*
>>> THIS IS A STORY THAT HAS
OBVIOUSLY SHAKEN COLORADO,
STUNNED THE WORLD.
>> A COLORADO DENTIST ACCUSED OF
POISONING HIS WIFE'S PROTEIN
SHAKES WAS CHARGED WITH HER
MURDER.
>> YOU'VE GOT TO BE EFFING
KIDDING ME, THAT GUY WAS MY
DENTIST.
>> I'M DR. JIM CRAIG.
>> YOU DON'T SEE STORIES LIKE
THIS.
>> MAYBE A HOLLYWOOD BAD SCRIPT.
>> CRAIG IS ACCUSED OF PUTTING
ARSENIC AND CYANIDE IN HER
PROTEIN SNAKES.
>> HE'S ALLEGEDLY ORDERING IT
ONLINE.
YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING ME.
THEY SEEMINGLY HAD EVERYTHING,
SUCCESSFUL DENTAL PRACTICE,
LARGE FAMILY, SEEMINGLY TO ME IN
LOVE.
>> INVESTIGATORS SAY HE
RESEARCHED POISONS IN THE DAYS
LEADING UP TO HIS WIFE'S DEATH.
>> I COULDN'T BELIEVE THE
ALLEGATIONS, STORY, THE MUG
SHOT.
THERE'S MY DENTIST, A MUG SHOT.
>> I'M STEFFAN TUBBS.
>> I'M A TALK SHOW HOST IN
DENVER, TOLD BY SEVERAL PEOPLE
YOU HAVE TO DO A PODCAST ON
THIS.
WE STARTED THE PODCAST.
>> I'D LIKE THE TRUTH, TO MY WHY
JIM CRAIG IS INNOCENT UNTIL
PROVEN GUILTY.
IF THE ALLEGATIONS ARE TRUE, WHY
DID MY FORMER DENTIST KILL HIS
WIFE.
>> BLURRED VISION, HEADACHES,
SLOWED RESPONSIVENESS.
>> THAT'S WORRISOME.
I'M DR. JEFF LaPOINT.
YOU WOULD PROBABLY GET SICK
QUICK.
>> CYANIDE?
>> IT'S ONE OF THE MOST
EFFECTIVE POISONS.
YOU'RE BEING SUFFOCATED ON A
CELLULAR LEVEL.
>> ANGELA CRAIG IS GETTING
SICKER AND SICKER AND SICKER.
>> AND SHE QUICKLY WOULD BE
DECLARED BRAIN DEAD.
DR. JIM CRAIG IS ACCUSED OF
PREMEDITATED FIRST DEGREE MURDER
IN THE POISONING DEATH OF HIS
WIFE ANGELA.
>> THERE SEEMS LIKE SUBSTANTIAL
EVIDENCE IN THE CASE.
I'M SKYE LAZARO, A CRIMINAL
DEFENSE LAWYER.
THE SPOUSE IS AN EASY TARGET.
>> HE'S ENTERED A PLAEA OF NOT
GUILTY.
>> IF I'M THE DEFENSE, I GO
AFTER THE STATE, YOU DIDN'T LOOK
AT THINGS YOU SHOULD HAVE.
>> ADMINISTERED THE POISON
ALLEGEDLY VIA PROTEIN SHAKES.
>> THE STATE HASN'T PRESENTED
ANY EVIDENCE THE POISON IS IN
THE DRINKS.
YOU CAN'T SAY HE DID IT.
>> WOULDN'T SAY IT'S SLAM DUNK.
THERE'S NO MOIST HERE.
WHAT IS THE MOTIVE.
?
*
>>> UNDER THAT VAST ROCKY
MOUNTAIN SKY, MARCH 18, 2023, IN
THE DENVER SUBURB OF AURORA,
ANGELA CRAIG DIES.
DAYS LATER, STEFFAN TUBBS BEGAN
HIS PODCAST ABOUT THE CASE AND
THE UNIMAGINABLE NEWS.
>> I WANT TO PERSONALLY SEND
CONDOLENCES TO THE FRIENDS AND
FAMILY OF ANGELA CRAIG, JUST 43
YEARS OLD, SHE PASSED AWAY,
DECLARED BRAIN DEAD.
NOT LOST ON ME IS THE FACT THIS
FAMILY HAS BEEN TEMPORARILY
DESTROYED.
>> JIM CRAIG HAD BEEN ABSOLUTE
IMMEDIATELY CHARGED WITH THE
FIRST DEGREE MURDER OF HIS WIFE,
ANGELA.
HE HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY.
THE STORY OF THE DENTIST, HIS
WIFE AND THE ALLEGEDLY POISONED
SHAKES WOULD BE TOLD AROUND THE
WORLD.
>> COME ON, A DENTIST ALLEGEDLY
ORDERING POTASSIUM CYANIDE AND
ARSENIC, REALLY?
>> BUT IT WAS ALL AS PAINFULLY
REAL AS A DENTIST'S DRILL.
>> DR. CRAIG AND ANGELA CRAIG
WERE JUST LIKE TWO PEAS IN A
POD.
THE TWO IN THE OFFICE WAS CUTE.
THEY WOULD PLAY PRANKS ON EACH
OTHER ALL DAY LONG.
>> CHELSEA GOT TO KNOW JIM AND
ANGELA WHEN SHE WORKED FOR
DR. CRAIG AT SUMMERBROOK DENTAL.
>> THEY SEEMED LIKE THE PERFECT
COUPLE.
>> UNTIL ACCORDING TO COLORADO
COPS JAMES TOOK THE SHOT AT A
PERFECT CRIME.
>> INVESTORS SAY HE RESEARCHED
POISONS IN THE DAYS LEADING UP
TO HIS WIFE'S DEATH.
>> THE IDEA THE DENTIST STOOD
ACCUSED OF MURDERING HIS WIFE OF
23 YEARS SEEMED INCOMPREHENSIBLE
BECAUSE THEY SEEMED SO CLOSE.
>> JUST WAS HEARTBREAKING.
FOR EVERYONE.
AND I FELT BAD.
>> MY NAME IS DR. JIM CRAIG, I
PRACTICE AT SUMMERBROOK DENTAL
GROUP.
>> COMING UP ON THE LEFT, FORMER
HOME OF SUMMERBROOK DENTAL.
THAT ONE RIGHT THERE.
>> FOR TUBBS, THIS OFFICE
BUILDING ONCE HOME TO
SUMMERBROOK HAS BECOME A TRAGIC
TOUCHSTONE.
>> LAST TIME I HAD EYE CONTACT
WITH DR. JIM CRAIG, HE GAVE ME A
ROOT CANAL.
I THOUGHT HE WAS A GREAT GUY.
I GOT COMPETENT, FRIENDLY CARE.
HE WAS A FAMILY MAN.
WE TALKED ABOUT HIS KIDS.
I MET HIS WIFE.
>> ANGELA WAS THE HEART AND SOUL
OF THAT FAMILY.
MOTHER TO THEIR SIX CHILDREN,
AND A HANDS ON PARTNER IN WHAT
SEEMED LIKE A THRIVING BUSINESS.
>> SHE WAS NOT SOMEBODY JUST TO
SIT THERE AND STAY QUIET.
SHE WAS ENGAGED IN THE DENTAL
PRACTICE.
SHE WAS SOMEBODY WHO WAS TALKING
ABOUT IDEAS AND THEIR MARKETING
AND MESSAGE.
>> TUBBS HELPED REFINE THAT
MESSAGE, WORKING ON SOME OF THE
ADVERTISING.
HE WITNESSED HOW THE TWO PEAS IN
A POD WORKED SIDE BY SIDE WITH
ANGELA PITCHING IN AS ONE OF
JIM'S OFFICE MANAGERS.
>> I THOUGHT IT WAS KIND OF
COOL.
HUSBAND AND WIFE, HUGE FAMILY,
THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT TO SEE A
SMALL COLORADO BUSINESS OPERATED
BY HUSBAND AND WIFE.
WELCOME TO OUR THIRD EDITION OF
THIS PODCAST.
>> TUBBS' PODCAST WOULD DELVE
INTO THE DISTURBING DETAILS OF
ANGELA'S MEDICAL JOURNEY.
HOW AND WHY SHE WAS ALLEGEDLY
MURDERED.
THAT ACCOUNT FROM POLICE IS
CONTAINED IN THE 52-PAGE ARREST
WARRANT.
>> NEARLY 42 YEARS BEING A NEWS
MAN, THE MOST UNBELIEVABLE AND
SEEMINGLY THOROUGH ARREST
AFFIDAVIT I'VE EVER READ.
>> IT ALLEGES THAT JAMES SHOWED
THE PLANNING AND INTENT TO END
HIS WIFE'S LIFE BY SEARCHING FOR
WAYS TO KILL SOMEONE UNDETECTED.
>> THIS WAS NOT THE JAMES CRAIG
THAT I KNEW.
>> DENTISTRY CAN BE EXPENSIVE,
SCARY, UNCOMFORTABLE.
>> THE JAMES CRAIG AURORA KNEW
WAS ON DISPLAY THAT DAY ANGELA'S
ODYSSEY BEGAN.
JIM WAS AT SUMMERBROOK WHEN
ANGELA TEXTED FROM HOME, MY EYES
DON'T WANT TO FOCUS, I FEEL
DRUGGED.
AND JIM HEADED RIGHT HOME.
HE PICKED UP ANGELA AND DROVE TO
THE ER AT THE HOSPITAL.
SHE REPORTED FEELING DIZZY AND
WEAK.
DOCTORS WENT TO WORK.
>> SHE GOES INTO THE HOSPITAL
FIRST TIME MARCH 6th, CORRECT?
>> CORRECT.
FIRST TIME INTO THE HOSPITAL.
>> AT THE TIME GEORGE BRAUCHLER
WAS ANOTHER VOICE IN TALK RADIO,
AND FORMER DISTRICT ATTORNEY FOR
ARAPAHO COUNTY WHERE ANGELA
LIVED AND WOULD DIE, RATTLING
THIS COMMUNITY.
>> THIS IS A HUGE STORY.
>> HE IMMERSED HIMSELF INTO HER
FINAL DAYS, A TWO-WEEK ORDEAL.
BUT THIS MARCH 6th, THERE WERE
LOTS OF QUESTIONS, FEW ANSWERS.
>> THEY DIDN'T HAVE A GOOD
ANSWER FOR WHAT SHE WAS GOING
THROUGH AND THEY END UP
RELEASING HER, SENDING HER HOME.
>> HOME, WHERE ANGELA APPEARED
TO THINK SHE WAS SAFE IN HER
MARRIAGE.
THAT'S HOW SHE SOUNDED IN
MESSAGES THE COUPLE SENT EACH
OTHER, WITH ANGELA NOW HOME
RECUPERATING FROM HER ER VISIT.
>> THERE WERE TEXTS SUGGESTING A
SUPPORTIVE LOVING RELATIONSHIP.
>> JIM TEXTS I LOVE YOU, IT WAS
SO NICE HANGING OUT WITH YOU,
JUST WATCHING A SHOW AND
SNUGGLING.
ANGELA TEXTS JIM, HI BABY, I
LOVE YOUR FACE.
BACK HOME THE BUSY COUPLE PICKED
UP THE DAILY ROUTINE THAT
SUSTAINED THEM.
>> THEY WORKED OUT IN THE
MORNING TOGETHER, AND JIM
PREPARED FOR HIS WIFE A PROTEIN
SHAKE.
ABSOLUTE ROUTINE, PART OF THE
NORMAL DAY.
>> I NEED TO ASK WHAT YOU'RE
HUNGRY FOR, BRING IT TO YOU.
I'M KIND OF FEELING A SMOOTHY.
I'M NOT FEELING ANYTHING, I'LL
EAT SOMETHING HERE.
WITHIN 24 HOURS, ANGELA'S
SYMPTOMS CAME BACK FAST AND
STRONG.
SHE HEADED BACK TO PARKER
ADVENTIST.
THIS TIME SHE WOULD BE ADMITTED.
>> DOCTORS AND NURSES ARE
TRYING, CONDUCTING TESTS BUT
CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IS AILING
THIS RELATIVELY NORMAL AND
HEALTHY 43-YEAR-OLD WOMAN.
>> ALL THE STEPS THAT THE
DOCTORS AND MEDICAL STAFF HAD
TAKEN SEEMED TO NOT BE WORKING.
IT WAS A REAL MYSTERY.
>>> THERE WAS NOTHING THAT WOULD
BE EVEN REMOTELY A RED FLAG OR
THIS IS A ROCKY, TROUBLED
MARRIAGE, NONE OF THAT AT ALL.
>> WITH ANGELA STILL TERRIBLY
SICK, IN MARCH OF 2023, SHE WAS
BACK AT PARKER ADVENTIST A
SECOND TIME, NOW AS AN ADMITTED
PATIENT.
ACCORDING TO THE WARRANT, DURING
HER STAY, ANGELA TEXTED HER
HUSBAND, JIM, NOW I'M HUNGRY.
AND HE TEXTED BACK LATER HE WAS
BRINGING FOOD, WRITING, OKAY, I
GOT YOU.
>> LOVING HUSBAND WHO WANTS TO
SEE HIS WIFE REMAIN HEALTHY.
>> THAT ARREST WARRANT CONTAINS
NUMEROUS TEXTS DETAILING HOW AS
ANGELA WAS HOSPITALIZED, JIM
WENT BACK AND FORTH FROM THEIR
HOME TO HER BED SIDE TO
SUMMERBROOK, SEEMINGLY
SUPPORTING HIS WIFE AND HIS
KIDS.
>> HE CONTINUED TO GO TO WORK, I
DON'T BEGRUDGE THAT, FAMILY OF
SIX KIDS.
>> AND THE TRUST THAT ANGELA
PLACED IN JIM, REACHED OUT TO
SHARE SYMPTOMS, TEXTING I'M
COLD, SUPER TIRED, WEAK, SHAKY
AND DIZZY.
AND JIM SENT COMPASSIONATE TEXTS
TO ANGELA.
I LOVE AND MISS YOU, I'M SO
WORRIED, WISH YOU WERE HEALTHY
ENOUGH TO COME HOME TONIGHT AND
SNUGGLE ME.
>> ANGELA CRAIG WAS SO SICK.
>> IT SEEMED THAT ALL HER
SYMPTOMS HAD RETURNED.
>> SHE HAD HORRIBLE HEADACHES,
HORRIBLE NAUSEA, SHE WAS DIZZY,
AND DOCTORS WERE AT A LOSS.
>> STRUGGLING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT
IS THE HELL IS CAUSING THIS,
MAKING HER SICK.
>> AND THEY COULD NOT GET AN
ANSWER.
>> AS ANGELA STAYED IN THE
HOSPITAL WITHOUT A DIAGNOSIS,
JIM CRAIG WAS IN TOUCH WITH HIS
FRIENDS MICHELLE AND RYAN
REDFEARN, A FELLOW DENTIST, WHO
BECAME PARTNERS WITH JIM.
>> RYAN REDFEARN WENT TO DENTAL
SCHOOL, A CLOSE CONFIDANT.
>> AND WITH ANGELA SICK, JIM
ALSO TEXTED WITH MICHELLE
REDFEARN, TRAINED AS A NURSE.
WHAT WERE THEY TEXTING ABOUT?
>> THINGS YOU EXCHANGE WITH
ANOTHER MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL.
TALKING ABOUT BLOOD PRESSURE,
CONCERNS THE DOCTORS EXPRESSED
ABOUT SYMPTOMOLOGY THAT SHOULD
HAVE EXPRESSED NOW.
BUT ONE OF THE TEXTS WAS WEIRD.
MAKING FUN OF THE ILLNESS.
>> SHE TEXTS IF IT WASN'T MY
WIFE THIS WOULD BE KIND OF A FUN
PUZZLE TO TRY TO WORK OUT.
EXCLAMATION POINT.
WHO SAYS THAT?
>> STILL A BAD JOKE IN TIMES OF
CRISIS ISN'T UNUSUAL SAYS FORMER
D.A. BRAUCHLER.
>> EVERYBODY REACTS TO TRAUMA
DIFFERENTLY.
>> AND IT HAD BEEN FOUR HECTIC
DAYS SINCE ANGELA WAS ADMITTED.
1:00 A.M. IN THE DISTILLATE
HOSPITAL CORRIDORS, POLICE SAY
JIM TOLD OTHERS HE WAS SLEEPING
ON A STOOL NEXT TO ANGELA WHEN
HER VITAL SIGNS CRASHED.
DOCTORS RESPONDED THROUGH THE
NIGHT.
>> I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT EVERY
AGONIZING MINUTE THAT ANGELA
CRAIG WAS IN.
>> BUT OVER THE NEXT DAY, ANGELA
SEEMED TO STABILIZE.
AND ON MARCH 14th, STILL WITH NO
ANSWERS AS TO WHY SHE WAS SICK,
ANGELA WAS RELEASED FROM PARKER
FOR A SECOND TIME.
ONCE AGAIN, ANGELA CAME HOME TO
HER HUSBAND OF 23 YEARS.
BUT SHE WOULDN'T BE HOME FOR
LONG.
WITHIN A DAY SHE STARTED FEELING
SICK AGAIN.
SO ON MARCH 15th, SHE WAS
ADMITTED TO NEARBY UNIVERSITY
HOSPITAL.
THERE WOULD BE MORE TUBES AND
TESTS AND MONITORS.
JIM WAS SOON BY HER SIDE.
>> THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS
WRONG WITH HER.
>> POLICE SAY JIM DIDN'T STAY
LONG AT FIRST.
WITHIN HALF AN HOUR HE DROVE
HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL.
THEN ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF
LATER HE RETURNED CARRYING FOOD.
COPS SAY HE THEN WENT INTO
ANGELA'S ROOM ALONE.
SOON AFTER, ANGELA HAD A
SEIZURE, AND ONCE AGAIN HER
VITAL SIGNS CRASHED.
>> IT WAS CRITICAL.
>> JIM CRAIG TOOK THESE PHOTOS
OF ANGELA AS HOSPITAL STAFF
TRIED TO SAVE HER.
ANGELA ONCE SO FULL OF LIFE WAS
PUT ON LIFE SUPPORT.
WHAT MEDICAL STAFF DIDN'T KNOW
AT THE TIME, DAYS EARLIER A
PACKAGE HAD REPORTEDLY ARRIVED
AT JIM CRAIG'S OFFICE.
AUTHORITIES SAY WHAT WAS IN THE
PACKAGE ORDERED BY JIM CRAIG
HIMSELF WOULD BECOME KEY
EVIDENCE IN THIS CASE.
CRAIG ALLEGEDLY TOLD A STAFF
MEMBER HE WOULD BE RECEIVING A
PERSONAL PACKAGE AND NOT TO OPEN
IT.
>> JIM CRAIG SAID DON'T OPEN
THIS PACKAGE.
SOMEBODY DID, SHE SEES THE WORD
POTASSIUM CYANIDE.
WHY ARE WE GETTING THAT TO A
COLORADO DENTIST'S OFFICE?
>>> ANGELA CRAIG WAS ON LIFE
SUPPORT, FIGHTING TO SURVIVE.
JIM CRAIG TEXTED THE PHOTOS HE
TOOK TO MICHELLE REDFEARN,
WRITING CRASH, INTUBATED.
DOC SAYS SHE'S VERY, VERY
WORRIED.
MICHELLE AND RYAN RACED TO THE
HOSPITAL.
RYAN WOULD LATER TELL POLICE HE
WATCHED AS JIM CRAIG BROKE DOWN.
>> HE SAW CRAIG CRYING AFTER
SPEAKING TO DOCTORS ABOUT
ANGELA'S PROGNOSIS?
>> YEP, HE DID SAY HE SAW HIM
CRYING AFTERWARDS.
>> BUT ACCORDING TO POLICE, RYAN
REDFEARN WAS NOT CONVINCED THE
TEARS WERE REAL.
ON THE WAY TO THE HOSPITAL,
HE HAD GOTTEN A CALL FROM A
STAFF MEMBER AT THE OFFICE, TO
ALERT HIM OF A PACKAGE MARKED
POTASSIUM
CYANIDE.
IT ARRIVED AT SUMMERBROOK
DENTAL, ALLEGEDLY ADDRESSED AND
LATER GIVEN TO JIM CRAIG.
>> DOMINOS WERE FALLING.
>> RYAN REDFEARN LED THE WAY.
>> HE DOES WHAT EVERY PERSON
WOULD DO.
>> ACCORDING TO POLICE, WHILE
ANGELA WAS ON LIFE SUPPORT, RYAN
TELLS A NURSE THAT JIM
CRAIG RECENTLY ADDED POTASSIUM
CYANIDE AND THERE WAS NO MEDICAL
REASON OR PURPOSE FOR A DENTAL
PRACTICE.
>> THE NURSE AS A MANDATORY
REPORTER CALLS AURORA POLICE AND
WITHIN FIVE HOURS OR LESS,
THERE'S A MEMBER OF THE HOMICIDE
UNIT AT UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL.
>> COPS STARTED ASKING
QUESTIONS, THEN ACCORDING TO THE
WARRANT, RYAN RECEIVED A CALL
FROM JAMES' PERSONAL CELL PHONE.
TELL ME ABOUT THE PHONE CALL.
>> I THINK RYAN AND HIS WIFE ARE
IN THE PARKING LOT WHEN JIM
CALLS THERE.
>> ACCORDING TO POLICE, JIM
ASKED RYAN IF HE SAID ANYTHING
TO THE HOSPITAL STAFF.
RYAN CONFIRMED HE HAD AND TOLD
JIM HE KNEW WHAT JIM HAD
ORDERED, AND JIM REPLIED THE
PACKAGE WAS A RING FOR ANGELA
AND HE WANTED TO SURPRISE HER.
>> RYAN SAYS WE KNOW WHAT WAS IN
THERE.
THIS IS A TESTAMENT TO HIM.
>> A DECADES LONG FRIENDSHIP
ABOUT TO BE TESTED AND
SHATTERED.
THIS TALE WAS ONCE AGAIN TOLD IN
A TEXT REVEALED IN THE WARRANT,
AS THE
NEXT MORNING JAMES CRAIG PLEADED
WITH HIS PAL AND PARTNER,
TEXTING IN PART I WANT TO MAKE
AN URGENT PLEA TO YOU, PLEASE
DON'T TALK TO ANYONE, INCLUDING
ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
YOU'RE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO
ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS UNLESS
YOU'RE SERVED A SUBPOENA AND YOU
WILL DO MORE DAMAGE THAN GOOD TO
MY FAMILY BY CONTINUING TO
INSERT YOURSELF INTO THIS.
HOW DAMNING IS THAT TEXT ITSELF?
>> I'M TRYING TO THINK OF ALL
THE INNOCENT APPLICATIONS OF THE
PHRASE PLEASE DON'T TALK TO THE
POLICE.
I CAN'T COME UP WITH ANY.
IT'S A DESPERATE EFFORT TO KEEP
RYAN FROM COOPERATING FURTHER
WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.
>> IF THAT'S WHAT HE WAS TRYING
TO DO, IT WAS TOO LATE.
POLICE HAD ALREADY LAUNCHED
THEIR INVESTIGATION.
MARCH 18th, 2023, ANGELA WAS
TAKEN OFF LIFE SUPPORT.
FRIEND, WIFE, MOTHER OF SIX,
ANGELA CRAIG WAS DEAD.
>> I WAS IN COMPLETE SHOCK AND
COMPLETE DISBELIEF, IN MY HEAD
LIKE THIS IS CRAZY, NOT TRUE.
I HAD THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS AN
ACCIDENT.
>> BUT INVESTIGATORS DIDN'T
THINK SO.
JUST HOURS AFTER ANGELA DIED,
DR. JAMES CRAIG WOULD BE
ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH THE
FIRST DEGREE MURDER OF HIS WIFE
ANGELA.
>> THERE'S MY DENTIST, A MUG
SHOT.
>> JAMES CRAIG WOULD PLEAD NOT
GUILTY.
MONTHS LATER, ANGELA'S AUTOPSY
WOULD BE RELEASED.
THAT STATES THAT ANGELA DIED
FROM A LETHAL CONCENTRATION OF
CYANIDE AND TETRAHYDROZOLINE.
THE CHEMICAL FOUND IN SOME EYE
DROPS.
AND IT SAYS THAT ANGELA HAD
TOXIC CONCENTRATIONS OF
ARSENIC IN HER BLOOD IN TWO
EARLIER HOSPITAL VISITS.
>> TO THINK ABOUT WHAT ANGLIA
CRAIG ENDURED, THIS WOMAN WAS IN
AGONY, DYING, FOR SO LONG.
>> JUST A WEEK BEFORE ANGELA GOT
SICK, ACCORDING TO THE WARRANT,
JIM CRAIG SET UP A NEW EMAIL
ACCOUNT USING THE ALIAS
JIMANDWAFFLES, AND USED IT TO
RESEARCH MULTIPLE POISONS, ALL
PART OF HIS PLAN, ACCORDING TO
INVESTIGATORS, TO MURDER ANGELA.
>> ONE PARTICULAR GOOGLE
SEARCH -- HOW MANY GRAMS OF PURE
ARSENIC WILL KILL A HUMAN.
>> CRAIG, INVESTORS SAY, ALSO
FOUND THESE VIDEOS WITH TITLES
LIKE "TOP FIVE UNDETECTABLE
POISONS THAT SHOW NO SIGN OF
FOUL PLAY".
>> ARSENIC IS VIRTUALLY
UNDETECTIBLE.
>> AND POLICE SAY ON THE SAME
DAY HE DID THAT RESEARCH HE MADE
A PURCHASE, ARSENIC, AND HAD IT
DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO HIS
FAMILY'S MAILBOX.
>> I THINK HE BELIEVED HE WOULD
BE ABLE TO
POISON HIS WIFE, SHE WOULD DIE,
HE WOULD HAVE HER CREMATED AND
MOVE ON.
>> POISON, SOME CALL IT A
RECIPE FOR A
PERFECT CRIME, SILENT, INVISIBLE
KILLER, NO BLOOD, NO GUN, NO
FINGERPRINTS.
EVEN DOCTORS HAVE A HARD TIME
SPOTTING IT.
>> IT'S A RARE SPECIALTY.
>> DR. JEFF LaPOINT IS THE
DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION OF
MEDICAL TOXICOLOGY IN KAISER
PERMANENTE HOSPITAL.
>> POISON OR VENOM, WE
SPECIALIZE.
>> YOU'RE THAT GUY.
>> YEAH.
>> WE ASKED HIM, AND DR. LaPOINT
FOCUSED IN ON THE ALLEGED
ACTIONS OF JAMES CRAIG AND THE
FINAL DAYS OF ANGELA'S LIFE.
HE REVIEWED THE ARREST WARRANT
FOR US AND THE DEADLY DRUGS IT
LISTS.
ARSENIC?
>> IT'S A FAMOUS POISON, NOT
DETECTIBLE BY TASTE OR ODOR.
>> HER SYMPTOMS IN THE FIRST TWO
VISITS WERE CONSISTENT WITH
ARSENIC POISONING.
NAUSEA AND VOMITING.
>> LOWER OR HIGHER BLOOD
PRESSURE?
>> GENERALLY LOWER.
P>> DOESN'T TAKE MUCH. ERSON?
>> POLICE SAY THERE WAS MORE.
A WEEK AFTER HE PURCHASED THAT
ARSENIC, THEY ALLEGE THAT CRAIG
AS JIMANDWAFFLES WENT BACK
ONLINE TO ORDER A SECOND POISON.
BEGUILING AND BEAUTIFUL,
OLEANDRIN.
>> IN OLEANDERS.
>> THOSE WHITE FLOWERS.
>> BEAUTIFUL.
>> AS LOVELY AS A ROSE, ONLY
DEADLY.
>> IT PREVENTS THE HEART FROM
BEATING VERY EFFICIENTLY.
>> AFTER THREE DAYS, IT HADN'T
BEEN DELIVERED, AND
INVESTIGATORS SAY HE UPPED THE
ANTE.
COPS SAY HE PLACED THIS
ORDER WITH A MEDICAL SUPPLY
COMPANY FOR HIS STRONGEST TOXIN
YET, POTASSIUM CYANIDE.
>> CYANIDE IS ONE OF THE MOST
EFFECTIVE POISONS THAT EXISTS.
>> MICRODOSE CAN KILL YOU?
>> VERY SMALL AMOUNT PER
KILOGRAM, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO
LIVE.
WHEN YOU'RE POISONED WITH
CYANIDE YOU'RE SUFFOCATED ON A
CELLULAR LEVEL.
VERY POTENT, THE VICTIM WOULD
DIE RAPIDLY.
>> Reporter: IT'S SO DEADLY, YOU
NEED A MEDICAL LICENSE TO BUY
IT.
>> MY NAME IS DR. JIM CRAIG.
>> AND POLICE SAY THAT WHEN
DR. JAMES
CRAIG PLACED HIS ORDER FROM THE
MEDICAL SUPPLY COMPANY HE STATED
HE NEEDED IT FOR A COMPLEX
DENTAL PROCEDURE.
>> THERE'S NO USE FOR POTASSIUM
CYANIDE IN MY PRACTICE OR MANY
MEDICAL PRACTICES.
>> A DENTIST ORDERING THOSE
THINGS, WHAT DOES THAT SUGGEST
TO YOU?
>> SOMEONE IS TRYING TO COLLECT
POISON.
>> BUT THIS FATHER AND HUSBAND
WOULD OFFER A VERY DIFFERENT
STORY WHY HE WANTED THOSE DEADLY
POISONS.
>> WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF RYAN
REDFEARN'S CHOICE?
CHAT WITH THE "48 HOURS" TEAM ON
FACEBOOK AND X.
>>> DETECTIVES SUSPECTED JIM
CRAIG HAD BOUGHT ALL THOSE
POISONS TO KILL HIS WIFE BUT
THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHY.
THEY WOULD FIND A LEAD MILES
AWAY FROM AURORA ON A TRIP JIM
CRAIG MADE AND A WOMAN HE MET
JUST BEFORE ANGELA GOT SICK.
>> DOESN'T IT ALWAYS SEEM LIKE
THERE'S ANOTHER WOMAN INVOLVED?
ALWAYS, ALMOST ALWAYS.
>> WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS STAYS
IN VEGAS IS A RULE OF THE ROAD
THERE.
BUT INVESTIGATORS ALLEGE IT IS
YET ONE MORE RULE JAMES CRAIG
DIDN'T THINK HE HAD TO PLAY BY
WHEN HE MET KARIN CAIN.
>> AN ORTHODONTIST FROM AUSTIN,
TEXAS, SHE MEETS JIM CRAIG AT A
DENTAL CONFERENCE IN LAS VEGAS.
>> FEBRUARY 23rd, 1 1/2 WEEKS
BEFORE ANGELA CRAIG FIRST WENT
TO THE HOSPITAL.
THE DOCTOR WAS TRAVELING ALONE
AND ROLLED THE DICE.
>> THEY STRIKE UP A
RELATIONSHIP.
>> THEY HIT IT OFF, A WHIRLWIND.
>> A FEW WEEKS LATER, ACCORDING
TO THE WARRANT, KARIN CAIN WOULD
FLY TO COLORADO AND RENDEZVOUS
IN THIS HOTEL
WITH CRAIG USING JIMANDWAFFLES.
HE WOULD FLIRT WITH HER.
>> IT'S NOT ILLEGAL TO HAVE AN
AFFAIR.
>> SKYE LAZARO IS AN EXPERIENCED
DEFENSE ATTORNEY, FAMILIAR WITH
CASES INVOLVING POISON.
JAMES CRAIG AND HIS ATTORNEY
DECLINED OUR REQUEST FOR
INTERVIEW.
AFTER REVIEWING THE CASE FOR 24
HOURS,
LAZARO IDENTIFIED POTENTIAL
WEAKNESSES.
>> WOULD YOU KILL YOUR WIFE TO
BE WITH SOMEONE YOU HAD A
TEN-DAY RELATIONSHIP WITH?
>> COMMON DEFENSE STRATEGY IS
AFFAIRS DO NOT MAKE A MURDERER.
>> RIGHT, ONE DOESN'T
AUTOMATICALLY MEAN YOU DID THE
OTHER.
>> AT THE TIME SHE VISITED JIM
IN COLORADO, KARIN CAIN DID SEEM
TO KNOW ANGELA WAS VERY SICK AND
IN THE HOSPITAL.
IN FACT SHE HAD SENT A CONCERNED
EMAIL TO JIM, IT READ IN PART,
HI, HONEY, SO SORRY FOR WHAT
TRANSPIRED THIS WEEK IN YOUR
WORLD.
I'M PRAYING FOR YOU AND SEEKING
GOD'S WISDOM FOR THIS TIME.
I LOVE YOU.
THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST
CAIN KNEW ANYTHING MORE.
>> NOTHING I'VE SEEN GIVES ANY
INDICATION SHE KNEW JIM WAS
TRYING TO KILL HIS WIFE.
>> ACCORDING TO INVESTIGATORS,
JIM CRAIG LIED TO KARIN, TELLING
HER HE FILED FOR DIVORCE AND WAS
LIVING SEPARATE IN AN APARTMENT.
>> HE GIVES THE STANDARD MALE,
TYPICAL, I'M GOING THROUGH A
DIVORCE.
NO, HE'S NOT.
>> AND A DETECTIVE SAID SHE TOLD
THEM HER RELATIONSHIP WITH JIM
WAS INTIMATE BUT NOT SEXUAL.
KARIN SENT "48 HOURS" AN EMAIL,
WRITING I HAD ABSOLUTELY NOTHING
TO DO WITH THIS HORRIFIC CRIME,
AND MY HEART IS ABSOLUTELY
BROKEN FOR ANGELA CRAIG AND HER
FAMILY.
AND SHE SAYS SHE'S COOPERATING
FULLY
WITH THE POLICE AND
PROSECUTION.
>> SHE MET THE WRONG GUY AT THE
WRONG TIME.
SHE DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING.
>> TUBBS AND BRAUCHLER THINK
MAYBE NOBODY KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT
WHO JIM CRAIG REALLY WAS.
HIS PRISTINE IMAGE, LOVING
PARENT, CHURCH MEMBER, DEDICATED
HUSBAND, NOW ALL
BEING QUESTIONED, AND AS COPS
CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE, ANOTHER
POSSIBLE MOTIVE EMERGED.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
SURPRISED ME IN THIS STORY IS
THE FINANCIAL DURESS THAT THE
SUMMERBROOK DENTAL WAS UNDER.
>> JIM CRAIG'S BUSINESS FILED
FOR BANKRUPTCY IN 2020.
SHORTLY AFTER, HIS THEN FRIEND
RYAN REDFEARN SIGNED ON AS A
PARTNER.
FINANCIAL PROBLEMS, WAY OVER HIS
HEAD IN DEBT?
>> WAY OVER HIS HEAD.
>> AT A PRELIMINARY HEARING IN
2023, PROSECUTORS ARGUED JIM
CRAIG HAD 3.4 MILLION REASONS TO
KILL HIS WIFE.
THE VALUE OF ANGELA'S LIFE
INSURANCE.
>> JIM HAD LIABILITIES IN EXCESS
OF $2 MILLION, WE KNOW THAT FROM
SOME OF THE BANKRUPTCY FILINGS.
>> BUT LAZARO IS NOT CONVINCED
THAT GIVES JAMES CRAIG A MOTIVE
FOR MURDER.
IS THIS THE PORTRAIT OF A
DESPERATE MAN?
>> NOT NECESSARILY.
WE SEE BUSINESSES GO THROUGH
BANKRUPTCY ALL THE TIME, COME
OUT THE OTHER SIDE.
>> FOR ANY POISONS HE MAY HAVE
ORDERED, LAZARO STATES THE
PURCHASES MAY NOT BE ILLEGAL.
>> HE CAN LEGITIMATELY PURCHASE
IT WITH A DEA NUMBER.
>> AS A DOCTOR, A DENTIST.
>> HAVING IT ISN'T MURDER.
>> ADMINISTERING IT.
>> RIGHT.
>> ACCORDING TO THE ARREST
PAPERWORK, JIM CRAIG MIGHT HAVE
THOUHT HE HAD THAT FIGURED OUT,
TOO.
AUTHORITIES SAY HE COULD HAVE
SLIPPED THE POISON INTO ONE OF
THE PROTEIN SHAKES HE SO OFTEN
MADE.
>> THE MORNING ROUTINE AT HOME
FOR EXAMPLE.
>> YEAH.
>> ON THAT MORNING OF MARCH
15th, THE DAY ANGELA CRAIG WOULD
FINALLY CRASH BEFORE SHE WAS
TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL, SHE WAS
HOME WITH JIM.
INVESTIGATORS SAY THAT'S WHEN HE
MAY HAVE MADE HER ONE OF THOSE
PROTEIN SHAKES AND LACED IT WITH
POTASSIUM CYANIDE.
>> IT IS TASTELESS, ODORLESS,
COLORLESS AND REALLY HIDABLE
INSIDE SOMETHING LIKE A SHAKE.
>> AND HIGHLY LETHAL.
>> HIGHLY LETHAL.
>> BUT ATTORNEY LAZARO ARGUES
THE EVIDENCE MAY NOT BE THERE,
SHE'S REVIEWED THE TRANSCRIPTS
FROM THE JULY 2023 PRELIMINARY
HEARING AND NOTHING THERE SAYS
HE PUT POISON IN THE SHAKES.
>> THEY TESTED EVERYTHING IN THE
HOUSE, DIDN'T FIND TRACE
EVIDENCE OF ARSENIC OR CYANIDE
IN THE PROTEIN POWDER OR
BOTTLES, THE STATE HASN'T
PRESENTED YOU ANY EVIDENT THAT
POISON WAS IN THE DRINK.
>> AND SHE SAYS THE DEFENSE CAN
PAINT A PICTURE OF CRAIG AS A
KIND PARTNER.
>> HIS TEXT MESSAGES TO ANGELA
ARE EXTREMELY LOVING AND CARING,
HE ASKS HER HOW SHE'S DOING.
HE TELLS HER HE LOVES HER.
>> IF JIM CRAIG DIDN'T POISON
HIS WIFE, WHO DID?
JIM CRAIG HAD A STORY TO TELL
ABOUT THAT.
>> Announcer: GO BEHIND THE
SCENES WITH THE "48 HOURS"
POSTMORTEM PODCAST.
>>> WELCOME TO THE FIRST EPISODE
OF --
>> AS STEFFAN TUBBS REPORTED ON
HIS PODCAST, THERE MAY BE
ANOTHER STORY TO TELL ABOUT JIM
CRAIG AND WHAT HAPPENED TO
ANGELA.
THE STORY WASN'T ABOUT MURDER,
IT WAS ABOUT SUICIDE.
>> CRAIG SAYS TO THE BUSINESS
PARTNER ON THE PHONE, SHE WAS
JUST PLAYING CHICKEN.
>> ACCORDING TO THE WARRANT,
WHEN RYAN REDFEARN CONFRONTED
JIM ABOUT THE CYANIDE, JIM
ALLEGEDLY SAID THAT ANGELA ASKED
HIM TO ORDER IT FOR HER, A DARE,
A GAME OF CHICKEN.
>> ACCORDING TO JIM CRAIG SHE'S
BEEN THREATENING SUICIDE AND
THIS GAME OF CHICKEN IS NOW ARE
YOU GOING TO TAKE IT.
>> BUT ACCORDING TO THAT 52-PAGE
WARRANT, NONE OF ANGELA'S FAMILY
MEMBERS TOLD POLICE SHE WAS
SUICIDAL.
A MORE LIKELY ARGUMENT FOR THE
DEFENSE, SAYS ATTORNEY LAZARO,
IS JIM CRAIG HAD BEEN LOOKING
FOR CYANIDE NOT TO KILL ANGELA
BUT TO KILL HIMSELF.
>> THERE WAS SOME STATEMENTS
THAT HE IN FACT WAS SUICIDAL,
NOT HER.
>> AT THE PRELIMINARY HEARING IN
2023, THE DEFENSE TEAM SAID JIM
HAD SPOKEN TO A FRIEND ABOUT
PAST PLANS TO DIE BY SUICIDE AND
DR. CRAIG HAD MADE A STATEMENT
TO THAT FRIEND HE WAS GOING TO
DIE BY SUICIDE WITH SOMETHING
NOT TRACEABLE.
THE DEFENSE POINTED OUT HE
SUFFERED FROM DEPRESSION AND
WENT TO COUNSELING IN THE PAST.
AND JIM TOLD ANGELA AT ONE POINT
HE HAD DRUGGED HER YEARS EARLIER
WHEN HE TRIED TO KILL HIMSELF,
HOPING SHE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO
STOP HIM.
>> SOUNDS LIKE THERE WAS
SOMETHING HE TRIED BEFORE WITH
HER.
>> UH-OH, HE DRUGGED HER TO FALL
ASLEEP SO HE COULD KILL HIMSELF
AND SHE WOULDN'T BE THERE TO
RENDER AID OR CALL FOR HELP.
>> AND REMEMBER WHEN ANGELA
FIRST STARTED FEELING SICK AND
TEXTED JIM I FEEL DRUGGED,
CRAIG'S DEFENSE POINTS OUT HE
TEXTED BACK, GIVEN OUR HISTORY,
I KNOW THAT MUST BE TRIGGERING.
JUST FOR THE RECORD, I DIDN'T
DRUG YOU.
THE DEFENSE SAID THIS TEXT
SUPPORTS THE STORY OF JIM
CRAIG'S PAST DEPRESSION AND
SUICIDE ATTEMPTS.
BUT LAZARO SAYS IT'S UNLIKELY
THE DEFENSE WOULD TRY TO TELL A
JURY THAT JIM AND ANGELA WERE
BOTH TRYING TO DIE BY SUICIDE.
>> YOU HAVE TO PICK ONE AT SOME
POINT, EITHER SHE'S SUICIDAL OR
HE IS, THIS IS WHY HE BOUGHT THE
DRUGS.
>> PERHAPS THE MOST COMPELLING
EVIDENCE AUTHORITIES SAY THEY
HAVE IS WHAT ANGELA CRAIG LEFT
BEHIND IN HER OWN BLOOD.
THAT AUTOPSY REVEALED SOMETHING
INVESTIGATORS FIND REMARKABLE.
THE LEVELS OF CYANIDE IN
ANGELA'S BODY ACTUALLY INCREASED
WHILE SHE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL ON
THAT FINAL DAY.
THE POSSIBLE IMPLICATION?
TUBBS WONDERS IF THE PROSECUTORS
WILL CONTEND CRAIG GAVE HIS WIFE
MORE POISON IN THE HOSPITAL.
>> IF TRUE, THIS IS ABOUT AS
CRUEL AS IT GETS, PERIOD.
>> THE DEFENSE HAS HIRED THEIR
OWN TOXICOLOGIST, AND JIM CRAIG,
INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY MAY
BE PORTRAYED AS A VICTIM OF COPS
TOO EAGER TO MAKE A FAST ARREST.
>> IT'S ESSENTIALLY A THREE-DAY
INVESTIGATION.
>> JIM CRAIG'S QUICK ARREST, SHE
SAYS, COULD BE A WEAKNESS FOR
THE STATE.
>> YOU DECIDED FROM THE GET-GO
THIS HAD TO BE POISONING.
THIS WAS THE FOREGONE
CONCLUSION, SO YOU NEVER WENT
AND LOOKED FOR ANYTHING ELSE.
>> AND AS FOR THAT IDEA THAT
POISON MIGHT BE THE KEY TO
SOMEONE TRYING TO COMMIT THE
PERFECT CRIME, TOXICOLOGIST
DR. JEFF LaPOINT SAYS THAT IS
JUST PLAIN WRONG.
>> YOU'RE GOING TO GET CAUGHT.
>> THAT'S AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE.
>> VERY.
>> THERE ARE WAYS THESE WILL BE
TRACED AND YOU WILL BE FOUND.
>> YOU WILL BE FOUND.
>> WHILE ANGELA'S FRIENDS AND
FAMILY ARE WAITING FOR THEIR DAY
IN COURT, THEY ARE LEFT WITH
PHOTOGRAPHS AND THEIR MEMORIES.
THREE OF JIM AND ANGELA'S SIX
CHILDREN ARE LIVING WITH JIM
CRAIG'S BROTHER.
THE OTHER THREE ARE ADULTS ON
THEIR OWN, INCLUDING THEIR
DAUGHTER MIRA.
ON MOTHER'S DAY 2023, MIRA WROTE
THIS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
AS OF TOMORROW MY MOM WILL BE
TWO MONTHS GONE.
I HAVEN'T THE WORDS TO EXPRESS
THE HEARTACHE MY SIBLINGS AND I
FEEL EVERY DAY.
>> THERE'S NO WORDS, YOU KNOW?
THE WHOLE SITUATION IS JUST
TRAUMATIC.
>> THIS WILL ALL END, LIGHTS
WILL COME DOWN, CAMERAS LEAVE.
30 YEARS FROM NOW, THOSE KIDS IN
THEIR TEENS RIGHT NOW STILL WILL
BE WITHOUT A MOM.
>> MIRA'S LAST WORDS IN THAT
POST -- I LOVE YOU SO MUCH MAMA,
WE MISS YOU.