Two of suspected killer James Craig’s daughters took the stand Thursday afternoon in a Centennial, Colorado, courtroom and testified against their father, who is accused of killing their mother over a 10-day period in March 2023. Craig is charged with first-degree murder in the death of wife Angela, who prosecutors allege died from potassium cyanide and tetrahydrozoline poisoning after an agonizing week-and-a-half in and out of the hospital.
Craig’s oldest daughter testified that her mother was far from suicidal, as the defense, led by attorney Lisa Fine Moses, has suggested during the trial. She described Angela as her ‘best friend’ and shared memories of their mother’s enthusiasm for her future as a grandmother and her passion for hobbies like woodworking and exercise. The daughter also recounted how Angela was frustrated about not being able to be with her children while she was hospitalized, expressing her desire to return home.
The defense, however, insisted that Angela was unhappy in a failing marriage and described her as a ‘broken’ woman with mental health issues. Despite the defense’s claims, the daughters testified that their mother’s life was filled with optimism and plans for the future. The youngest daughter added that Angela had talked about moving to a home on a large plot of land with a woodworking shop, envisioning a life of stability and creativity.
Further, the daughters provided critical evidence about their father’s alleged attempts to manipulate the case. The second-eldest daughter revealed that Craig had instructed her to create a deepfake video using a cheap burner laptop, which she was to purchase with a prepaid Visa gift card. This video was supposed to support the claim that Angela was suicidal, which Craig alleged she had asked him to purchase the poison. However, the daughter was also told to destroy the laptop and upload the video to a thumb drive, which she was to present to detectives as found in her mother’s bag.
Legal experts, such as former Arapahoe County prosecutor Eric Faddis, have commented on the significance of the daughters’ testimony. Fadd, who is not involved in the Craig case, described the testimony as a ‘blow to the defense,’ noting that involving children in fabricating evidence is a desperate tactic. He emphasized that the daughters’ accounts could be interpreted by the jury as evidence that Angela’s children were not aware of her suicidal tendencies, which might have been a significant factor in the defense’s argument.
Despite the defense’s claims, the daughters’ testimony has undermined the narrative that Angela’s death was the result of a spontaneous act of self-harm. The legal battle continues, with the case drawing significant attention due to its complex nature and the personal stakes involved for the family.