Prosecutors Say James Craig Tried to Arrange Murder from Jail
A Colorado dentist already facing charges for allegedly poisoning his wife to death is now accused of attempting to have the lead investigator in his case killed. Prosecutors revealed in court on Friday that James Craig, who has been charged with first-degree murder, offered a fellow jail inmate $20,000 to kill Aurora police detective Bobbi Olson, calling her “the worst, dirtiest detective.”
Murder-for-Hire Plot Uncovered
Senior Chief Deputy Michael Mauro, speaking during an evidentiary hearing, said Craig’s hatred toward Olson motivated the murder-for-hire plot. Prosecutors further alleged that Craig expanded his scheme beyond Olson, offering the same amount of money to have three other people killed, including an unidentified police officer and two other jail inmates.
The accusations against Craig go even further. According to Mauro, Craig also attempted to fabricate evidence in his case by sending letters from jail to his cellmate’s ex-wife. In these letters, prosecutors claim Craig offered $20,000 for four people willing to falsely testify that his wife, Angela Craig, had a history of suicidal thoughts. Prosecutors believe this was a deliberate effort to create doubt about the cause of her death.
Defense Challenges Credibility of Witnesses
Craig’s attorney, Robert Werking, challenged the credibility of the witnesses bringing these allegations forward. He pointed out that Nathaniel Harris, the jail inmate who reported Craig’s alleged murder plot, and Harris’ ex-wife both had prior convictions for forgery and fraud in 2005. Werking argued that their testimony was unreliable and that investigators failed to conduct handwriting analysis to confirm whether Craig actually wrote the letters.
Despite the defense’s objections, Judge Shay Whitaker ruled that the letters contained highly detailed personal information about Angela Craig, which matched the prosecution’s claims that Craig was attempting to manipulate the legal process. The judge found there was enough evidence to proceed with additional charges, and Craig pleaded not guilty to two new counts of solicitation to commit murder and solicitation to commit perjury.
Murder Case Against Craig Continues
Craig has already pleaded not guilty to the first-degree murder charge in the death of his wife. According to the coroner, Angela Craig died in March 2023 from cyanide and tetrahydrozoline poisoning, the latter being a substance found in over-the-counter eye drops. The couple had been married for 23 years and had six children together.
In addition to the murder charge, Craig also faces charges of solicitation to tamper with evidence and solicitation to commit perjury. His legal troubles continue to mount as prosecutors build a case against him not only for his wife’s death but also for allegedly attempting to interfere with the investigation while behind bars.
Heightened Security for Lead Detective
During the hearing, Detective Bobbi Olson sat with prosecutors just a few feet away from Craig. Security was tightened around her, and she was quickly escorted out of the courtroom at the end of the session. An Aurora police spokesperson declined to comment on the allegations regarding Olson.
Outside the courthouse, Craig’s attorney refused to discuss the case, citing a gag order that restricts public statements from the defense team.
Awaiting Trial
With these new charges added to an already high-profile case, Craig remains in custody awaiting trial. Prosecutors argue that his alleged actions from jail further demonstrate his willingness to manipulate the legal system to avoid responsibility for his wife’s death.
