AURORA, Colo. (Scripps News Denver) — An Aurora dentist was formally charged with first-degree murder on Thursday after his wife’s poisoning death on Saturday.
James Toliver Craig, 45, walked into Arapahoe District Court on Thursday morning in an orange jumpsuit to hear the charge against him.
James Toliver Craig was charged with first-degree murder for the death of his wife. (Aurora Police Department)
He was then formally charged with first-degree murder.
The charge stems from the death of his wife, 43-year-old Angela Craig.
He waived his right to a preliminary hearing within 35 days in order to give his defense team the time to review evidence.
The defense asked for all notes taken by law enforcement to be preserved, which the court granted.
They also asked to limit pretrial public comment, including from the Aurora Police Department. They noted a comment from the chief in a press release that presumed James Craig was guilty. A decision on this will be made at the next hearing, which is set for April 7.
While it’s not clear what this comment referred to, the police department’s press release from Sunday afternoon did quote Division Chief Mark Hildebrand saying “this was in fact a heinous, complex and calculated murder.”
James Craig practices dentistry at Summerbrook Dental Group, which is located on Hampden Avenue in Aurora, according to his website.
On Monday, KMGH-TV also obtained the 52-page arrest affidavit for James Craig, which detailed how he allegedly searched online for undetectable poisons before purchasing both arsenic and cyanide and why investigators believe he is responsible for Angela Craig’s death. Read the full affidavit details here.
This story was originally published March 23 by KMGH in Denver, an E.W. Scripps Company.
