Colorado Dentist Gets Life for Poisoning Wife’s Protein Shake — The Deepfake Twist You Won’t Believe

Colorado dentist James Craig has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for the premeditated murder of his wife, Angela Craig, by poisoning her protein shakes over a period of 10 days. The chilling case, which prosecutors described as a “cold, calculated, and deliberate killing,” stunned the Arapahoe County courtroom as it unraveled layers of deception, affairs, and even a failed deepfake cover-up attempt involving his own daughter.

James Craig was found guilty of first-degree murder, solicitation to commit murder, solicitation to commit perjury, and evidence tampering. The jury reached a unanimous verdict after nine hours of deliberation.

Prosecutors revealed that in March 2023, James Craig, a Colorado dentist, secretly dosed Angela Craig’s protein shakes with arsenic, potassium cyanide, and tetrahydrozoline, a chemical found in over-the-counter eye drops. Angela Craig was hospitalized multiple times over the span of several days before being declared brain dead on March 18. She died a slow and agonizing death.

According to court documents, James Craig had researched poisons online, including “how many grams of pure arsenic will kill a human” and “is arsenic detectable in an autopsy.” He ordered arsenic from Amazon and potassium cyanide from a lab supplier. Both packages were delivered to his home and dental practice in suburban Denver.

Detectives were alerted to the suspicious behavior by James Craig’s dental partner, who told hospital staff that Craig had ordered cyanide. This tip, combined with browser history and emails, led to Craig’s arrest.

But what shocked the jury even more was James Craig’s attempted cover-up: prosecutors said he tried to convince his daughter to create a deepfake video of Angela Craig — a digitally altered video that would falsely depict her in good health and discredit the poisoning allegations.

“It wasn’t something done in the heat of passion,” said District Attorney Amy Padden. “This was calculated. And then he involved his own daughter to fake a video — that’s what’s truly horrifying.”

The court also heard testimony about Craig’s long history of deceit. He had multiple extramarital affairs and was engaged in an intimate relationship with a woman he met at a dental conference — all while his wife was in the hospital fighting for her life. Angela’s sister testified that Craig had previously drugged Angela years earlier, claiming it was related to a failed suicide attempt.

Angela Craig had told friends she was planning to leave him, but was repeatedly persuaded to stay.

With his conviction, James Craig becomes one of the most notorious domestic poisoners in recent U.S. memory. Prosecutors say the life sentence sends a message about domestic violence, premeditated murder, and the misuse of technology in criminal schemes.