Colorado dentist accused of murdering his wife

[Bluebirdbluebell]

A Colorado dentist has been arrested for killing his wife in "complex and calculated murder" (link).

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James Toliver Craig, 45, was arrested early Sunday by patrol officers and homicide investigators, Aurora police said in a news release. He was booked around 2 a.m. into the county jail on charges of first-degree murder.

 

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Homicide detectives launched an investigation and determined that the victim had been poisoned. Authorities did not say how the woman was poisoned nor did they reveal any other details about the alleged crime.

After doctors made the decision to take the woman off life support, police obtained a warrant for first-degree murder early Sunday morning.

According to reddit's ex-Mormon file and some Mormons on Twitter, he was an LDS "Elder's Quorum President" (link). 

Edited March 21, 2023 by Bluebirdbluebell

[Bluebirdbluebell]

His website for his dental practice is still up (link). Here's how he described himself:

Spoiler

"I am a general dentist practicing in Aurora, CO for the past 15 years. I have been placing implants for 12 of those years, and have been an instructor for many implant companies and have lectured and mentored many dentists and specialists around the country.

Prior to private practice, I taught as an associate professor at the University of Missouri School of Dentistry for 3 years. I have also been on a research team for the National Institutes of Health and through that team, worked on novel bone grafting materials and strategies for reducing shrinkage in white fillings.

My undergraduate education was at Brigham Young University. I live in Aurora with my wife and 6 kids, and any time I’m not in a dental office setting, I can be found in the great outdoors!"

I'm kicking myself, because I thought I tagged this as Mormon and somehow it's not showing up.

Edited March 21, 2023 by Bluebirdbluebell

[CTRLZero]

A little more on the story (excerpts from Washington Post):

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The investigation that ensued found evidence that her husband, James Toliver Craig, had “the planning and intent to end his wife’s life by searching for ways to kill someone undetected, providing her poisons that align with her hospitalized symptoms,” according to an arrest affidavit filed Monday in Arapahoe County, Colo. The document adds that while his wife was sick, Craig was “working on starting a new life” with someone else.

Craig, 45, was arrested early Sunday — the day after his wife was declared brain dead — on a charge of first-degree murder. As of Monday evening, he remained jailed without bond.

….

Once at the hospital, the friend’s husband, who worked at a dental practice with James Craig, told a nurse that Angela Craig might have been poisoned. He told the nurse that James Craig had recently ordered potassium cyanide for the dental practice, though there was “no medical reason or purpose” for it, the affidavit alleges.

The nurse reported the information to police.

….

Her sister told police that the Craigs’ marriage “had always been tumultuous.”

After Angela Craig died, James Craig did not want an autopsy to be performed, her sister told police, according to the affidavit. The document says Angela Craig’s symptoms were consistent with the symptoms listed by the CDC for the poisons her husband allegedly possessed.

[TN-peach]

I had wondered whether they were Mormon when I saw that they lived Colorado and had 6 children.  The Daily Mail had copies of some of the text messages and according to one of them this is not the first he had drugged her.  She texted him and said that she felt drugged and he said basically that must be scary considering last time but I didn't drug you this time.  YIKES!!!!

This reminds me of a local attorney that was convicted of three attempts to murder his wife in the Memphis area.  One of the ways he did was poisoning her toothpaste.  He did it knowing that their oldest child used that toothpaste as well.  He was found because his law partner found strange Google searches on the work computer "how to poison your wife" type searches. He also used the work computer to search the dark web for hitmen.  Thankfully none of the attempts were successful. 

[Howl]

7 hours ago, CTRLZero said:

The document adds that while his wife was sick, Craig was “working on starting a new life” with someone else.

Craig, 45, was arrested early Sunday — the day after his wife was declared brain dead — on a charge of first-degree murder. As of Monday evening, he remained jailed without bond.

Well, this is technically correct. He'll be starting a new life...with a cell mate.

So much sympathy for the kids in these situations - they lose both parents.   Their mom is dead and dad will be in prison for the rest of his life.  

[Bluebirdbluebell]

James Craig was an ex- "Elder's Quorum President". It's not faith, but here's some background on that from wikipedia (link).

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In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), a quorum is a body (group) of those ordained to the same office of the priesthood. The size of each quorum depends on the office to which the members are ordained.

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An Elders Quorum is a local quorum organized in each ward and presided over by a president with priesthood keys who, along with his two counselors, act under the direction and authority of the stake presidency, and under the direction of the bishop. Each quorum consists of up to 96 Melchizedek Priesthood holders.

[Bluebirdbluebell]

Another thing to include is a link to this thread about the local bishop is handling this crime.

Here are some screenshots of the Bishop's email.

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