Colorado dentist asked church to help him clean basement the day before his wife died of poisoning
Colorado dentist James Craig may have enlisted members of his church to help him clean up a possible crime scene at his home the day before his wife, Angela, was pronounced dead, DailyMail.com reveals.
According to a source close to the Southshore Ward Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, of which the Craig family is a part, members were asked to help ‘organize’ Craig’s hallway and basement at his home in Aurora, while Angela, 43, was in the hospital and jumped ahead of another family arriving in town.
The source told DailyMail.com: ‘It was an oddly specific request. It is quite common in the community for us to go to someone’s house and help when there is a new baby or an illness, but the language of this request was very enhanced.
Colorado dentist Jim Craig had reportedly asked members of his Mormon church community to help him clean out his home the day before his wife Angela, 43, was declared brain dead on March 18. , according to friends of the couple.
Sources close to the Craigs’ Mormon church said members were asked to help ‘organize’ the foyer and basement in their Aurora home (pictured), which some now wonder could have been a scene from the Craigs. crime.
Craig was seen entering the Arapahoe District Court for his arraignment on first degree murder charges on Thursday.
“It said they needed to ‘organize the foyer and organize the storage in the basement.’
“And looking back at the time of the communication, I can’t help but wonder if that was something Jim asked for knowing it could be a crime scene later on.”
The request was sent to church members via email shortly after 1 p.m. on March 17.
Major Crimes homicide detectives had already executed a search warrant at the family’s residence at 8:45 am the previous morning.
And less than 24 hours after the church members’ search, Angela, by then intubated and unconscious in intensive care, was declared brain dead.
The house was empty because Craig, 45, was staying with family friends.
According to the lengthy probable cause affidavit, Craig refused to speak with an Aurora Police Department detective when he visited a friend’s house around 8:30 a.m. on March 16.
Approximately 15 minutes later they executed the search warrant at his home.
Police recovered several items from Craig’s home, including protein powders, exercise-style shakers used to consume protein drinks or shakes, a computer tablet, a water bottle, and two different Ziploc-type plastic bags, none of which both of which were labeled and both contained white powdery substances.
Craig had asked his friends, family and members of his church to keep their mouths shut about Angela’s condition, and two days after her death a similar plea was issued to the wider church community.
Located in an exclusive development with parks, a nature reserve and playgrounds, this is the home of a family that seemed to have it all.
Today, the orderly family home is closed, a small sign on the door asking for privacy.
James and Angela Craig pose for a family photo with their six children, ages 8 to 20.
Now, with Craig charged with first degree murder for allegedly slowly poisoning Angela to death, the source told DailyMail.com that the timing and nature of his request for help cleaning specific rooms on the family property large was “chilling”.
They said, ‘What was he trying to ‘arrange’ so soon before Angela died? Was there something still there that worried him?
On March 19, two days after the request for others to clean his home, and shortly after Angela was taken off life support, police obtained a warrant to arrest Craig on first-degree murder charges.
Craig had already sent a text message to his business partner, Ryan Redfearn, asking him not to talk about Angela’s illness and death, reminding him that he “didn’t have an obligation to talk to anyone…including law enforcement. ..unless you receive a subpoena.”
He also tried to blame Redfearn for him to shut up by insisting, ‘you’ll do my family more harm than good if you keep messing with this.’
Just two days after Angela’s death, a similar call was issued to the wider church community to remain silent.
The address, given by email, came from Bishop McIlroy and echoed Craig’s sentiment that speaking out would only harm the Craigs’ six children.
The email read: ‘Thank you for your continued prayers and tremendous support for the Craig family. Thank you for the yard work, meals, chores, and love you have generously given us. The family is grateful. I’m thankful.’
Text messages Craig exchanged with Angela while she was in the hospital fighting for her life
Craig sat next to Deputy Public Defender Patrick Thompson (right) and Public Defender Katie Telfer during his brief appearance in Arapahoe District Court Thursday morning.
Angela Craig’s brother, Mark Pray, 54, circled, sat in the second row of the courtroom for his brother-in-law’s arraignment, which marks the first time he has seen him since his arrest, told him told DailyMail.com
He continued: ‘Many have reached out to ask about recent news. We don’t have many answers, but we wanted to provide some advice.
‘1. Jesus is the Christ. Be his disciple – Mosiah 2:172. Think of the children Craig. How will your communication potentially affect them?
‘If the public approaches you or asks you questions about this situation, please refer them to Chairman Hansen. We don’t judge. We love. We minister.’
Craig made his first court appearance Thursday morning at Arapahoe District Court, where he was indicted for first-degree murder.
He shuffled into courtroom 308, head bowed, hands cuffed and ankles shackled.
He did not make eye contact with any of the friends and family, including Angela’s brother, Mark Pray, who introduced himself to the audience.
In an exclusive statement shared with DailyMail.com after Craig’s initial hearing, Pray, 54, said: “We are all heartbroken at the loss of our sweet Angie.
“She was deeply loved by the Pray and Craig families, and this is a very difficult time for all of us. We thank God for knowing that one day we will be able to meet her.’