23 March 2023 , 18:05
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A dentist accused of poisoning his wife to death with protein shakes is "hard to reconcile", his brother-in-law has admitted.
Jim Craig, 45, appeared at Arapahoe District Court in Colorado, US, today at around 8.30am to hear the charge of first-degree murder.
He was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder on Sunday after his wife was taken off life support after she was left brain dead.
She was allegedly poisoned by her husband with potassium cyanide in order for him to start a new life with his mistress.
Angela's brother Mark Pray has confessed seeing his brother-in-law in court was a "weird" experience after knowing the dentist for 20 years.
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He said: "You've known him 20 years and to see him here, under these circumstances, with what he's been accused of. It's hard to reconcile."
Craig reportedly searched and bought poison online before his wife died (Facebook/SummerbrookDental)
The dentist from Colorado has been charged with Angela Craig's murder (Facebook/SummerbrookDental)The 54-year-old said the family is still struggling to come to terms with the death.
He added to Mail Online: "We're heartbroken. I'm still trying to put into words what she means to us all. Right now, we're all pitching in to look after the children, that's our focus. Jim's family are here too and helping."
Mark, who has known Jim's family for two decades, praised Jim's family and said any anger should be pointed at him.
He added: "Jim's family is wonderful, they have young family too and it's great for the children to be with them. His family didn't do anything wrong. Jim did."
Mr Craig appeared in court dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit with his hands and ankles handcuffed as he looked down at the floor.
James Craig and his wife Angela (middle) - The alleged murdered had many mistresses, according to the affidavit (Facebook/SummerbrookDental)His parents, along with Mr Craig's oldest son, Toliver, arrived along with some of his siblings to watch the brief appearance. He made no eye contact with his family.
The arrest came after his colleague Ryan Redfearn told a nurse that the dentist had ordered potassium cyanide even though they never needed it for work, according to an arrest warrant.
Investigators believe Mr Craig put arsenic in one of the protein shakes he routinely made for his wife for their workouts on March 6.
After she survived he allegedly ordered a rush shipment of potassium cyanide after he told the supplier it was needed for a surgery.
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The suspect, who graduated from dental school at the University of Missouri at Kansas City, was an associate professor at the University of Missouri Dental School, where he taught courses in Clinical Dentistry, Biochemistry and Histology.
The news has left Mr Craig's patients stunned as his Summerbrook Dental Group clients revealed they only saw him last week.
Patient Andrew Orth told Denver7: "He was literally the best dentist I ever had. That's why I recommended him to my mom. That's why I recommended my brother. So, it was a large clientele that came here under that trust."