Moses & Ashley Whitham.
Case & Court info from 3/16/23 thru 7/3/25 & Jury Selection Day 1-3 [7/10-7/14/24] & Trial Day 1-5 (7/15-21/25) reference post #960 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...entist-husband-aurora-mar-2023.670769/page-48
7/22/25 Tuesday, Trial Day 6: State witnesses: Dr. Mark Simon, an emergency medicine physician who is trained in medical toxicology. Arapahoe County Coroner Dr. Kelly Lear [back on stand]. Dr. Natalie Held [a pulmonary & critical care doctor who treats patients with lung disease]. Dr. Jason Brewer [a forensic chemist examiner at the FBI Laboratory in Quantico, Va., with a specific expertise in chemistry]. Texas Orthodontist Dr. Karin Cain [had affair with Craig]. Text messages/letters read for jurors. Kasey Bohannon [Craig's cellmate]. See post #972 page 49.
Trial continues on Wednesday, 7/23/25.
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I do consider Dr. Karin Cain another "victim" here. That must have been hard for her to provide details of her affair.
4,000 text messages? Good grief. Complete "love bombing" by narcissist JC.
Follows same pattern we have seen with other wife killers, Scott Peterson and Chris Watts to name two.
4,000 text messages? Good grief. Complete "love bombing" by narcissist JC.
Follows same pattern we have seen with other wife killers, Scott Peterson and Chris Watts to name two.
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Not to mention
"...more than 80 declarations of love in less than three weeks."
Predator.
He discovered her currency, then paid in with fake money.
Poser. Liar. Thief.
JMO
4,000 messages within 18 days.
Approx 222 messages a day...oh, my
Talk about RED flags.
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Yes, sadly, even she says this, now.
I hope she's able to recover from him.
Toxic waste.
JMO
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