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US dentist jailed for murder after poisoning wife's protein shakes

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Original Story by BBC News
July 31, 2025
US dentist jailed for murder after poisoning wife's protein shakes

Context:

James Craig, a US dentist, has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder of his wife, Angela Craig, by poisoning her protein shakes with arsenic and giving her a fatal dose of cyanide. Despite his defense claiming that Angela committed suicide due to heartbreak over his affairs, the jury found him guilty of first-degree murder and other charges, including solicitation to commit murder. Evidence showed he researched lethal doses of arsenic and received cyanide deliveries, which he used to poison her while she was hospitalized. The couple's child, Miriam Meservy, expressed betrayal and heartbreak during the victim impact statement. District Attorney Amy Padden emphasized the premeditated nature of the crime, leading to Craig's life sentence and additional 33 years for related charges.

Dive Deeper:

  • James Craig, 47, was convicted of murdering his wife, Angela Craig, by poisoning her with arsenic and cyanide in March 2023, motivated by his affair and financial issues. He received a life sentence without parole, reflecting the severity of his premeditated actions.

  • Defense attorneys argued Angela's death was a suicide driven by her despair over Craig's infidelities, but the coroner confirmed her death resulted from cyanide and tetrahydrozoline poisoning. This undermined the defense's claims and supported the prosecution's narrative of murder.

  • Craig's incriminating online searches about arsenic's lethality and undetectability in autopsies, alongside his receipt of potassium cyanide at his dental practice, were pivotal in establishing his intent and premeditation.

  • Security footage showed Craig entering his wife's hospital room with a syringe, coinciding with her rapid health decline and subsequent brain death. This evidence further implicated him in her deliberate poisoning.

  • The jury convicted Craig of first-degree murder and solicitation to commit murder, the latter stemming from attempts to have a detective investigating the case killed. These charges highlight the extent of his criminal actions beyond the murder itself.

  • Miriam Meservy, one of the couple's six children, delivered a poignant victim impact statement, expressing deep betrayal and loss of trust in her father, whom she once viewed as a hero.

  • District Attorney Amy Padden emphasized the deliberate and calculated nature of Craig's actions, contrasting them with crimes of passion, underscoring the justice system's role in delivering a life sentence as a measure of accountability.

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