Victim or manipulator? Colorado dentist’s murder trial paints dueling portraits of wife in troubled marriage

The second day of Dr. James Craig’s murder trial was pivotal, featuring key testimony from the office manager of Sunnybrook Dental Group in Aurora, Colorado. She recounted how Craig casually dismissed the first suspected poisoning of his wife, Angela.

In 2023, Caitlin Romero served at the dental office and was in close contact with Craig during the time he allegedly murdered his wife. It is claimed he mixed cyanide and tetrahydrozoline, an ingredient found in eyedrops, into her protein shakes.

Romero informed Assistant District Attorney Ryan Brackley and the court that Craig came to the office noticeably late on March 6 of that year. He explained he and Angela had exercised that morning, apologizing for his tardiness. Craig mentioned that Angela felt unwell after he prepared a protein shake for her following their workout.

Prosecuting attorney in court during the dentist James Craig trial.

Ryan Brackley, a lawyer for the prosecution, delivers his opening arguments during the murder trial for James Craig in Arapahoe District Court Tuesday, July 15, 2025, in Centennial, Colo. (Stephen Swofford/Denver Gazette via Pool)

During cross-examination, lead defense attorney Lisa Fine Moses pointed to the fact that while Romero had received the package and read that it contained potassium cyanide, she couldn’t be sure of that because she did not open the sealed foil package. 

She also asked Romero about her evening office interaction with Craig on March 6, and Romero conceded that, emotionally, Craig seemed normal during that time. 

Moses examined Romero’s relationship with Craig, which Romero described as an “intimate emotional relationship.” She established that the pair were close and often spoke about personal and family matters on personal devices and via channels unrelated to their work. 

Moses also established that, during the investigation into the alleged crime, when Romero spoke to police, she did not disclose the true nature of their relationship or all of the communications between them. 

Court where dentist killer is on trial for his wife's murder.

The Arapahoe County Courthouse Wednesday, July 16, 2025, in Centennial, Colo. (Jeremy Sparig for Fox News Digital)

The importance of calling a critical witness like Romero as a witness so early in the trial was not lost on Hyman. 

“The prosecutor will want to start strong and end strong as to the witnesses,” she said. “The prosecutor may want to start the case with the most important witness. For example, the star witness, or someone that is going to start telling the story of the case as to the timeline of the case from start to finish.”

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