A Colorado dentist, James Toliver Craig (45), already accused of poisoning his wife, Angela Craig, now faces an additional charge of solicitation to commit first-degree murder. Prosecutors allege he attempted to hire a fellow inmate to kill the detective investigating his wife's death. Craig has pleaded not guilty to the initial first-degree murder charge. Angela Craig, a mother of six, died in March 2023 from poisoning by cyanide and tetrahydrozoline, a substance found in eye drops.

According to court documents and sources close to the investigation, Craig allegedly solicited another inmate in the Arapahoe County jail to murder an Aurora police detective working on the case. The targeted detective has been confirmed as an Aurora detective by an Aurora police spokesman. The inmate Craig allegedly approached has not been charged with any wrongdoing. This isn't the first time Craig has been accused of attempting to manipulate the investigation from behind bars. In May, he allegedly offered another inmate money or free dental work to plant fabricated suicide notes in his garage and truck, aiming to portray his wife as suicidal. That inmate reported the incident to authorities, suspecting the letters were actually written by Craig himself.

Days before his wife's death, Craig allegedly researched topics such as "How to make murder look like a heart attack" and "How to make poison" online, while Angela searched for symptoms she was experiencing, including vertigo, shaking, and cold lips. Angela visited the hospital three times before her death due to dizziness and fainting spells. Craig also allegedly researched and purchased "undetectable poisons" and ordered potassium cyanide shipped to his dental practice. While Detective Bobbi Olson stated in the affidavit that the investigation shows Craig went to great lengths to end his wife's life, Craig's lawyers argue there's no direct evidence linking him to the poison in his wife's protein shakes and accuse Detective Olson of bias.

The affidavit also alleges Craig flew his orthodontist lover from Austin to Denver while his wife was ill and that the two exchanged explicit emails. Angela had reportedly considered leaving her husband multiple times over the past 16 years but was always persuaded to stay. The couple was facing a second bankruptcy. Angela's sister, Toni Kofoed, told police about Craig's alleged affairs and claimed he had drugged Angela about five years prior, coinciding with a planned suicide attempt by Craig.

Craig's murder trial, initially set for November 21, has been postponed due to his defense counsel withdrawing from the case citing a professional conflict. The next hearing is scheduled for December 16.