Former employees and patients of the Colorado Mormon Dentist, who are now accused of killing his wife by slowly poisoning her with prickly shakes, have spoken of their shock and disbelief at his arrest.
James “Jim” Craig, 45, is being held on suspicion of murdering his 24-year-old wife Angela by poisoning her with potassium cyanide.
On March 6th she felt ill for the first time. On March 15, she went to the hospital for the third time, complaining of a headache and nausea, and quickly suffered a seizure. She was taken off life support on March 18.
Prosecutors say her husband, who was having an affair with an orthodontist in Texas, wanted to start a new life with this woman.
The bombing allegations have left former friends, colleagues, patients and staff in shock.
James “Jim” Craig, 45, is being held on suspicion of murdering his 24-year-old wife Angela by poisoning her with potassium cyanide
“He was the most amazing boss, he put thousands into my education… it’s just devastating,” Courtney Lyons, who worked with Craig for four years, told .
Lyons, who lives in Michigan, met the family at TGI Friday’s, where she worked as a waitress for many years.
‘They came four nights a week for religious reasons and I was their waiter.
“They seemed like the perfect family. I have never met a better wife or mother than Angela. She was the most amazing woman. She was a saint. She just found time for everything and everyone.”
She said the couple appear to have a happy marriage.
“All we saw was how he worshiped her. He spoke so highly of her.’
Eventually, he offered her a job as marketing director at his dental practice and paid for her to take classes.
“I guess we could do this for 16 more years,” Angela wrote in an exuberant anniversary post below this photo, taken when the couple were newly married in 1999
“All we saw was that he adored her,” said a former employee who worked with Craig in his dental practice and called him a “family man.”
Craig and his wife during a trip to London. Her sister told police how she stood by him on “several issues”.
The couple in a recent photo with their six children. It is unclear who is taking care of her now
Craig with his two young daughters. Employees say he was a family man who never crossed the line
Craig’s former employees told how he was constantly giving away dental work and hosting “days off” for patients. Above, one of the many “Patient Appreciation Days” he hosted
The couple have taken up marital residence in Aurora, Colorado, with their six children, ranging in age from eight to twenty. This is where Craig is said to have poisoned his wife
Lyons said the only fault she and others could see in him was that he was overly generous.
“We would tell him that for every dollar earned, he would give away 99 cents or give it to someone else. He offered free dental treatment days, he paid us all so well.
“I’m not surprised there were money problems,” she said, alluding to the fact that he had filed for bankruptcy.
She added that the family is Mormon and does not drink, but is not strong in their faith.
“Not one person expected it.”
She shared how he treated the employees like royalty, always invested in their education and paid them well.
Craig admitted to drugging Angela five or six years ago and referenced the incident in a text message to his wife while she was in hospital. These lyrics show how she struggled with symptoms for weeks before she died
The pair continue to discuss her symptoms before telling him the day before she returns home that she needs to make sure she “doesn’t feel like throwing up” before they sleep together
Angela grabbed an oxygen tank because she was struggling so badly with her breathing
Patients and friends alike were surprised.
“This is so shocking. He’s been my dentist for years,” said one patient upon seeing the Aurora Police Department’s announcement of his arrest.
“I used to work for Dr. Craig helped out. He seemed to be a great dentist and a devoted family man. Really very sad,” Danae Dael remarked.
None of Angela’s grieving family, including her sister Toni, who spoke to police, have commented on the tragedy.
It is unclear who is now taking care of the six children, the oldest of whom is 21 years old.
Craig’s parents in Utah did not immediately respond.
James Toliver Craig was arrested for murder on Sunday after detectives found his wife Angela Craig, 43, had been fatally poisoned