Hidden True Crime - Autopsy and Toxicology Results Reveal SHOCKING Information | James Craig Day 5 Recap

Episode Date: July 22, 2025

**note: This episode was recorded live. I mention the name Lily, who is a sweet labradoodle sitting next to me! Today’s testimony was explosive. Forensic toxicologists and the Arapahoe County coroner took the stand, revealing lethal levels of cyanide and Visine in Angela Craig’s system. The autopsy confirmed what her body had been trying to say all along—this was murder. We break down the chilling science, the courtroom tension, and the moment Dr. Lear ruled Angela’s death a homicide. About Hidden True Crime: What started as a simple conversation at their dinner table became a captivating podcast. Join the dynamic duo of Dr. John Matthias, a criminal psychologist, and Lauren Matthias, an investigative journalist, as they delve into the psychological facets of unthinkable crimes every week. Their unique perspectives and in-depth analysis offer a fresh take on true crime storytelling. Thank you for your support through sponsorships, subscribing, listening, and becoming a Patreon member at Patreon.com/HiddenTrueCrime Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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And a case that sounds like fiction, but every detail we're learning is terrifyingly real. Last week, the prosecution laid the foundation, and it was honestly damning. We heard from employees at companies that sold James, a disturbing collection of substances, cyanide, arsenic, oldieander, even over-the-counter eyed, eyedrops. That's where the vising comes in.

And then came his office staff, the people who worked alongside James every day. They were the ones who discovered that a package of cyanide had been delivered right to his dental practice. But what James didn't plan on was the Red Ferns, family friends who learned about the package and instantly realized something was very, very wrong. Instead of brushing it off, they went straight to the hospital and told medical staff what they had heard. That warning may not have been enough to do. save Angela, unfortunately, but it did change the course of the investigation or even started the investigation. We also heard from ER nurses, doctors and ICU staff who desperately tried to save

Angela as her condition mysteriously deteriorated. They treated her with symptoms, but what no one knew at the time was that Angela was actively dying from cyanide poisoning. And then the most emotional moment of the week testimony from two of James and Angela's daughters, one of them revealed something chilling. James didn't just lie to please. He tried to pull her into it. He tried to rope his own child into a scheme to fabricate evidence to claim that Angela was suicidal and even suggested making a deep fake video of her to back it up. But today, things shifted for the beginning of week two. The courtroom took a more clinical, but no less devastating turn. We heard from a witness who gave important context about the Craig family's past from more medical professionals who describe Angela's rapid decline.

And for the first time, we heard from experts who confirmed definitively that Angela Craig had been poisoned. The story is unraveling and fast. What started as a suspicious illness is now revealing itself to be a carefully planned murder executed by someone Angela loved and trusted. and the prosecution is wasting no time building their case. So again, as I always say, stay with me because if you thought last week was intense, this week is gearing up to be something else entirely. Our first witness of the day today was Nikki Harmon. Nikki Medangela back in the fall of 2000 and they clicked almost instantly.

She immediately got choked up as she described their friendship. This wasn't just a casual acquaintance. Nikki and Angela were best friends. Their husbands had been friends since they were teenagers, even longer than these do, and they even grew closer while they were all in dental school together in Kansas City. It was one of those friendships where everything just lined up. The couple spent a lot of time together. Their kids were all around the same age, and the families practically grew up side by side.

Nikki said that they saw each other every day chatting on the front porch, babysitting for each other, raising their children together. Angela's kids were her world. That much was clear. Nikki said that they confided in each other, but when it came to Angela's marriage, she only knew bits and pieces. She was aware that Angela and James had been in marriage counseling, but Angela never really opened up in detail. Again, she's private. And when asked to describe Angela, Nikki said that Angie was not someone who took risks or played games. She didn't see her as manipulative in the slightest. Eventually both families made the move to Colorado, a fresh start, but their friendship stayed just as strong. I mean, they went from Kansas City and now to Colorado

together. James had launched his own dental practice by then, and Nikki's family was facing a really difficult situation. Their daughter had diabetes and finding insurance that would actually cover her care was turning into a literal nightmare. And that is when James stepped in. He offered Nikki's husband a job at his practice. He told him, come work for me. We'll get you on a good insurance plan. And after that, they grew even closer as friends. Then we get to March of 2023. Angela called Nikki and asked if she could come over and check her blood sugar. Since Nikki's daughter has diabetes, she always had supplies on hand. So she didn't think twice about that. But when she walked in, when Angie walked

in in 2023. She was slumped on the couch. She didn't look well, pale, sluggish, and just off. So Nikki could tell right away that something was not right. Angela seemed anxious too. Nikki knew that diabetes ran in Angie's family. So she started asking questions. What did you eat today? Angela pointed to a drink with protein powder that she said James had made her a shake. That's, that's, thank you. So another witness, James made Angie a shake. shake. Nikki asked what was in it. But when she looked through the pantry, nothing jumped out at her. Nothing seemed strange. And just to be safe, Nikki got Angela some crackers, trying to stabilize her blood sugar. Angela mentioned she had a doctor's appointment later that day with her primary

care physician. So Nikki headed out to take her daughter to school, figuring Angela would be okay for a bit. But then she came back to bring Angie some soup and just to make sure she had a friend there. And Angela was already gone. Annabelle, Angela's daughter, had already taken her to the hospital. A same morning, Nikki had been texting with James. Their conversation started around 1130 a.m. And it focused on Angela's condition, how she was feeling, what might be going on. And those messages were later entered into evidence as Exhibit 51. So on March 9th, Nikki asked James point blank, what do you think is going on with her? James responded that it could be COVID or maybe diabetes. And after that, Angela was admitted,

in and out of the hospital, but still had no clear answers. She did not know what was wrong, and neither did anyone else. At least that's what they all believed at the time. And then the state brought the conversation back to something that happened a few years earlier in an incident in 2019 that in many ways changed everything. One night, and this is interesting one night, James and Angela came over to talk to Nikki and her husband. It was not a casual visit. This was serious. James did most of the talking. He told them he was struggling that he was dealing with a sexual addiction. He did not clarify whether it was related to pornography or something else, but what he said next was even more alarming. He admitted that he had been having thoughts of self-harm, that he had considered injecting himself with something to end it all, and that he actually drugged Angela one night so she wouldn't wake up and try to stop him. Angela sitting right there told them that she was choosing to stay in the marriage. She said that she was going to help him through it. James was in counseling, getting therapy, and they were working on it. But after that night, things between the two

couples were never quite the same. Angela had spent 20 years keeping those struggles private. And now that it was out in the open, it wasn't what she wanted. She started pulling away. Nikki said it felt like Angela was angry, not just about the situation, but that Nikki had known earlier. Hadn't been there for her. Their friendship grew distant after that, and it never really went back to what it once was. During cross-examination, defense attorney Moses took a closer look at the dynamics of their whole circle of friends. She started by asking Nikki about the long history their family shared. Her husband and James had known each other since they were teenagers again. They went through dental school together and had this shared friend group that included the

Red Ferns. Same faith, LDS, similar. their lives, dental school, kids around the same time. They even traveled together now and then. And then Moses brought up a moment that seemed to mark a shift. She asked Nikki if things started to go south after a cruise. Nikki explained that yes, there was some tension after this said cruise. The four of them. Nikki, her husband, James and Angela, they had planned to take a cruise together. But Nikki ended up inviting another couple to join them. It seemed harmless at the time, but Angela took it personally. She didn't say anything right away, but later she did tell Nikki how hurt she had been, that it felt like Nikki was replacing her or just changing the dynamic of this family vacation. Angela had held onto those feelings for months, and it stung. This wasn't just anyone. This was her best friend. And then in 2019 came that heavy conversation. The night James opened up about his struggles and the couple shared the pain they were dealing with in their marriage.

Up until then, Nikki had no idea how bad things really were between them. Afterwards, Nick, Nikki texted Angela and she said, quote, I am so sorry. I wish you told me. Angela's response was immediate and angry. She said, and this is what she said in quotes, you weren't there for me when I needed you, and quote. Nikki said she understood. She thought Angela was venting, taking her pain out on her. It's something we might often all do.

And Nikki was okay with that. But it also left her confused. They were best friends and yet Angela had kept all of this from her. She didn't know how to be there for her. And from that point on, their relationship was never really the same. The closeness they once shared wasn't, it was gone. From 2019 forward, Nikki said their contact became rare. distant and limited.

Nikki also talked a bit about Angela and James' lifestyle and how different it was from her own. She said that she was aware that they spent a lot of money and it wasn't just James or just Angela. It was both of them. They lived big, bigger than what Nikki and her husband were used to at least. She described it as a lifestyle that just didn't match theirs. Both Angela and James had what Nikki called some bad spending habits. But when defense attorney Moses asked if she'd go so far as to say they're spending,

was horrible, Nikki actually paused for a moment and then said, sure, and then on redirect, the prosecution circled back to the money. And they asked Nikki again, was she really call Angela and James spending horrible? This time, Nikki said, okay, quote, I wouldn't say horrible. They just liked nice things, end quote. And then she shifted the focus back to her friendship with Angela and how deeply complicated it had become. She said Angela have been really angry at her. And she believed that anger was more about everything going on in Angela's life, not just about Nikki, not just about her. Nikki told the court, quote, the thing is, Angela and I had the best relationship. But I don't think you can tell your best friend that your husband is

cheating on you and have that not change the relationship, end quote. Angela had been trying to protect that, protect James and maybe even protect Nikki from their drama so it wouldn't affect the group. She didn't want to change how Nikki saw James. or disrupt the bond between their two families. But in the end, when things got bad, when Angela got sick, Nikki was still the one she called. Well, Moses was not done. After redirect, defense was back.

She came back at Nikki one more time. She reminded Nikki that she was the one who'd used the word horrible when she spoke to police, that she had said James was extremely generous, but that he turned out to be a really horrible with money. Nikki did not push back when Moses brought this up. She didn't try to explain it away. She just said, okay.

And next on the stand is a woman named Kristen Abashon. We're going to get to that in just a second. I'm going to take a sip of water. All right, here is Kristen. Kristen is a nurse with over 23 years of experience. She works at the University of Colorado, hospital in Aurora and was part of the medical team that treated Angela back in March of 2023.

Kristen described Angela's condition as critically ill. She took blood samples from Angela on March 15th and the records were entered as exhibit 232. Kristen actually walked the jury through the process of taking a blood sample. She explained that Angela was in such bad shape that there was an entire team working on her and some focused on treatment, others on documentation. They print a lab label, scanned the patient's wristband, scanned the label, draw the blood, and send it to the lab. Every step is locked. Nothing is done without being recorded. And in Angela's case, all of it, every scan, every blood draw,

every test was documented in her chart. In the middle of direct questioning, the defense pushed back on the records. They argued that the first exhibit, the one with the blood sample information, didn't actually have Angela's name on it. They tried to make the point that Kristen treated multiple patients that day. They suggested it was possible the blood samples belonged to somebody else entirely. Both sides approached the bench to hash it out with the judge, and the prosecution decided to just move forward and introduced Exhibit 237. This one was much clear.

Angela's full name and medical record number were right at the top. It included her blood samples, her vitals, everything tied directly to her. It wasn't about proving what was in her blood just yet. This was laying the groundwork, building the foundation to show whose blood was being tested and tracked. The defense had no questions for Kristen, so her time on the stand ended there. Send help is now streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney Plus. We're somewhere in the Gulf of Thailand. Getting us out of here should be your focus.

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Client was paid $1,000 for their testimonial, creating a conflict of interest. Outcomes vary. 3.3%. Base API as of January 30th, 2026, is representative variable and earned on funds swept to program banks. 0.65% new client boost for three months on up to $150,000. Direct deposit $1,000 a month and fund an investing account for a 0.25% increase. Cash account offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC, member FINRA, SIPC, not a bank. And next up on the stand was Dr. Peter Sotili, who was worked as a physician at the University of Colorado Hospital since 2012. His specialty is pulmonary and critical care medicine.

In short, he treats people who are seriously ill and struggling to breathe. He's not just a doctor, though. Dr. Satilli also serves as a director of respiratory therapy overseeing the training of respiratory therapists and guiding the care of patients with lung-related issues. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Satilli is an associate professor at the university. He teaches medical students, interns, and residents, and mentor fellows. Dr. Sotilli got involved in Angela's care after a fellow on the respiratory team flagged her case and something just didn't seem right and they wanted his opinion.

He started by reviewing her chart and speaking with both the nurse practitioner and the emergency room attending. Angela had come in complaining of headaches and stomach pain symptoms that she had had before, in fact, Dr. Sotilli knew that Angela recently had been admitted to Parker Adventist Hospital for the very same issues, but had been discharged after a normal MRI. And now here she was again, same symptoms. And at first, things didn't look too alarming. Her labs in the ER were relatively normal. She was even evaluated by physical therapy and was this close to being sent home. But then everything changed. Fast. Angela suddenly

crashed. Her blood pressure dropped. Her oxygen levels plummeted. Doctors had to insert a breathing tube just to keep her alive. She needed medication immediately to bring her blood pressure back up and once they got her stabilized, barely, just barely stabilized. That's when they called in Dr. Cotilly. When Angela first arrived in the ER, she was alert, coherent, talking. She did not look like someone on the brink of collapse, but something changed and quickly. Dr. Cotillie, testified that he learned about a strange moment that happened while Angela was still in the emergency room. James, her husband, had gone into her room. Yes, that James. And a short time later, he came back out and told the nurses that Angela was having arm pain. But when the medical team rushed

in, Angela was completely unresponsive. Her blood pressure had crashed. Her oxygen levels were dangerously low, nurses immediately started IV fluids and gave her medications to try to bring her blood pressure back up. Angela was now in what's called refractatory shock, a critical state where the body stops responding to normal treatments. She was placed on a ventilator and a medical team repeated her lab tests and what they found was startling. Just hours earlier, Angela's lab had been fairly normal. Now they were completely off the charts. She had developed, developed lactic acidosis, a condition where the body isn't getting enough oxygen to the muscles. So it starts producing lactic acid.

And normally, your body clears that acid out. But in Angela's case, it was building up. Her body was becoming too acidic, a dangerous sign. She also showed signs of acute encephalopathy, meaning her brain was no longer functioning normally and increased intracranial pressure, which is just as serious. That pressure inside the school should be low, but swelling or bleeding in the brain can make it spike. And when it gets too high, blood can't reach the brain properly.

And the brain starts to swell. Angela's condition had gone from stable to critical in a matter of moments, and the team didn't yet know why. Dr. Sotilly explained that when he stepped in, his immediate focus was on Angela's breathing and blood circulation. The goal was clear. stabilize her first, then figure out what unearth had caused the sudden collapse. He said it was highly unusual. Angela was in her 40s, relatively young and healthy and had come into the hospital talking, awake, coherent.

For her to suddenly spiral into critical condition, it just did not add up. The timeline was incredibly fast, too fast. And at that point, no one had any solid answers. So the team did what they could. They started broad spectrum antibiotics in case it was an infection. They considered everything, but they still did not know what they were treating. Angela was so unstable that even moving her was risky, but they had to take that risk. She needed a CT scan and soon to figure out what was happening inside her body, her brain, her lungs, her organs.

and despite how dire things had become, no one, not James, not anyone had mentioned the possibility of toxins or drunk use. No one. It simply was not on the radar. Dr. Sotilli also mentioned that he had two brief interactions with James, but as he looked around the courtroom today, he admitted that he didn't even recognize James. That's how little he recalled talking to James. He shared that normally the attending physician, doesn't accompany a patient to the CT scanner. That's typically handled by other members of the care team.

But with Angela, Dr. Satilli went along. He was genuinely afraid she might die in the scanner. That's how critical her condition was. He wanted to be right there, close enough to step in and render immediate aid if something went wrong. And the results of Angela's CT scan were devastating. Dr. Satilli said the scan of her head showed severe swelling in the brain, the kind of swelling typically seen after someone's heart has stopped.

And they have gone without oxygen for a prolonged period, like after CPR. But here's the thing. That didn't make sense. Angela had been monitored the entire time she was at the hospital. Her heart never stopped. She had been stable enough earlier to hold a conversation. She was talking. And yet now her brain was showing signs of a major neuroly

neurological injury, an injury that did not match the clinical picture. And even more disturbing, that dramatic change happened just after James had walked out of her room. Her chest, abdomen, and pelvis all appeared normal, no trauma, no infection, just this unexplained, rapid onset, brain swelling. And no one had an answer for why. Why was this happening? Dr. Sotilli made one thing crystal clear. With the amount of brain swelling that Angela had, there was just no way she could have been conscious, let alone speaking. He said flat out, someone with that level of swelling would be comatose. So when James came out of the room and told the staff that Angela was complaining about arm pain, that didn't make sense. Medically, it didn't line up. Angela was rushed to the ICU

and things escalated quickly. Dr. Sotility called the neurosurgery team. to assess the swelling, to try to understand why it had become so severe, so fast. And in the ICU, Angela needed multiple critical procedures. She was given a central IV line for medications, placed on constant blood pressure monitoring, and eventually the team made the call to place an intracranial pressure monitor, a device that would measure the pressure building inside her school. They still didn't have a clear diagnosis. She was given antibiotics just in case it was an infection, but the usual suspects, heart attack, stroke, they weren't showing up on any test, nothing. And then came a moment of truth. Once the pressure monitors was in place, the team saw

something terrifying. No blood was flowing to Angela's brain. Her brain at that point was essentially cut off. And still, they did not know why. Dr. Sotilli eventually asked to speak with James and Angela's family. He needed to prepare them for what was coming. With intracranial pressure that high for that long, possibly up to an hour, Angela was likely not going to recover. He told James that she was approaching brain death, or what's known as death by neurologic criteria. She wasn't quite there yet, but she was close. He saw, well, you saw the writing on the wall. And Dr. Satilli remembered seeing James that day wearing scrubs. And when it came time to break the news, Dr. Sotilli and a few others from the medical team gathered to speak with Angela's loved ones. He said what they always say in those

moments. We have some very bad news to share. Is it okay if we speak in front of everyone? But this time, James said no. Everyone else was asked to leave the room. And then privately, Dr. Sotilli explained to James what was happening. The swelling. in Angela's brain was catastrophic. There was no blood flow. She was very likely already brain dead, and they weren't going to be able to save her. James' response, literally this, quote, that's unfortunate. This is bitter, end quote. That was it. No shock, no emotion, no visible grief, just those few words. Angela, a woman in her 40s, walked into the hospital that day was now effectively gone. And that was all he had to say.

That's bitter. And then came the next question. Do you want us to keep trying? Do you want us to continue life-saving care? James said no. He said she'd want you to stop. Dr. Sotility explained that in those situations like this, especially when the patient is young and had been healthy, most families don't want to stop right away. They hold on. They fight. They hope for a miracle. There's usually denial, sometimes anger.

It takes time. But with James, none of that. He accepted it immediately. No pushback. No hesitation. No questions. And one more thing throughout all of this, not once did James mention anything about possible toxins? Not once.

No cyanide. No arsenic. No chemicals. Nothing. Later that evening, the nurse entered Angela's room with some disturbing information. He said he had just had a strange and alarming conversation with James's business partner. The partner mentioned something about cyanide being delivered to James's office and suddenly everything shifted. The medical team did not wait.

They immediately administered a cyanide antidote just in case and they called in specialists, doctors trained specifically in toxicology to rush to Angela's bedside. These toxicologists arrived quickly and began assessing whether this could in fact be cyanide poisoning and for a brief moment, the antidote seemed to help. Angela's blood pressure ticked up slightly a flicker of stabilization, but the damage was already done. The swelling in her brain was severe, irreversible. The antidote may have come in time to raise suspicion, but it did not come in time to save her. During cross-examination, the defense explored the idea that sometimes things happen in medicine that simply cannot be immediately explained. And Dr. Satilli acknowledged that to the defense. He said people ingest

substances, sometimes intentionally, sometimes by accident. And in many cases, you do not hear from the patients themselves, especially if they're unconscious or in critical condition like Angela was. It's not always clear what happened right away. He also said he learned through the nurse practitioner that it was James who had told the staff that Angela was having arm pain, the moment that triggered a deeper emergency response. And by the time Dr. Sotilli was called down to the ER, Angela had already been intubated. When asked if he could say exactly how long it took for the brain swelling to develop, he said he couldn't. There's no clear timestamp on something like that, but what was clear was that it happened fast. Dr. Sotili also addressed what happened after Angela

was given the cyanide antidote. He explained that while her blood pressure briefly improved, he couldn't say for certain whether it was the antidote that helped or if it was just the result of the other emergency interventions they had already put in place. And by that point, he wasn't even sure if cyanide was present in her system. The timeline was unclear and her condition had already deteriorated so severely. When the defense pressed him on how people typically respond to tragic news, Dr. Satilli acknowledged that everyone reacts differently. Some people go into shock, some are numb, Others are confused or in denial, but in his experience, sadness is far more common. Families react with overwhelming grief, not immediate acceptance.

He admitted he did not know James Craig personally and could not speak to how he usually handles bad news. But he had told James directly in swell, the swelling in Angela's brain was likely irreversible. And while confusion is normal in those moments, Dr. Satili added that when someone has a medical background like James. You might expect them to grasp the information a little more clearly. Even so, you'd still expect some emotion. Next on the stand was Rose Bichala, a nurse at the University of Colorado Hospital. Rose used to work on the medical surgical floors, but by March of 2023, she was working in the emergency department. She was one of the nurses who treated Angela

Craig when she came in that day. Angela had walked into the hospital on her own. She was triage, then waited for a bed like any other patient. At first, she was able to talk. She told the staff she was dizzy. She felt dizzy. Rose started an IV and monitored her closely. Angela's condition seemed relatively stable in those early moments. She was given medicine, a medication often used to treat vertigo.

And for a while, she actually looked a little better. Rose said her blood pressure eventually started to drop, but Angela's demeanor improved. She was more awake, more alert. and when she first arrived, Angela had been very lethargic, closing her eyes off and struggling to stay engaged, but later, Rose noticed she was more responsive, less sleepy. It was a subtle shift, but it seemed like things were headed in the right direction. Nurse Rose explained that Angela was in a private room, but like many hospital rooms, friends and family were allowed to come and go. Angela was still receiving IV fluids and things had seemed relatively calm.

At one point, Nurse Rose stepped out of the room and then suddenly everything changed. James Craig came rushing out to the nurse's station. He looked panicked, flustered, and said that Angela's arm was hurting. Three nurses, including Rose, ran into the room not because of what he said, but because of how he said it. It was his urgency that triggered the alarm bells, not the arm pain, his urgency. And when they got to Angela's bedside, the scene was terrifying. She looked like she was having a seizure, full body convulsions. Her heart rate had dropped into the 30s on the monitor, dangerously low.

Her blood pressure had also plummeted. Rose pulled the emergency alarm. More staff rushed in within seconds. James State outside the room at 11.50 a.m., a blood draw was done on Angela. Nurse Rose was handed Exhibit 238. which contained parts of Angela's medical records, including documentation of that blood draw. The defense objected to the exhibit, noting that some of the notes on the page weren't written by Nurse Rose herself. So instead, the court admitted Exhibit 231, which also detailed Angela's blood samples, and those samples were sent to the lab for analysis.

Next, prosecutors moved to introduce exhibits 11, 12, and 13, a bag of saline, IV tubing, and a saline flashed the same type that had been used on Angela. Not the actual ones, though. Those were turned over to detective. So these weren't the literal salient used on Angela. Nurse Rose gave a demonstration, though, for the court, walking them through exactly how an IV works. There's a line that runs from the saline bag into the patient's arm. And along that line, there are three ports where medication can be injected. After any medication is pushed in, a saline flush is used. It's screwed onto the port and clears the medication through the line into the bloodstream. Rose confirmed that Angela's IV had been placed in her left arm right in the crease of her elbow. During cross-examination, Nurse Rose was asked more about James Craig's behavior, and she testified that James had been in the room when she recommended that Angela be admitted to the hospital

and he did not push back. In fact, she said James never tried to interfere with any part of Angela's treatment. But when he came out of the room to report that Angela's arm was hurting, his demeanor had completely changed. Rose described him as frantic, almost panicked, and when the medical team rushed in, James didn't follow. He stayed out of the way, allowing the doctors and nurses to work. According to Rose, he seemed genuinely emotional in that moment. On redirect, the prosecution asked Nurse Rose a critical question. Did she have a line of sight into the room while James and Angela were alone together. Her answer was no. The curtain had been closed. And then the jury had a few questions of their own. One juror asked, quote, in your previous experience in the ER, have you seen other family members take

photos of the patients while they're receiving emergency care? Great question, right? Nurse Rose's answer was short. No. After lunch and outside the jury's ear shawl, the courtroom took a surprising turn. The defense stood up and said, hey, we served William Walbon. He was cooperating all the way through trial prep, and then he just vanished. They explained that they'd been trying to get a hold of him for days.

William was supposed to testify on July 14th, but he stopped answering calls, stopped replying, just dropped off the map. Now here's the twist. William is a single amputee in a wheelchair, and the plan was for his care facility to send him to court with a staff escort. But just yesterday, the facility told prosecutors that William had left, and they have no idea where he is. Prosecutors asked the judge to issue a warrant saying, look, we served him properly.

Here is the proof of service he didn't show we need to find him. Well, the defense had nothing to say about the warrant, but claimed they hadn't been informed that William was in a facility which would have been a change of address. After hearing both sides, the judge took a moment to weigh it all and then issued a $5,000 surety warrant for William Walbon. Interesting, right? And then the next witness was called to the stand. I'll take a quick drink. At my bank, I was literally getting pennies using wallfront. Cheching, there's this much that I'm getting an interest and I didn't have to do anything. Clients like Angela earn up to 4.2 send APY on their cash with the Wealthfront cash account. Get started at Wealthfront.com.

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2% APY on their cash with the Wealthfront cash account. Get started at Wealthfront.com. Client was paid $1,000 for their testimonial, creating a conflict of interest. Outcomes vary. 3.3%. 3.3% base APY as of January 30th 2026 is representative variable and earned on funds swept to program banks. 0.65% new client boost for three months on up to $150,000. Direct deposit $1,000 a month and fund an investing account for a 0.25% increase. Cash account offered by Wealthfront broker LLC, member FINRA, SIPC, not a bank. So Dr. Carla Walker was the first witness after lunch, uh, the laboratory director for Med-Tox Laboratories and Lab Corps and the Discipline Director for Clinical Toxicology Across LabCore's

nationwide system. She's been in the role for about a decade and has worked in various leadership positions at Med-Tox in St. Paul, Minnesota for many years. Dr. Wad Walker explained that to be a lab director, you don't need to be a medical doctor because Med-Tox doesn't handle pathology or tissue samples and they specialize in toxicology testing only. They specialize in toxicology testing, but what is required in advanced degree and board certification. In Dr. Walker's case, she holds a doctor of pharmacy, which she earned in 1991, and she is board certified in toxicology. She described her job as overseeing everything start to finish when it comes to lab testing, ensuring the testing is high quality, hiring and managing competent staff, reviewing

all reports, signing off on standard operating procedures used in the testing process. Bottom line, if it happens in the lab, it's her responsibility. The court qualified her as an expert in toxicology, and from there, she walked the jury through what Med Talks did in Angela Craig's case. They tested two different blood samples, submitted with a test requisition that indicates did the time of draw and the type of testing requested. Each sample was assigned a unique ID number, which is how they track it through testing. For the cyanide analysis, mettox used a method called liquid chromatograph with tandem mass spectrum, spectrometry.

If anybody wants to correct that you can, I think that's what it was called. A highly definitive advanced test performed by analysis with four year degrees in chemical and chemistry and toxicology. And so once testing is complete and the raw data comes in, here's how. how it works. One, first analysis interprets the results, two, the second reviewer, goes over the data package to confirm the findings. Three, that package is sent to a certified scientist for a final review and release, and only after all three layers of verification is the final report made available to the client. Dr. Walker clarified that while her name appears on the lab report,

she was not the certified scientist. That role belongs to one of the science. under her supervision, but she reviewed the full package, which includes all raw data and documentation. She also noted that MedTox preserves analytical data for two years, and the requisition forms and final reports are kept even longer. That way, if any independent party wants to review the science behind the results, it is there. Dr. Walker then testified about Exhibit 119, a lab report linked to Angela's blood sample. She confirmed that the specimen was labeled, with Angela's name and match her patient information. But before the exhibit was officially admitted,

the defense conducted a voir dire pressing Dr. Walker on the process. They pointed out that while she reviewed the results as the lab director, she did not perform the confirmation testing herself. Dr. Walker acknowledged that, but added that confirmation testing was done and it supported the same findings. Dr. Walker also testified that there were levels of cyanide found in Angela Craig's blood. She explained that, In a typical smoker, you might see around 0.41 milligrams per liter of cyanide in the blood,

so 0.41, and even lower around 0.2 milligrams for someone with occupational exposure. But when it comes to toxicity, things escalate quickly. Toxic levels range from 1.0 to 2.4 milligrams per liter, and anything above 3 milligrams per liter is considered lethal. well, what were Angeles levels? Five milligrams per liter beyond the threshold that causes death. And then the court reviewed Exhibit 1-21,

which showed another specimen tested, this one with 4.7 milligram per liter of cyanide, still in that same deadly range. On cross-examination, the defense pressed Dr. Walker about how the cyanide got into Angela's blood and went. She admitted she couldn't say for certain Dr. Walker wasn't there when the blood samples were taken and did not personally witness the collection.

But she emphasized that the hospital staff and lept technicians are required to follow strict standard operating procedures. And she reminded the jury that supervisors are present in the lab to ensure protocols are followed correctly. The defense kept trying to suggest that there might have been a mistake or contamination, but Dr. Walker stood firm. She said that she personally reviewed all of the analytical data and everything checked out. Nothing suggested any kind of error. The jury had a question for Dr. Walker, too. They wrote, what was the date that the blood sample was taken? Well, Dr. Walker responded that both samples were drawn on March 15, 2023.

The next expert to take the stand was Dr. Justin Brower, a forensic toxicologist with NMS laboratories of private forensic and clinical toxicology lab that specializes in post-mortem work. Dr. Brower's job to review toxicology results and ensure that everything is accurate and complete, helping medical examiners and pathologists determine the cause and manner of death. Dr. Brower has been with NMS for about three years, but his experience runs deep. Before that, he spent 13 years as a forensic toxicologist and lab supervisor at the North Carolina office of the chief medical examiner. And as far as his credentials, if that's not enough, like clearly, this guy's solid. He earned his bachelor's in chemistry from Adam State in Colorado and

then went on to complete a PhD in organic chemistry at the University of Nevada. He followed that with a postdoctoral fellowship at the Cancer Research Institute of UC Irvine. He even worked in pharmaceuticals serving as director of chemistry for a biotech company developing treatments for central nervous system disorders like schizophrenia. And when it comes to toxicology, Dr. Brower said he's pretty much done every test available. And he's testified as an expert around three dozen times. So here's your expert. Here's your toxicology expert. So when prosecutors ask the court to qualify him as an expert, there wasn't even a question. Dr. Brower then explained that what sets his lab apart from police field testing or standard hospital labs, those are typically presumptive

screens. They might tell you what might be in the system, but his lab doesn't tell you what might be in it. His lab confirms it. NMS doesn't just screen. They dig deep to validate what's actually there. And that brings us to March 29th, 2023. That's the day the NMS labs received a package, 67 samples from the Arapaho County Coroner's Office in the case of Angela Craig. This was the most samples they had ever received before. The samples were shipped FedEx in a large cardboard box. Dr. Brower confirmed that most of what they received was anti-mortem. That means samples taken from Angela while she was still alive in a clinical setting. But it wasn't just anti-mortem material that arrived at NMS labs, Dr. Brower testified that along with the clinical samples taken

while Angela was still alive, the lab also received post-mortem samples. including blood, liver, tissue, hair, fingernail clippings. These type of samples can tell a very different kind of story, one that tracks toxic exposure over time and may even help pinpoint when something entered the body. So post-mortem after death. And then came Exhibit 122, a key piece of evidence. This was the official toxicology report generated after NMS completed its analysis.

Dr. Brower's name was right there at the top as a little bit of. a certifying forensic toxicologist. He explained what that means. He's not just rubber-stamping the report being the certifying toxicologist means he personally reviewed all of the data, all of the results, and any related documentation to ensure it was complete, accurate, and scientifically sound. And if that report ends up in court, he owns it. It's his. He's the one who stands behind to end the one who testifies to its findings. Dr. Brower explained that before any testing began, he spoke directly with the coroner.

With 67 different samples arriving at the lab, they had to make a decision. Which ones would give them the clearest answers? Not all of them would be tested. They needed to be strategic. Then Dr. Brower broke things down for the jury, starting with the types of samples they were working with. He clarified the difference between hospital blood

and hospital serum or plasma. So this was interesting. Blood is whole blood, the red stuff that comes straight from the body. Serum and plasma, on the other hand, is blood that has been spun down in a machine. The red blood cells sink to the bottom, and what's left is a pale,

colorless fluid used for more refined testing. And from there, Brower walked to the court through a step-by-step process that NMS labs followed once a specimen arrives. First, someone in the specimen processing department photographs the sealed box and the air bill. That's the shipping label to document its condition and origin. Next, they open the box and pull out the requisition form, a document sent by the coroner to submitting agency. This includes crucial details like the patient's name, date of birth, date of death, and case number.

That form is scanned into the system for record keeping. And then each individual sample, whether it's blood, tissue or something else, is carefully. removed and assigned a unique barcode. And here's a key detail. Inside the lab, they don't use names, no names at all. Every sample is tracked strictly by number to ensure objectivity, confidentiality, and precision throughout the entire testing process. Because at this level of forensic work, there's no room for assumptions, just science. Dr. Brower continued walking the jury through the meticulous process that happens once a case hits the lab. After, scanning the requisition form and unpacking the box, each specimen gets assigned a unique

code starting with 0-0-1 and continuing upward. In Angela Craig's case, that meant specimen 0-0-1 through 0-6-7, every single item logged and numbered in order, because again, 67 samples. But it's not just about slapping a label on a tube. For every specimen, the lab records exactly what the submitting agency provides. Details like, what type of specimen is it? Blood, hair, nail, liver, tissues, whether it's anti-mortem, which is taken while Angela is still alive, or post-mortem, taking after death. The exact time the sample was collected and even what kind of container it was stored in. From that point on, each sample is tracked by its number through every step of testing.

And once each of Angela Craig's 67 samples was labeled and logged, Dr. Brower explained what happens next. Refrigeration. Every specimen is placed into short-term refrigerated storage to preserve its integrity before testing begins. These are critical biological materials, and time and temperature can absolutely affect results. So preservation is everything.

After that, the real work begins. The designated analyst, retrieves the samples and begins the toxicology testing. Once those tests are completed, Dr. Brower steps in again this time to review every piece of data. He makes sure that the results are not only complete, but that every protocol was followed down to the letter. No shortcuts, no missed steps, because this is the kind of work that ends up in front of a jury, like today. Dr. Brower also made one thing clear. While the analysts know what tests they're running, they don't always know why. His conversation with the coroner, where they discuss which samples to prioritize and which

tests to run is not shared with the analysts. Their job is to strictly process the data, not interpret the motive or the bigger picture. After laying the groundwork, the prosecution shifted focus to the samples that mattered most in this case. Specimens, O'O1, O'O7, and OO10. Dr. Brower explained that out of the 67 sample submitted, these three were chosen with care and purpose. So what were they? O'O1 was the blood sample taken on March 9th,

2023 at 11, 24 a.m. while Angela was in the hospital. This was the earliest sample collected, and that timing was key. Insuspected poisonings. It's generally assumed that once a patient reaches the hospital, the exposure stops. From that point on, the body begins metabolizing and flushing out the toxins, so early samples hold the most forensic value.

O-O-7, what was that? That was another hospital blood sample, this one from March 15th at 1150 a.m. And again, this was the first specimen from that hospitalization. And then there was OO10, the most critical of the three taken. on March 15th at 821 p.m. This sample was selected after Dr. Brower consulted with Dr. Lear, the coroner in Angie's case. Dr. Lear had a chilling concern she wanted to verify. Had Angela been poisoned while already in the hospital?

There was a specific window of time when Angela was alert, coherent, and seemingly stabilizing, followed by a sudden crash. She decompensated quickly. And then lost consciousness. specimen 10, 0,010 was drawn during that exact time frame. And so if poison had been introduced during her hospital stay, which is definitely what's being implied in court at this moment, this would be the sample, most likely to catch it.

Dr. Brower confirmed that no blood samples were tested from March 16th to 17th, and the reason was simple, Angela was already unconscious, and at that point, there was no active suspicion that additional poisonings had occurred during that window. When testing began, NMS labs focused on three key toxins, arsenic, cyanide, and an expanded drug panel, which included a broad sweep for both illicit substances and common pharmaceuticals, including tetrahydrozzoling, aka the chemical found in vizing, hydrops. But at the time, tetrahydrozzling wasn't even a top contender on the lab's radar.

They weren't necessarily looking for that. It was just something that happened to fall under the panel. And as for oleandrine, the toxic compound from oleander plants, that had come up in conversations. It was ultimately not tested for. A strategic decision was made to focus elsewhere. And then came the results. And they were, honestly, they were shocking. Let's start with specimen 0.01, specimen 1, specimen 1, taken March 9 at 1124 a.m.

Dr. Brower testified that Angela's blood contained 330 micrograms of arsenic per liter. For context, most people in the U.S. have arsenic levels in the low single digits, one, two, maybe three micrograms per liter. 330 isn't even elevated. It's just alarming. At that level, symptoms would come on fast, likely nausea, vomiting, severe GI distress, and can also include dizziness, lightheadedness, and a loss of coordination. Dr. Brower explained that arsenic has a half-life of about four hours. So if March 9th was her only exposure by March 10th, her levels should have dropped to around 5 micrograms per liter. Next, specimen 007, 207, taken March 15th at 1150 a.m. So days later, her arsenic level had dropped, but it was still 68 micrograms per liter, much lower than before.

but still dangerously high, which told him one thing. The March 9th exposure was not a one-time dose. Angela Craig had been suffering from chronic arsenic exposure. Chronic. Dr. Brower testified that this suggested there had likely been another exposure after March 9th, but before March 15. Angela wasn't just poisoned once. She was poisoned.

she was poisoned repeatedly. Dr. Brower also tested Angela Craig's liver, a post-mortem sample, and while the number wasn't as jaw dropping as her blood work, it was still far from normal. Her liver showed 0.61 micrograms of arsenic program, and to put that into perspective, most people typically register around 0.1 to 0.2, so yes, it was still elevated.

But Dr. Brower explains something important about liver tissue. It has a longer detection window. Toxins can linger there for one to three days, which is why it's often used in post-mortem toxicology. While someone might argue that elevated liver levels could be environmental or incidental, that argument does not hold when it comes to Angela's blood levels, especially the 330 micrograms per liter seen on March 9. That number didn't leave room for doubt. Back to specimen, 001, Angela's March 9th hospital blood draw. No cyanide was detected at all. And at this time, they did not test for tetrahydrozzling the active chemical envisying. But when they looked at specimen, 007 collected on the morning of March 15th, they found something chilling.

Angela had 95 nanograms per milliliter of tetrahydrozzling in her system. Dr. Brower made the distinction clear. If you use vising the normal way in your eyes, levels come back as either undetectable or maybe 0.1, 0.2 nanograms. Angela's level was nearly 100 times that. That amount could only come from oral ingestion. And tetrahydrozzaline isn't harmless when swallowed. Dr. Brower explained that if you drink it, it can mimic the effects of an opioid overdose.

pinpoint pupils, respiratory depression, dangerously low blood pressure. It also acts as a vasoconstrictor, tightening the blood vessels, squeezing the arteries, and in high enough doses, slowing the heart to the point that it can stop all together. Angela didn't just have elevated levels. She had levels that could kill. As for cyanide, on March 15th, at 11.50 a.m., her cyanide level was, 1.7 micrograms per milliliter. As for what that means, Brower brought up ATP and mycocondria. He said that that mitochondria produces ATP and cyanide stops the manufacturing of ATP and without

that our cells die off. And what it does specifically is stops oxygen. The two target organs for cyanide poisoning are your heart and your brain. Eventually it causes multi-organ failure as well as respiratory and cardiac arrest. Well, 1.7 is toxic. It may not be lethal. The half-life for cyanide is around 30 to 45 minutes, meaning it also works faster. He explained in a gas chamber, it's instantaneous and you can die in seconds. If you ingest it, it can work in minutes. As for the testing during the evening of March 15th, 8.21 p.m., the cyanide level in Angie's blood was 3.7 micrograms per milliliter. After a 3.7 exposure to cyanide, it is likely that someone would be unconscious.

Then came the findings on cyanide, one of the deadliest poisons known to man. Dr. Brower testified that on March 15th at 1150 a.m., Angela Craig's blood showed 1.7 micrograms per milliliter of cyanide. What essentially Dr. Brower testified is unconsciousness at those levels would be expected. Angela wasn't just being poisoned. her brain and heart were literally starving for oxygen, and her body was shutting down. So next up was cross-examination. Dr. Brower faced attorney Lisa Moses, who wasted no time pressing him on the limits of his

toxicology testimony. First, Brower confirmed that he received the test tubes from the medical examiner, but he couldn't say how those samples had been collected or handled before they arrived at NMS. He also clarified that out of 67 sample submitted, NMS tested 5, 001, 0010, plus Angela Craig's liver and hair from the autopsy. When asked about the significance of hair testing,

Brower explained it can be useful in establishing a timeline of toxin exposure over weeks or even months. Moses brought up the possibility that Angela had previously been exposed to benzodiazepines, a class of sedatives. Brower said they had tested her blood for benzos, but her hair was not tested for long-term use. Then came a deep dive into the science, starting with the half-life of cyanide. Well, Brower had testified earlier that the average half-life of cyanide was around 30 minutes. Moses pointed to an email he had sent to prosecutor stating it could range from 20 minutes to two hours, depending on the individual and the exposure. Confronted with the discrepancy,

Brower held his ground. For the average person, it's about 30 minutes. Moses then brought up an article Brower had previously sent the prosecution. It described a case where a woman's cyanide levels rose four hours after an injection, suggesting cyanide levels don't always drop quickly. Another article she cited claims that oral indigestion is the most common method of homicide by poison, while injection is more common in self-harm. Brower remembered the article, though he noted it was primarily about mercury poisoning, and he did not agree that injection is the most common method of self-harm by poison. Next, Moses brought the jury's attention to classic signs of cyanide poisoning. Bright red blood.

Brower agreed that that's typical, but he didn't personally see Angela's blood samples, the brightness. Another one, a bitter almond odor. Broward confirmed that while it is a known marker of cyanide, not everyone can detect it. Studies suggest about 40% of people can smell it, but in his experience, it's more likely 25%. And I want to pause there really quickly because do you guys remember that they said when she was feeling sick, her pets, the animals in her house were acting up. It makes me wonder if they smelled something. Nonetheless, I'll continue. Moses turned the conversation to bias.

She quoted a passage that Brower had written on the importance of forensic experts guarding against bias. Brower testified that once he realized NMS was handling this case, he deliberately avoided any media or online content related to it. His job, he said, was not to form an opinion about guilt or innocence, but to report the science without anything in the way of his determinations. He made it clear. He can't confirm what was in Angela's system. He can ballpark when the substances entered her body,

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a month and fund an investing account for a 0.25% increase. Cash account offered by Wealthfront brokerage LLC member FINRA SIPC, not a bank. The last person to take the stand today was Dr. Kelly Lear. And who was Dr. Kelly Lear? The elected coroner for the Arapaho County coroner's office. And right away, she gave the jury a quick breakdown of something many people don't even realize, the difference between a coroner and a medical examiner. So according to Dr. Lear, it all comes down to the system used in each jurisdiction. In most states, a medical examiner is a forensic pathologist, a medical doctor with specialized training and death investigation, where a coroner, on the other hand, is often an elected official, and in many places, there are no medical

qualifications required. We learned that from the Debel case, didn't we? When Tammy Deibel died. No medical qualifications required. It's an elected position. In Colorado, up until last fall, the requirements to run for coroner were shockingly minimal. You ready for them? Be at least 18, live in the county, have a high school diploma or equivalent, and no felony convictions. But that's it. But things are changing as of this upcoming fall Colorado law now requires that coroners be either forensic pathologists or nationally certified death investigators, a major step forward in professionalizing the role, which in my opinion, after being in true crime for so long, that is so important. Luckily for this case, Dr. Lear is both a forensic pathologist and a medical doctor. She's been with the Arapahoe County Coroner's Office since 2004, actually, 20 years. And she has served as the elected coroner since 2014, over 10 years.

Her experience extensive. She's conducted over 6,000 autopsies. She's made formal determinations of cause and manner of death in every one of them. And she's testified in court more than 170 times. With that, the prosecution formally asked the court to recognize Dr. Lear as an expert in forensic pathology and the judge agreed. Once Dr. Kelly Lear was qualified as an expert in forensic pathology, she began educating the jury on one of the most important distinctions in any death investigation. The difference between cause and manner of death. This is important. Cause

of death. The why. So cancer, gunshot, blunt force trauma, the medical reason the person's body stopped functioning, the why. Manner of death is the how, and there are only five options. Natural, accident, suicide, homicide, undetermined, five options. So to determine the cause, Dr. Lear conducted a full autopsy, a meticulous examination of both the external body and internal organs. She takes biopsies, examines tissues under the microscope, and sends out blood and fluid samples for toxicology testing.

But to determine the manner of death, it takes more than science. It takes context. And that's where her team of trained death investigators comes in. They gather details from law enforcement, family members, friends, witnesses, and medical records. It's all compiled to build the larger picture. What happened? What happened?

Who was involved? And what may have led to the person's death? And on March 22nd, 2023, Dr. Lear performed the autopsy of Angela Craig. By the time she received the case, she had already been given preliminary information, hospital records, early reports from law enforcement, and some context from the medical team.

She explained that ideally, autopsies are performed within a day of death, but oftentimes information does continue to trickle in afterwards as reports are finalized. Sometimes she may delay her report waiting on the other report. reports to come in. And that day, Dr. Lear began the process of determining not just what had happened to Angela Craig, but how and why her life had ended. When Dr. Kelly Lear began her autopsy on Angela Craig,

she wasn't walking in blind. She already had Angela's full medical history records stretching back nearly a decade to 2014, as well as detailed documentation from her final hospital visits. She also had information from law enforcement. At that time, there were early suspicions of poisoning, and the hospital had ordered additional testing, but results had not come back yet due to processing delays. Still, that possibility loomed large as Dr. Lear began her work. She started, as always, with the external exam.

This is where she records basic identifiers like height, weight, hair color, eye color, and notes any visible injuries. and what were the visible injuries she saw in Angela? A bruise on the back of her right arm was one of them. Small bruises on her upper legs and a blister on her back, likely from prolonged bed rest in the hospital. Although Dr. Lear said the bruises were minor and did not go into her cause or manner of death, there were also clear signs of medical intervention.

There was a breathing tube, a gastric tube leading into her stomach, multiple IV sites, both current and previous, a fully catheter, and a finger pulse monitor used to track oxygen levels. After documenting the exterior, Dr. Lear moved to the internal exam. She began removing and weighing each organ, carefully inspecting them from abnormalities. But in Angela's case, there were a few notable absences because Angela had been an organ donor. Her heart and kidneys had already been recovered and donated to help save others. It was a reminder, a heartbreaking reminder. Angela was fighting for her life, and even in her final moments, and even after death, she was still giving.

As Dr. Lear continued her testimony, prosecutors wanted to clarify a key part of the timeline. March 15th, Angel arrived at the hospital and was ultimately declared brain dead. March 18th, she was officially pronounced deceased. But because Angela was an organ donor, her heart was kept beating on a ventilator until March 21st to preserve her organs for transplant. I just want to point out, organ donor donation is a beautiful thing. My brother was recently an organ donor. And I just want to say thank you to Angela for being and her family for her being an organ donor. But nonetheless, eventually multiple samples were collected.

some during her hospital stay, some at autopsy, and some during the organ donation process, and in total 67 samples were gathered. Since the Rappahoe County Coroner's office doesn't do in-house toxicology testing, those samples were packaged up and shipped to NMS labs, the same lab where Dr. Justin Brower's team conducted the forensic analysis. The prosecution then tried to enter photos of the blood tubes collected at the hospital into evidence, but the defense objected. They argued Dr. Lear could not confirm details like whether the tubes had been properly refrigerated.

Who exactly had labeled or bagged them? But the judge? The judge overruled the objection. And then the photos were admitted. Dr. Lear confirmed that she later received the toxicology results from NMS and included them in her final report. Dr. Lear testified that Angela's brain showed signs of cerebral edema, swelling, and neurological changes consistent with oxygen deprivation. Her lungs showed early pneumonia and her liver, displayed inflammation and cellular damage caused by a lack of oxygen.

Taken together, Dr. Lear said that these three organs showed clear signs of oxygen deprivation, all consistent with a patient who had been sustained on a ventilator for days. She added that Angela may not have had pneumonia initially, but by the time our organs were recovered for donation, she had been on a ventilator for six days, a known risk factor for hospital-acquired pneumonia. And then Dr. Lear laid it out clearly. the organs showed what happened, but the toxicology results explained why. She attributed Angela's lack of oxygen to cyanide and tetrahydrozzling toxicity.

There you go. And as for the arsenic, she called it a, quote, significant finding, abnormal, elevated, and toxic. But not lethal. Interestingly, her take slightly diverged from Dr. Browers. Brower believed that there had likely been additional arsenic exposure after March 9th. Well, Dr. Lear, on the other hand, said Angela's March 15th arsenic levels looked like they were still metabolizing, not from a new dose. She acknowledged that it could have been the result of two exposures, a single repeated exposure

or one drawn out exposure over time, but in the end, she said this, quote, I can only interpret the numbers I am given, end quote. And ultimately, she agreed with Dr. Brower's overall conclusion. As Dr. Lear continued, her testimony, prosecutors zeroed in on two critical blood draws for March 15th, the one that revealed cyanide levels of 1.7 and later 3.7 micrograms per milliliter. Dr. Lear agreed that increase was not natural. It pointed to an additional administration of cyanide while Angela was already hospitalized. And she then reviewed the other toxins found in Angela's system, the 68 micrograms per liter of arsenic, toxic, yes, but not lethal in her opinion.

The 95 nanograms per milliliter of tetrahydrosoling, though, that lethal. Absolutely lethal. And the 3.7 micrograms of cyanide? Lethal. Also lethal. When asked her final determination, Dr. Kelly Lear was unequivocal. Cause of death, acute cyanide, and tetrahydrozzling poisoning. manner of death, homicide. She was at Nass, how she ruled out self-harm. Her answer was both

clinical and compassionate. Quote, my job is to speak for the decedent, and quote. She explained that she looked not only at the medical and toxicology evidence, but also at Angela's actions, Angela's words, Angela's intent, where she could find it all. She read through hospital records, prior medical history, Angela's text messages, her Google searches, the fact that she repeatedly sought medical care, trying desperately to figure out what was happening to her body. Angela was not trying to die. Angela was trying to live. And with that, the court recessed for the evening. Tomorrow, Tuesday, proceedings will resume. Another witness will take the stand at 8.30 a.m. in the courthouse in the courtroom due to scheduling. And then after that, Dr. Lear will return for

cross-examination and redirect because we have not gone there yet. The first, another witness. Hidden True Crime will continue to have the latest for you. I also want you to know that this is one of the busiest weeks of Hidden True Crime where the Coburger sentencing is happening. We will be following that right here at Hidden True Crime as well as the sentencing hopefully, you know, the final sentencing for Lori Vallow, Daybough. Is she done yet? Let's hope. We will be there bringing it to all of you.

Thank you, everyone, for being here. We'll see you tomorrow. I am taking a very early morning flight. So I'm going to go get some rest. And, yeah, may justice be served. We'll see you tomorrow, guys. Right back here, I hadn't your crime. Before I switched to Wealthfront, my APY was probably 0.1. Like, it was a joke.

I was literally getting pennies. Once I switched, chiching. With a Wealthfront cash account, earn up to 4.2% APY on your cash. The high APY with Wellfront was a clear winner. There are no petty fees. Every month, there's this much that I'm getting an interest in. I didn't have to do anything. My money is working hard on its own, and I can trust. Wellfront is taking care of me.

earn more on your uninvested cash with a wealthfront cash account no account fees no minimums and no strings attached get started today at wealthfront dot com clients were paid $1,000 for their testimonials creating a conflict of interest outcomes vary 3.3% base API why as of January 30th 2026 is representative variable and earned on funds swept to program banks 0.65% new client boosts for three months on up to $150,000. Direct deposit $1,000 a month and fund an investing account for a 0.25% increase cash account offered by wealth front brokerage LLC member FINRA SIPC not a bank fees and eligible eligibility requirements may apply to certain checking features of the cash account.